I guess, I’d decided long ago I’d never be like Dad because I was determined not to go through the things he had endured. I had probably taken things a bit too far over the years, but even so, I wasn’t ready to give up my popularity, even for a girl like Hadley. I knew she was something special, a once in a lifetime kind of girl, but I wasn’t ready to make that leap yet. If I wasn’t the super popular captain of the football team, Tyler Robbins, I wasn’t anyone. And I refused to be a nobody my senior year.
As I slumped in my desk, not paying the least bit of attention to my History teacher, something landed on my desk. I glanced at Mr. Williams, then pulled the note under my desk to open it. The curling handwriting with little hearts above the I’s told me it was from a girl, but I had no idea which one.
Take me to the dance?
Who was brave enough to ask me to the dance next week? I looked around the room and caught Bethany Andrews giving me what I’m sure she thought was a seductive smile. It looked cold and calculating, and just like a hundred other smiles I’d seen since becoming captain of the football team. At one point in my life, I’d have jumped at the chance to hook up with a girl like her. Easy. They were all easy and falling at my feet, practically begging me to take advantage of them. The old me would have smiled back, given her a wink, and not only taken her to the dance, but put a blanket in the back of my truck for afterward.
I wasn’t going to be that guy anymore though. Not only would my mother not put up with it any longer, but I didn’t want to be like that. I wanted to be someone who deserved a girl like Hadley. This was senior year, and while it was supposed to be full of parties and getting laid, I was ready to set the foundation for my future. It was time to ditch the Alicias in my life, also known as my psycho ex, and start making better decisions. Preferably ones that wouldn’t land me in military school.
I shook my head, dashing Bethany’s hopes. Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned, but I wasn’t too worried about her being pissed. I’d only dated her once, and that had been weeks ago, so there was no reason she should expect me to take her out again, much less to a dance. As I faced forward, my brow furrowed. I didn’t remember seeing Hadley at too many dances. Maybe one or two with Hunter, but … if she hadn’t gone with her real boyfriend, what were the chances she’d go with me?
“You know Alicia will have heard about the kiss,” Luke whispered.
I nearly groaned. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t go psycho on Hadley like she has every other girl I’ve shown an interest in.”
Hadley. That kiss was still replaying in my mind.
I’d have to convince her the dance was an important part of my plan. If she didn’t go to the dance with me, then Mom would never believe I was seriously dating Hadley. I wasn’t entirely sure Mom was going to believe it anyway. I’d mentioned Hadley off and on over the years—yes, I’d noticed her even though I’d never asked her out—but Mom knew her to be my unattainable girl. What were the chances she’d believe I’d caught the girl of my dreams on my first try? Especially a girl like Hadley.
The bell rang, dismissing us to an early lunch, and I immediately went to Hadley’s last class, only to find her missing. I moved along to Hadley’s locker. I knew she usually sat with the band geeks on the far side of the cafeteria, but that was about to change today. Either that, or I’d have to sit with the band geeks. Talk about social suicide! Of course, dating Hadley was going to screw up my image anyway. The guys would probably think I was attempting to go where no boy had been before, and the girls would wonder what sort of blackmail she had over me.
Little did they all realize I would do anything to be allowed the pleasure of worshipping at the feet of Hadley Ryan. Her hair, a beautiful red, shined like a new copper penny when the sun hit it just right. The green of her eyes reminded me of a smooth piece of jade. While she didn’t have the curves of most of the girls I had dated, I thought her petite, willowy frame was far sexier. She fit perfectly in my arms, and I couldn’t wait to hold her again.
Hadley wasn’t at her locker, and I cursed myself for not pressing her harder to wait for me. Of course, there was no guarantee she’d have listened even if I’d been firmer. Just because I’d told her we should make a deal, I now realized she hadn’t exactly agreed to it. Here I was fantasizing about what the upcoming weeks would be like, and our possible distant future, and for all I knew, she was hiding from me and had no interest in claiming me as her pretend boyfriend.
The cafeteria was crowded, but I easily spotted her in line. The guy standing behind her was checking her out a little more than I liked and I shoved him aside, moving into his spot. Hadley jumped and squeaked as my arms snaked around her waist, and I pulled her back against me.