Forever (Friends #3)(6)

His mouth drops open as his wide eyes meet mine. "Did you just curse?"

I shrug, a little embarrassed. "I do on occasion say bad words. I'm not as prissy as everyone seems to think I am." Where did that assumption even come from?

"I never thought you were prissy. It's just … you're so smart. It's intimidating sometimes, trying to talk to you." He looks away. "I'm the farthest thing from smart, so I don't feel like I measure up, you know?"




 

 

"Cannon." I'm shocked he would even say such a thing, but I guess we all have our own insecurities we're dealing with. "That's the craziest thing ever. Why are you intimidated by me? I'm nothing. You, on the other hand, are such an amazing football player." His gaze meets mine once more, his brows furrowed in seeming confusion. "Seriously. You could probably get a scholarship somewhere. Anywhere you want to go."

"Aw, I don't know about that. That's what my mom says, but she just wants me to get out of here and make something of myself. Problem is my grades aren't so good." A horn suddenly honks and I glance out the passenger side window to see Ryan pulling out of the parking lot in his fancy white BMW, the tires squealing and I swear I could hear him laughing through his open window.

Such a show off.

"We should go," Cannon says as he puts the truck in reverse and backs out of the parking spot. "Give me your address. I don't know where you live."

I rattle it off and remain quiet for a while, my mind running over what Cannon said. What happened earlier between Livvy and Ryan. What happened between me and Tuttle during the game. It's been an adventurous-and mostly annoying-night and there's more to come with the party at Cannon's.

Great.

"I feel bad about you taking me home, since you're the one having the party," I finally say. "Don't you have to get things ready?"

He chuckles, his mouth curving into a little smile. "Get things ready for what? I don't need to do much."

Any party I've helped plan, there's constant stuff to be done before it starts. "Are you sure? Don't you have to like, set out food or whatever?"

"I have a giant bag of tortilla chips from Sam's Club and a couple of kegs out waiting in the backyard. Oh, and some beers chilling in the fridge, but those are for my VIP guests. Otherwise, I'm ready." We come to a stop at a red light and he turns to look at me. "It's no big deal, Amanda. Besides, you don't live that far from me. After I drop you off, I'll be home in less than five minutes."

Right. Because we don't live in the rich neighborhoods like everyone else we hang out with.

Trying to change the subject, I run my hand along the smooth, dark gray dashboard in front of me. "I like your truck."

He smiles. I can tell it's a source of pride for him. "Thanks. I treat it like my baby."

"Did you buy it brand new?"

"Yeah." His smile slips. The pride I saw flashing in his eyes is gone. Now he appears uncomfortable. "My dad bought it for me at the beginning of the summer. Called it an early graduation gift." 

More like a year-early graduation gift. Parents are so weird sometimes. "Oh." I don't recall ever seeing a Mr. Whittaker come to watch the games. I don't remember ever seeing a Mrs. Whittaker there either. "So. Are you close to your dad?"

"Not really," he says through clenched teeth. He looks tense. Almost … angry. "He's not a big part of my life."

"Oh." I keep repeating myself. And I have no idea what it's like to have a neglectful parent. My parents are so involved in my life I wish they'd leave me alone half the time. "Well, he bought you a really nice truck." He must have major money to afford this.

"Yeah. I think it's supposed to make up for all the times he's never around." Cannon guns it when the light turns green, making my head jerk back and bounce against the back of the seat. "Sorry. My father is a touchy subject."

Fathers seem to be a touchy subject for more people than I realized.

"It's okay. I get it." Not really, but I want to. "How many people did you invite to the party?"

"Everyone. Like the entire football team and whoever else wants to come. My mom doesn't go out of town too often, so I had to take advantage."

"Will she be mad if she knew you were having this party?"

He shrugs, keeping his eyes glued on the road. "Maybe. I don't know. She just wants me happy, so if she ever did find out about this party, she'd probably like it. At least I'm being social. That's what she'd say."

"I think you're pretty social."

"Yeah, well, most of the time I'm hating on everyone, so I must do a good job of pretending."