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Authors: Nia Stephens

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Chapter 6

Home Game

“L
et me get this straight,” Maria said the next day at lunch. “You chose Ethan without my consent?”

“I did butâ”

Maria held up her index finger, indicating she was not finished. “Then you proceed to contact him via e-mail without consulting me on the content. After that, you set up a date after the game at Wellingtonânot to mention, you fail to tell me all during school yesterday. What have you got to say for yourself?”

“Are you done?” Gemma asked.

Maria nodded. “Okay, I forgive you.” She leaned toward Gemma eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “Now tell me what happened after the game.”

Gemma proceeded to tell her all about Angela's skeevy moves on Ethan.

Maria frowned. “I thought they were history.”

“That makes you, me, and the rest of the student body,” Gemma said. She took a huge bite of her pizza. She was late for school today so she had skipped breakfast and she was starving.

She swallowed and continued. “I was afraid to sit with my back to her for fear she would plunge a knife into me, shove my dead body aside and then make out with Ethan right there.”

Maria looked at her friend. “You have too much imagination,” she said. “Besides, Ethan would not make out next to a dead body,” she added with a smirk.

“Ha-ha. Very funny,” Gemma said. “But I tell you, you should have seen her. She looked like she hated my guts just for talking to her ex. It was unbelievable.”

“No worries, chica.” Maria shrugged. “Angela is just jealous because her ex-man wants you now.”

“If she really is an ex,” Gemma grumbled.

“Hey.” Both girls looked up. Ethan was standing right next to their table.

Dude can sure sneak up on a girl
, Gemma thought, quickly running the napkin across her chin. She hoped she didn't have gooey cheesy tomato sauce all over her face. And she really hoped he hadn't heard her dissing Angela.

“We didn't get the chance to finish our conversation at Harry's yesterday,” he said, looking down at Gemma.

Whose fault was that
? She realized she was still peeved by the entire situation.

“Do you still want to go bowling?” Ethan asked.

One of Ethan's buddies walked by and hailed him. When Ethan turned to respond, Gemma glanced toward Maria for help. Maria nodded her approval.

“Sure,” Gemma told Ethan when she had his full attention again.

“Cool. I'll pick you up tonight at eight.” He tapped the table with his fingertips, then said, “I'll be back.”

When he walked off, Maria jabbed Gemma in the shoulder. “See, I told you he likes you. Screw Angela.” She grinned wickedly. “Everyone else has.”

“You're terrible,” Gemma said, laughing.

Five minutes later, Ethan returned with a lunch tray. “Do you mind if I sit with you guys?”

Gemma couldn't believe it. She figured he wasn't serious when he said he'd be right back. Like guys who just say
See you later,
when what they really mean is
Good-bye, hopefully forever
. It was just something to say. He slid into the seat beside her.

“Oh, I forgot my notebook in calc class,” Maria blurted. She stood up and bolted out of the lunchroom.

Gemma watched her friend vanish through the doors, feeling her face grow warm with embarrassment. She shook her head and turned back to Ethan.

“Slick, isn't she?” he asked, grinning.

Gemma twirled the straw in her soda. “I guess she wanted to give us a chance to talk. Alone.”

“Looks like.”

They both sat in silence for an excruciating minute. Gemma couldn't think of anything to say because all she wanted to talk about was Angela but she didn't feel ready to go there.

Finally Ethan asked, “So what do you think about Coach actually taking us out last night? The entire bus almost keeled over in shock. That is the cheapest man that ever lived.”

“I know, right?” Gemma agreed. “It must be some sort of tax write-off.”

“That, or he just finally lost his mind.”

He took a swig of his soda. “Oh, about bowling tonightâ”

Gemma tensed. No way could he be breaking their date already. Whatâdid he run into Angela while he was getting his lunch and now he's changed his mind?

“I haven't bowled in a while so don't expect too much.”

Gemma took a deep breath and exhaled. “Same here.”

Quit being so paranoid,
she told herself.
Like Maria said, screw Angela
.

“No fair! You cheated,” Ethan complained. “You can't run halfway down the lane and then throw the ball.”

“Hey, I'm at a disadvantage here,” Gemma said, giggling. “I haven't bowled since I was eleven.”

“I'll let you cheat this time,” he said, walking up to her. “But it's going to cost you.”

Ethan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her right there in the middle of the lane. Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips pressed gently against hers. He pulled her closer and used his tongue to open her mouth just a little, then finished with firmer pressure on her lips. He released her and she blinked a few times, staring up into his handsome face.

“That was okay to do, wasn't it?” he asked.

When Gemma's feet found themselves firmly planted on the ground once again, she muttered an incoherent “yes” that came out more like “yuh.”

He took a step away from her and she realized that the elderly members of the Klassy Kleaners bowling league were all gawking at them.

“Let's get out of here,” Ethan said, taking her hand.

“Where are we going?” Gemma asked, wondering if he was hoping to go somewhere more private.

“You hungry?”

She nodded.

