Double Clutch - Реинхардт Лиз - Страница 30

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Once I was dressed, I needed something productive to take up my time and keep me from pacing a hole in my bedroom floor. I did some more work on my sketches for the Folly shirt, listening to their music in the background as I worked. I was starting to piece some things together I thought would look cool. While I worked, I finally managed to lose track of the time, and before I knew it, Thorsten knocked on my door.

“I’m off to work, Brenna.”

I got off of the bed and kissed his cheek. “Drive safe, Fa.”

“Have fun today,” he said and put a twenty in my hand. “For the movie and snacks.”

“Thanks.” I gave him a quick hug.

When it was exactly time to go, I bolted off my bed, got my purse and coat, put on my hat and scarf, and went to get Mom.

“Ooh, honey, you look so cute,” she gushed as she grabbed the keys.

“Thanks.” I hoped Jake thought so.

We drove to the theater, and Mom kissed me and reminded me to have my cell on vibrate and call after the movie if I was going to get something to eat with my friends. I wondered how long Jake would be allowed out.

When I got out of the car and looked around, it wasn’t Jake I noticed, but Saxon, leaned up against the wall, one leg bent behind him, smoking a cigarette. I saw Kelsie near him and the guy Chris who was in our Crafts class and the lead singer in Folly. There were two other girls and a guy I didn’t know.

Saxon and I met eyes, and he looked me up and down slowly, but he didn’t greet me or call me over. I hated the warm flush that came over me as his eyes worked over my body, assessing. I wanted to erase my memory of Friday afternoon with him. I could tell from the way he looked at me that he was thinking about it.

Kelsie waved her hands over her head. “Brenna! Come here!”

I waved at Mom, who smiled and pulled away, and I went to say hi to Kelsie, trying to avoid looking at Saxon while at the same time looking for Jake without being too obvious.

“Where is he?” She tugged on my dress. “You look so adorable. I almost finished a necklace for you. It would go perfect with that dress if you had a blue belt. Do you?”

“I don’t know. Where he is,” I clarified. “I do have a blue belt. Thank you for the necklace.” My head was spinning. “I didn’t realize Saxon would be here. And Chris?”

“I know.” She dug her fingers into my arm. “Saxon actually got everyone together.”

“Oh.” My mind immediately turned suspicious. I wondered if he asked Kelsie to ask me. I could ask him if he had, but I definitely didn’t want to.

“He’ll be here.” Kelsie grabbed my arm and started to lead me to the group.

“It’s okay,” I said, though it definitely was not okay. Where was he? What if he didn’t show up?

And then he was right there. I didn’t see him arrive, but once he was there, I didn’t care about anything but pressing my lips to his. I was aware, somewhere in the back of my mind, that Saxon would see it, but I tried to push that thought away.

Jake looked slightly embarrassed when he saw the crowd. He pulled me over to the side before he kissed me. His kiss was hungry but quick, and not too indecent. I had a feeling Jake wasn’t much of an exhibitionist and that was fine with me. Making out in the privacy of my room was one thing. Making out in front of a Newton movie theater was skanky.

“You look great.” He pulled back from me and let his eyes wander from my head to my toes. “I really like your dressy thing.”

“Thanks.” I pulled closer and kissed his nose. “It’s usually called a ‘dress.’”

He laughed and pulled his hat off, running his hand over his shower-damp hair. “You know what I mean. So these are your friends?” He threw a pointed look at the group clustered nearby, watching us without looking too obvious about it.

“Hey Jake.” Kelsie waved and smiled. “This is Chris, Amanda, Joey and Megan, and this is Saxon.”

Jake nodded and smiled politely until he saw Saxon. His mouth thinned into a hard line. “Saxon.”

“Hey Jake.” Saxon dragged on his cigarette and talked through the smoke that billowed out of his mouth. “How’s it going?”

“Alright.” Jake pulled me closer to his side possessively.

Did they know each other? There was an animosity between them that crackled in the air. I gave Jake a questioning look, but he shook his head slightly, letting me know he couldn’t talk about it there.

The weird vibes suffocated the group into an awkward silence, but neither of the guys looked ready to do more than glare.

“Maybe we should go and buy tickets,” I suggested.

“Good idea.” Kelsie raised her eyebrows at the huge group that had congregated at the ticket booth. “It looks like the crazy fans are getting here.”

Sure enough, gaggles of middle-aged women in handmade ‘No one puts Baby in the corner!’ t-shirts jostled at the ticket window.

“I’ll go get our tickets.” Jake squeezed my hand.

I took the twenty out of my purse. “Here,” I offered.

“No.” He held his hands up and shook his head. “This is a date, Brenna. I’m not letting you pay for anything.”

“But you have truck parts to buy.” I held the twenty out again. “You worked hard for your money.”

“And I want to spend it on you, so let me.” He closed my hand over the bill and pushed it back towards me.

He walked over to get the tickets, and Saxon snaked into his place, his mouth close to my ear.

“So that’s why you ran out of my car?” His cigarette was out, but he reeked of smoke. “You’re Jake Kelly’s latest conquest. Have some self-respect, Brenna.”

Jake turned his head and scowled at Saxon, obviously aggravated, but stuck in his place in line. Saxon gave him a cruel wave.

“I got out of your car because I was tired of your company. That’s it, Saxon. And what I do or who I do it with is not your business.” I waved at Jake and he looked relieved.

Saxon reached out and tightened my unfurling scarf like he’d done the other day at school. “You could do a hell of a lot better than Jake Kelly. I’m an asshole, but even I’m a better choice than he is.”

I could see Jake’s body tense as he waited, switching from foot to foot impatiently.

I batted Saxon’s hands away and threw my scarf ends over my shoulder. “Jake’s a great guy, and I don’t really want to talk about him with someone like you.” I narrowed my eyes and stepped away from him. “Back off.”

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