Falling for the Ghost of You(53)

He still takes my picture!

Well, I don't think he was pointing the lens at my face. Yuck.

Right after dinner, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. I think my period just started (it's early!) and I'm right. Ugh.

After I get cleaned up, I go back down, determined to find Zane and apologize. It still burns me to think of other girls throwing themselves at him, but I suppose it's unrealistic of me to expect him to push them away with a "blah!"

I run into Mom downstairs. Right away she asks me if I'm really dating a freshman.

I roll my eyes. "No, that was a huge misunderstanding."

She looks relieved. "Oh, thank goodness. I was starting to wonder if you were getting desperate. Because Barbara's kid is a little punk, and you can do so much better."

I have to laugh at her serious tone. "Thanks, Lily."

"You're welcome, child. And call me mom. Oh, could you do me a favor and start a pot of coffee?"

"Anything for you, Mother, dear."

She pats my cheek and thanks me. I walk slowly to the kitchen, hoping to run into Zane, but no such luck.

I still don't know what to think about Jenna. How come I didn’t know about her, but she knows all about me? And do I even have a right to be pissed about her staying with him? I think about texting Lauren for advice, but Lauren’s never been in a relationship before, so it would kind of be like the blind leading the blind. Maybe I could ask Kim? She’s certainly had a lot of experience with relationships, having been in dozens herself.

Or maybe I should post an anonymous question on the internet. Hm. I ponder my choices as I fire up the coffee maker. Matt was friends with lots of other girls, and I never cared—until he cheated on me, that is. But with Matt, I never felt that connection—or heart-stopping attraction—that I do with Zane. He really just does…what’s that on the ground?

I kneel down to examine the shiny little object stuck to the tile. Looks like a rhinestone. I wonder how it got here, and who it belongs to.

While I'm wondering these things, I hear the door open. The sound of Jenna's laughter freezes me to the spot, and raises my hackles.

"No way in hell," Zane is saying. "But they're still all over me about it."

I hear a thump on the counter above me. They're standing right on the other side. I plaster myself against a cabinet, praying they won't come around.

"Aw, poor baby! Must be hard to be a wanted man. So you're definitely turning it down?"

"Yeah."

"So no career change for you after all, huh?"

Career change? Zane never mentioned anything about that to me. I listen closely, jealous of Jenna's insider knowledge.

"So, I can't believe you haven't told her," Jenna is saying. My ears prick up. "Dude, that's so not good."

Told who? Me?

Zane seems to sigh. "It's complicated. I know what I'm doing."

She makes a tsking noise. "If you say so. But she's going to find out eventually."

There is a pause where I picture Zane running his hands through his hair. "I'll deal with it," he says shortly. "Come on, let's go find Violet."

I hold my breath as I listen to their footsteps walk away. When I hear the door swing shut, I breathe a sigh of relief.

I sink to the floor, back against the counter. Okay, so what was that about? Was it about me? If not, then who? Either way, Zane's keeping something from me. What? And what do I do about it? No way am I going to admit I was listening.

My heart sinks as I absorb everything. I can't trust him, no matter how badly I want to.

The sounds of people entering the kitchen snap me out of my thoughts. Before I can react, creepy moaning noises and breathless giggles erupt from the other side of my counter.

"Oh, Grant," a familiar voice sighs.

I pop up suddenly, unable to believe my ears. Guess what I see? Jane, locked in the embrace of a balding middle aged man whom I'm pretty sure is married.

"Jane!" I gasp.

They both scream a little and break apart, wide-eyed.

"Violet!" Jane gasps, holding a hand against her heart.

"I thought you were a lesbian," I blurt out.

"It's not what it—what? Why would you think I'm a lesbian?"

"Oh..." I shrug. "Never mind. I should go."

I make a run for it. The things you find out when you hang out on the floor!











Chapter 21



I find Zane and Jenna saying their thank yous and goodbyes to Mom. I try to catch Zane's eye, but Jenna ends up pulling me to the side.

"Violet," she says with a smile. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you. I hope we can hang out more next time I'm in town."

I hesitate, staring into her gorgeous green eyes. "Yeah, that'd be...weird."

She bursts out laughing. "Kinda, huh?"