“Good. Me, too. Let's go get something to eat.”

When they got to Ethan's car and hopped in, he put the key in the ignition but didn't start the car.

“Anything wrong?” she asked.

He reached over and put his right arm around her, pulling her closer. His nearness made tingles run along her spine. Suddenly he kissed her again, but this time he must have felt more comfortable without the Klassy Kleaners as an audience. His tongue slid into her open mouth as their lips came together. He reached around with his left hand and settled it on her hip, pulling her even closer. She was actually making out with Ethan Jackson! She felt herself grow warm as the kiss became deeper, more insistent. She draped an arm around the back of his neck.

“Do you want to move this to the backseat?” he asked, his voice husky.

Gemma pulled back a tiny bit. Ethan drove a sporty car with very little backseat. But that wasn't the reason she hesitated. She wasn't exactly sure what he expected from her. He had dated a girl with one of the most questionable reputations in schoolâoh, who was she kidding,
the
most questionable reputation. Maybe that's what he looked for in a girl.

“I'm kind of hungry. Why don't we go get something to eat?” she suggested.

Ethan pulled away from her and started the car. “Sure thing. I know the perfect place.”

Gemma had expected to pull up in front of a pizza joint or a coffeehouse. Instead, twenty minutes later the car stopped in front of a massive house surrounded by a colossal gate. When Ethan turned off the ignition, he said, “Home sweet home. Ludmilla, our housekeeper, makes the best tacos. You have to try one.”

Ethan's house was set high on a hill and had a three-car garage. Inside the garage was a Ferrari, a Lexus, and a Mercedes wagon. Parked on the side was a shiny red Kawasaki motorcycle.

“Is that yours?” Gemma asked, nodding toward the bike.

“Yep. Don't have a license for it though. Just got it.” He turned to look at her. “But I can ride you around our estate if you want.”

Gemma had always had a fascination with motorcycles, and this one looked like a seriously sweet ride. Even better, she'd be holding on to Ethan. It would be like a scene out of a movie!

“I'd love that,” she exclaimed.

Ethan grinned. “I was hoping you'd say that!” He took her hand and pulled her into the garage. He grabbed the helmet resting on the seat and handed it to her. She'd forgotten about helmet hair. That wasn't in the fantasy. But Ethan was grinning at her, waiting, so she put on the helmet. She climbed aboard behind him, and slid her arms around his waist, gripping him tightly.

Slowly, he took off down the driveway. “All right back there?” he asked.

“I'm great!” Gemma said.

Ethan pressed the gas and they sped off into the night. The full moon hung low, illuminating the lush lawn and the scattered trees. Gemma shut her eyes a moment, enjoying the wind against her skin. She could feel the power in Ethan's well-muscled body as she kept her arms wrapped around him. Looking around again, she was amazed by how much ground they were covering. He drove down a little path under a dense grove of small palm trees. He stopped as they reached the edge of a creek. He turned off the ignition and helped her off the bike.

“All this is your property?” she asked, stunned.

“More like my parents',” he responded. “I just cohabit here.”

Ethan unfastened the strap of her helmet. She lifted it off as he took off his own. He hung them from the bike's handlebars, then turned to face her. “I'm glad you decided to hang with me tonight,” he said, gazing into her eyes.

Her heart began to race. “I'm glad, too.”

He took a step toward her, but this time she was prepared for the kiss. As he wrapped his arms around her, she slid her hands up his back, pressing him closer.

The kiss deepened, and she didn't know if she would be able to stay standingâher knees felt that wobbly. His hands slowly untucked her shirt from her jeans. His fingertips gently moved up and down her back, sending tingles across her skin.

As his kisses moved from her lips onto her neck, she felt this was so good, so right. She also realized this was pretty much as far as she wanted to go. Gently, he guided her down onto the grass. They lay stretched out together, one of his legs covering hers, one of his hands cupping her face.
This is what bliss feels like
, she thought.

He lifted her hands over her head, and she realized he was preparing to remove her shirt. She tensed, and decided she'd better stomp on the brakes. She brought her arms back down and stopped kissing him.

“Uhm ... What about those tacos?” she asked.

“Oh, didn't realize you were still hungry.” He lifted himself up and then extended a hand, helping her up. She turned away from him to tuck in her shirt.

She heard him laughing behind her.

“What?” Gemma asked, turning back around.

He waved a hand up and down in front of her. “You're a sight.”

She glanced down and realized she was covered in grass. She twisted to see her back, her butt. She started laughing too. “Yeah, I think we'd have some explaining to do if I went home like this,” she said.

He helped her brush off all the grass and then handed her her helmet. “Let's hook up some tacos.”

Chapter 7

Secrets and Lies

“Y
ou did
what
?” Maria squealed in study hall the next day.

“You heard me right. Ethan and I made out last night,” Gemma said proudly.

Mrs. Missick, the study hall teacher, looked up from her magazine and shushed them.

“Wait a minute,” Maria said in a lower voice. “Do you mean made out or do you mean hooked up?”

