Free The Way You Say My Name by Sara Bell Page A

it all through, Dillon was pulling the car into the senior parking lot.

Jamie started to get out, but stopped short of opening the door. Turning to Dillon, he said, “Thanks for the ride. And thanks for, um, warming me up.” He was mortified to feel himself blush.

Dillon’s grin caused the blush to grow. “You’re more than welcome for the ride. And as for the warming up, well, that was pure pleasure on my part.” He laughed as Jamie felt his face flame. “I always loved the way you blush. God, you’re cute.”

Jamie didn’t know what to say, but he couldn’t stop the smile that lit his face. Here he was, eighteen-years-old, and blushing like some ten-year-old kid. Giving Dillon one last muttered thanks, he started to get out. Dillon reached out his hand and stopped him. “James?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you usually eat lunch with Lewis, but I was hoping you might eat with me. I mean, I don’t see Lewis’s car, and it looks like he’s not gonna show. And even if he does, I was hoping you might go off campus with me and grab a bite to eat, anyway. I was thinking we might go to Hailey’s. We both have fourth period lunch and a free period afterwards, which means we’d have over an hour and a half before we actually had to be back in class.”

Jamie raised his brows. “How did you know I have a free period after lunch?”

It was Dillon’s turn to blush, and Jamie had to admit, it looked adorable on him. “I, uh, had Megan check your schedule.”

That little bit of knowledge did more to warm Jamie than any amount of heat ever could. “Just lunch? That’s all your asking for?”

“Just lunch.”

Jamie’s head told him to say no, but his heart answered before his brain could shut it up. “Okay. Where do you want to meet?”

“How about meeting me at my car after third period?”

Jamie nodded. “I’ll be here.” He got out of the car, carrying the image of Dillon’s triumphant grin with him.

His first three classes seemed to drag on forever. Though he tried to fight it, Jamie found himself getting excited about the prospect of spending an hour and a half with Dillon. It was the same thrill he used to feel when he knew he and Dillon would be spending the day together. He’d fallen in love with Dillon Carver when he was just barely eleven years old, even though it took him three years to work up the nerve to tell him so. It was amazing that after all this time, and after all the heartache, Jamie still felt an electrical shock zing up his spine every time he saw Dillon’s face.

When the third period ending bell rang, Jamie all but flew towards the parking lot. He’d almost made it to the double doors when a tug on his coat sleeve stopped him. He turned around to see the soft blue eyes of Megan Nash staring up at him.

His first reaction was panic. Dillon had lied to him. Megan was here to warn him off. All those things Ben had said at the dance were probably true. Dillon just wanted Jamie for a side dish while waiting for Megan to become the main course. God, how could he have been stupid enough to trust him again? He was just about to go from panic to anger when Megan spoke.

“Dillon sent me to keep you company until he gets here. His mother caught him after class and asked him to move some boxes from the teacher’s supply closet down to her class room. It’ll only take a second, but he didn’t want you to think he was standing you up for your lunch date.”

Jamie cleared his throat. “Date? He called it a date?”

Megan smiled. “Of course that’s what he called it.” When Jamie made no response, her face fell. “Was I not supposed to say that? He told me you guys were taking it slow. I didn’t mean to screw this up. Damn, damn, damn.”

All the relief Jamie felt knowing that Megan knew, that Dillon hadn’t lied, bubbled up and coupled with the natural hilarity of Megan’s muttered curses. He burst out laughing. Megan watched him for a full minute before she also got caught