Free 10 Weeks by Jolene Perry Page B

basically agreeing to have dinner with Jeff’s parents, I’m feeling on edge. Like I know something’s up, but don’t know what it is. And Kay-Kay ’s out seducing an older man, and I’m weirded out by the way I feel around a guy I don’t know, even though the wide wooden bar is between us.
    Okay. I’m stronger than this. I should be. I’m thirsty. He works here. He already knows the drink I want, and so I’ll hopefully be spared some of the run-around I get from ordering, making me wonder again why on earth I insist on getting the same thing. But who would get a regular soda when you could get one with cherries?
    I tilt my chin up and take a seat.
    Liam ’s there in seconds, letting the other guy finish his order.
    “Jody.” He pauses a half step from his side of the counter, and I swoon a little at the way he says my name. I should probably stay a long ways away from a guy who only needs one word to turn me soft.
    “ Liam .” I’ve paralyzed myself by completely over-thinking the situation.
    “Usual?”
    I wait for the smirk or a wink, but it doesn’t come.
    I nod and swallow a few times. The noise of the bar and everyone else sort of disappears , making ordering a drink the center of the universe. I’ve got to stop this. “Thanks.”
    I watch him move as he fills my cup and splashes in the cherry flavor. Long, lean arms, nice waist, a perfect view of his fabulous ass. My eyes haven’t come back up when he turns , giving me another nice view that I can’t believe I’m enjoying through his snug jeans. He bends down until our eyes meet—right about ass/crotch level.
    “You here?”
    I press my palm into my face as if it’ll hide me and my burning cheeks. Never have I checked out a guy like that, and when I did, it definitely didn’t leave the pinpricks of nerves that are dancing around on my skin and in my gut.
    “I…” I set my hand down.
    He smiles. “Yeah, you’re here.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    He chuckles. “What for? You think other girls haven’t checked me out before?”
    “I’m not other girls. I’m not that girl. I don’t…”
    He grins and I realize he’s messing with me. “I know you’re not that girl. Bill told me. And I have a pretty good sense of these things. You’re different.”
    “You asked Bill about me?”
    “Sorry.” Sam grabs me from the side. “We gotta get out of here.”
    “Wait.” Liam steps forward.
    I shrug, drop a five o n the bar and let myself be dragged out. The feeling is an equal mix of disappointment and relief.
    Sam’s quiet on our way back until I ask her about the dance place she worked at last winter. She seems distracted, but tells me how she met her dance partner. She pauses a few times as she talks about what a natural talent he is, and how hard he works. I know there’s a lot more to the story than she let on, but I don’t push her.   Sam tends to snap when I do, and I know she’s not in the mood.
    We don’t even sing when we hit the trees. When we stop in the parking lot, I don’t know how to do more than ask if she’s okay, and I get a mumble in response.
    Chapter Sixteen
    I hate shedding the casualness of my shorts and camp T-shirt. I come here to escape all the politeness of being around my parents, and now I’m stuck in the even worse situation of being around Jeff’s.
    My cotton skirt actually feels itchy, but I slide on my wedges and grab a cardigan to toss over my tank top for when we get there.
    Last minute I grab a pair of soft cut-offs and tennis shoes to toss in my bag.
    Fifteen minutes until Jeff’s picking me up. My heart pounds. What will it be like to be with him, but not with him? How am I supposed to act like everything’s okay when my heart’s still breaking? Only, I don’t even know if it’s my heart. I’m still in shock maybe. Hopefully more anger will kick in at some point, because I think that would be easier to deal with.
    Fourteen minutes.
    I clutch my stomach, feeling like I’ll be sick. This is