Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
Because deep down, I know Landon will never let me have this.
I haven’t faced him since last night, but every instinct I possess tells me that will make it worse, not better. He very literally marked his fucking territory because I wore shorts he deemed too short in front of his friends who he knows I could not be less interested in if they were actual frogs.
He already knows I might be interested in Javi, it’s why he pulled the “prank” where he casually tried to get him fired.
What will he do if he finds out I’m talking to him?
On the flip side, Javi clearly knows the risks. He already knows Landon tried to frame him for stealing alcohol, and given the way Landon was behaving in front of him that night, he probably has some idea of why. Since Javi knew I was looking for a job, he also overheard some of what I was saying to Hannah as we walked toward the valet station, and while I can’t remember the order of everything, I know my awkward relationship ramble came at the end. If he heard I was looking for a job, he definitely heard that.
And he still gave me his number.
So, clearly, he is at least somewhat aware of the risks.
I’ve never been in this position before. I’ve never made it past The Landon Factor with the guys who asked me out previously. If Javi is already aware of The Landon Factor and he’s still interested…
Maybe…
Maybe this could actually work.
Chapter Twenty-One
Parker
Tuesday means back to school—and it also means I am blessedly busy.
Our first official meeting of the school year for this community outreach club I’m in is on Friday, but I had an idea for a book drive that needed to be worked on before then. The faculty adviser said if I could get enough people on board to get it done, then we could do it.
No one else was as eager to get a jumpstart on projects before the first club meeting has even happened, so I volunteered myself to handle everything.
Hannah is in the club with me so she said she would help if I needed it, but unlike me, she doesn’t have enough time to do all her own stuff, so I told her I didn’t need help. I’m perfectly capable of making all the arrangements, flyers, and sending all the emails myself.
It’s the perfect distraction. During the first class I have with Landon, I don’t look at him once. I’m on my phone composing emails until the bell rings, and then as soon as class is over, I’m out the door because there’s no time to waste.
Being busy is definitely the answer.
I thought after the party this weekend, Anae would have mingled with enough people that we wouldn’t have to see her again, so imagine my surprise when she drops into the seat right next to me at lunch.
Hannah freezes with her sandwich halfway to her mouth, and I look over at Anae with my own expression that must convey are you lost?
Anae isn’t looking at me, though. She’s rooting around in her purse, next to mine on the seat between us. I blink as she takes out a bottle of hand sanitizer and makes quick work of sanitizing her own hands—of course, without offering any to me or Hannah.
“What?” she finally asks, staring back at me as she rubs her hands together.
“I just… didn’t expect you to sit with us.”
Didn’t want her to sit with us, but I don’t add that.
“I heard you were organizing some book drive thing. I want to help.”
I continue to stare at her, wide-eyed. “You want to… help?”
She nods. “I want to join your little uprising club.”
“Uplift.”
“Whatever. Who cares? I want to join.”
“Why?” When she cocks an eyebrow, I expand, “I mean, no offense, but you are aware the entire goal of the club is to help others, right? Doesn’t really seem like your thing.”
“Next year I’ll be going to college, and I plan to join a sorority. I’ve been researching the top sororities at Dare’s school, and they do a lot of philanthropy. So, next year, when I’m rushing, I figure it will help if they see I dabbled in stuff like that in high school. Thanks to Aubrey, I have a lot working against me now, so I need to rehab my public image a bit and control the narrative.”
“Okay,” I drawl, choosing not to deal with her delusional reasoning. “Well, I guess I could use a little help. We’re putting this project together really quickly. The book drive is on Friday, so I need to really amplify the signal and get the word out so people know about it.”
Anae nods. “I can definitely help with that. Why don’t we meet up at your house after school to brainstorm and go over everything? You can show me what you’ve done so far and what still needs to be done. I’ll do a video and upload a story about us organizing it today to bring a little awareness, and I can handle the social media to really amplify the signal, like you said you wanted to.”