Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (ebook reader .TXT) 📕

the same time her smile ratcheted up. “Though, I do want to know why you broke up with him.”

I couldn’t be friends with someone I didn’t trust. Her answer would give me a clue if I could or not.

Quickly, her expression morphed, pinching the skin between her eyebrows together.

“I didn’t break up with him. He did. He said because our parents wouldn’t let us visit each other, what was the point. He—”

I held up a hand to stop her. “Like I said, it’s your business. I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t intentionally hurt him.”

“I didn’t. I swear,” she said.

So I would believe her unless my brother came clean and told me otherwise. I was easy like that. I reached a hand halfway across the table, catching her off guard. “Friends?”

She studied my offered hand before shaking it. “Friends.”

“Why don’t you tell me more about Kevin?” I asked, changing the subject.

Her cheeks instantly brightened. Before she could answer, a waitress arrived with a milkshake in one of those old-fashion fountain glasses. It looked good. She asked if we were ready to place an order. I pointed to the delicious-looking vanilla shake.

“Can I have one of those?” I asked.

“Vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.”

I went with my favorite. “Strawberry, please.”

She tipped her head, and somehow the tiny blue hat that matched the too short old-time uniform stayed put on her head.

“So,” I said, trying to get to know my new friend. “Where were we?” I put my finger to my lips. “Oh right, Kevin.”

She laughed at my overly dramatic segue.

“Fine. I’ll answer your question—”

“Truthfully,” I cut in.

“Truthfully, as long as you answer one of mine . . . Truthfully.”

I folded my hands and placed them on the table after nodding my agreement.

“As I told you at the party, we started dating over the summer.”

I moved my arms to prop my hands up so I could rest my chin there. “But do you really like him?”

Her lips compressed. “He’s nice . . .”

“But—” I prodded.

“But there are just some things about him I’m not sure about.” I wanted to ask more when she had trouble meeting my eye. “Now my turn.”

Because her grin was on full display, I was a little worried about what she might ask.

“I was sure that you and Shep would have been a thing by now.”

I remained quiet as she hadn’t asked a question. Besides, even though we’d formed an alliance, she would have to earn my secrets. Not that I had many. But my feelings for Shepard, ones I was trying to get rid of, were off-limits for now.

“But Kevin tells me that Billy is super interested in you.”

Kevin told her about Billy? Which meant Billy had been gossiping about me to Kevin?

“Seriously?” I asked.

Her head bobbed vigorously. Thank goodness for the waitress. She arrived with whipped cream topped goodness. I wasn’t sure how to answer, so I took a sip and groaned. It was fan-freakin’-tastic.

“Good, huh?” When I nodded, she said, “But you’re not off the hook.”

“Billy . . .”

I drifted off when she looked past me with an instant of panic before she hid her reaction. Over my shoulder, I spied Kevin walking toward us with Billy behind him.

“Ladies,” Kevin said a second before bending down to sit beside Emily.

I kept my eyes on her, forgetting about Billy for a second. When I finally glanced over at where he stood, he had one brow arched in question. I scooted over giving him room to sit next to me. By the time I looked at Emily, Kevin’s disapproval of the milkshake was evident by the way he was glaring at it.

It took a matter of a second for me to put it all together. I reached over and snagged the untouched shake.

“Do you like milkshakes?” I asked Billy, shifting it in his direction. “I convinced Emily to order one, but she didn’t want it.”

When Billy said, “Are you sure?” and glanced at her, I chanced a look myself.

Now that I was searching for it, I spotted the fake edges that lined her smile.

“Yes, please,” she said.

“Your loss,” Billy said, taking the glass and going for it.

Kevin said something I didn’t catch. I was too focused on Emily’s downcast eyes saying so much more. And I didn’t like it.

“What are you guys up to?” Billy asked, ending the silence.

Emily sat a little straighter. “Kevin knew I was coming to talk to Finley.”

“And I missed you,” he said on the tail end of her sentence.

Billy jumped in. “That’s not all the truth. He did look a little bummed, and when I asked, he said that you were out with Finley. And I wanted a chance to see her again before practice.” Emily looked confused, I hadn’t yet told her about making the football team. “I convinced him to bring me here so we could run into you guys.”

His grin seemed sincere, but I wasn’t sure if Billy was covering for Kevin like I had with Emily.

“So what are you guys doing tonight?”

Emily mouth remained shut, so I tossed something out.

“I don’t know. My brother is having some people over.”

“Sounds like a party. I heard you guys have a sweet place,” Billy said.

How much digging had he done on me?

“We should grab a couple of steaks and grill if you have one,” he added.

The idea of going home and watching girls drool over Shep wasn’t appealing. I also knew I couldn’t stay silent if Kevin dictated what Emily could eat.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun,” I said, trying to catch Emily’s eye. However, she just stared out the window.

“Cool,” Billy said.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Before I could stop him, he slipped out of the booth and headed to the counter that lined the back wall.

“Looks like we’re having a cookout,” Kevin said.

“Is that okay with you?” I directed my question to Emily.

“Huh?” She turned and met my eyes. “Oh, yeah, sure.”

“Come on, babe,” Kevin said, slithering from the seat and holding a hand out to