Free Enigma by Aimee Ash Page A

done with Kate Harris?”
    “Flo, don’t be ridiculous. I’m always hugging you,” I said, trying to act like I normally would, even though I knew I hadn’t convinced her.
    “Yes, but you’re not usually this happy, dancing around the kitchen. What’s going on?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. A cascade of wrinkles appeared across her forehead.
    I smiled, feeling my cheeks flush. “Nothing. I’m just in a good mood.” Flo laughed and I giggled like a little girl.
    “You’re a terrible liar. Tobias tells me you’ve been shopping. That isn’t the Kate I know and love,” Flo said with a twinkle in her eye. Tobias was more of a gossip than I had suspected.
    “Well . . . I needed a few things. Maybe I’ve succumbed to peer pressure,” I said.
    Flo laughed and poured me a glass of juice. “You’re obviously determined not to divulge whatever has put you in this good mood. I hope you’re behaving yourself,” she said and waved her finger at me.
    I giggled, taking the glass from her. “Of course I am. I’ll always be a good girl, Flo.”
    I drank my juice and ate a fresh chicken sandwich overloaded with mayo, which Flo had left in the fridge for me. When I finished, I grabbed my bag and walked to my car, remembering that I was going to Jack’s football game after my class. I had to pinch myself. I was the quarterback’s girlfriend. I was actually looking forward to going to college, but for all the wrong reasons.

CHAPTER 9

     
    A fter my class was over, I headed down the halls to a classroom that was being used for a football and cheerleading meeting. Jack had to get his game schedule and he’d invited me along to meet some of his teammates.
    When I arrived, the room was overcrowded. I found Jack and took a seat as close to him as I could get. He was gorgeous and my heart skipped far more than a few beats at the sight of him. He waved me over to him. As I made my way through the crowds, I saw a beautiful girl talking to Jack and it made me want to pull out her highlighted, blonde hair. There was no doubt that she was a cheerleader, and even though my confidence had grown since meeting Jack, I still found her beauty intimidating.
    Picking up my pace, I sat down next to him, which reassured me that I could keep my eye on his admirer. But before Jack had a chance to greet me, the girl tapped him on his shoulder.
    “Hi, excuse me. Do you have a pen I could borrow? I think I lost mine,” she said seductively, and then bit her bottom lip.
    I wanted to point her in the direction of the campus store, which sold every pen under the sun. Who would come to a meeting without a pen anyway? I thought. I was onto her and hoped that Jack would see that she was attempting to flirt with him, but he only smiled and handed her a pen.
    “Here, take mine.”
    Jealousy erupted in my chest and I gripped the arm of the chair.
    “Thanks. You’re a hero,” she said, making sure her hand touched his.
    To my relief, Jack turned away from her, and I appreciated his indifference. But as I smiled at him, the girl tapped him again, her acrylic nails brushing across his neck.
    “Sorry to bother you again, but are you Jack Jones from Eastwood High?” she asked excitedly, and bent down to reveal her unnatural cleavage.”
    How would she know that he was Jack Jones? I thought.
    Jack smiled awkwardly. “Yes, I’m Jack Jones, but I’m not at Eastwood High anymore.”
    The girl giggled and Jack smiled at her. My palms began sweating and my heart pounded. I tapped my foot, waiting for Jack to look my way, but he only shifted uncomfortably in his seat. I placed my bag on my lap, pretending to look for something, and kept my eye on him.
    He attempted to turn away from her again, but she grabbed his shoulder and whispered, “Pleased to meet you, Jack Jones. I’m Chanelle.”
    I laughed aloud, and she turned and glared at me. Her name was so typical.
    “Nice to meet you, Chanelle. Keep the pen,” Jack said, and then looked down at