“I said made out, didn't I?” Gemma said, annoyed.

“So what's next?” Maria asked.

“He asked if I wanted to go miniature golfing tonight,” Gemma reported happily. “We stuffed our faces with tacos and, Maria, I don't think I've ever been so comfortable with a guy. At least, not a guy I was so attracted to. I think this could really turn into something.”

“Bowling? Golfing?” Maria asked, nodding her head approvingly. “I'd say this sounds like actual dating behavior. Not random hook-ups.”

“I think so, too!”

“If I hear one more word out of you two, I will have to ask you to leave,” Mrs. Missick said sternly. “Which would result in a detention.”

“Sorry,” Gemma said. “We'll be quiet.”

“Can't risk missing your date due to detention,” Maria whispered. Then, with a smile to Mrs. Missick, she mimed zipping her lip.

That evening Maria helped Gemma pick out something to wear for her miniature golfing date with Ethan. Every once in a while Gemma's dad would pop his head into her room to say that he wanted to make sure they didn't spontaneously combust with all the excitement.

“So,” Maria said, surveying the piles of shoes. “What does one wear when miniature golfing?”

“Would you quit doing that?” Gemma said. “It's so annoying.”

“Doing what?” Maria asked.

“The air quotes.” Gemma demonstrated. “You do that every time you say miniature golfing.”

Gemma's dad peeked in again. “Remember to get me when your date arrives. I want to meet this young lad before he attempts to paw my only daughter.”

“Daaad,” Gemma whined.

“Geeeeemmmmma,” her father whined back. She could hear him chuckling as he sauntered away down the hall.

Suddenly the nervous excitement Gemma was feeling transformed into just plain nerves. She sank onto her bed.

“What's wrong?” Maria asked.

“So what do you think his intentions are?” Gemma asked.

“I think he likes you and wants to hang out.”

LeBron jumped up on her lap, making himself comfortable. She stroked the dog's soft coat. “Do you think he wants to hook up tonight?”

“Of course he wants to hook up tonight,” Maria said. “You can pull any random guy off the street and ask him if he wants to hook up tonight and his answer will be yes.”

Gemma rolled her eyes. “I mean with me, duh.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” Maria said, taking a seat next to her friend.

“Think about it,” Gemma began. “Does he think I'm another Angela?”

Maria shrugged. “The only way to know is to go out with him and find out what's up. And if he's the right guy for youâand not a certain Mr. Nick Simmons,” she added with a sneer, “he'll be cool with your pace.”

Gemma smiled. “I guess so.”

“I know so.” Maria jumped up from the bed, startling LeBron. “Now let's finish dolling you up.”

At eight o'clock, Gemma admired her reflection in the full-length mirror, thinking maybe Maria's future was as a stylist. Maria's choice of a denim skirt with a peach tank top was the perfect casual but stylish choice. The color of the tank flattered Gemma's skin tone, and the gold bangle on her wrist and chain around her neck made the outfit more datelike. Maria had applied Gemma's makeup so that it was subtle but emphasized her wide eyes and sexy mouth. Her hair was simple, worn long to her shoulder.

“You are a genius,” Gemma murmured.

“You girls still alive in here? It's awful quiet,” her dad said, popping his head in once again.

“We're ready!” Maria answered. “So when Ethan gets here, you let us know and Gemma can make an entrance.”

“I'll tell my wife we have our orders,” Mr. Williams quipped.

By eight-thirty, Gemma was getting anxious. Ethan was supposed to pick her up at eight. At the very least she expected a call. At nine-thirty, her humiliation was complete.

“Hon?” her dad called from the bottom of the steps. “Your mom and I are going out for ice cream. Do you and Maria want to come with us?”

Gemma shut her eyes and exhaled. How embarrassing was it for her parents to have to console her for being stood up. “No thanks, Dad,” she hollered back.

She heard the front door slam. She turned to Maria. “He's not coming, is he?”

Maria sighed and frowned. “Sorry, chica. It doesn't look good.”

Gemma stood and went back to pacingâshe'd gotten quite good at it while waiting for Ethan.

“Maybe something happened,” Maria suggested. “Give him a call.”

“I am not calling him,” Gemma fumed. “If something came up, he should have called
me
.”

“Well, yeah ...” Maria stood up and gathered her things. “I'm sorry it turned out like this. I've got to go, though. Call me in the
AM
.”

After Maria left, Gemma changed into her nightshirt, sadly discarding the outfit she'd had so much fun choosing in anticipation of this date.

She crawled into bed. She glanced at her bedside clock. Ten-thirty.

Maybe Maria was rightâmaybe she should call him,
she thought as she picked up her phone.

His cell rang once and then twice. On the third ring, someone picked up but there was too much static in the background to hear properly.

“Hello?” Gemma said into the receiver. “Hello? Ethan?”

There was more static but then she heard a voice. A female voice. “Hello?”

Thinking she had misdialed, Gemma said, “Sorry. I must have the wrong number.”

“Who are you looking for?” the girl asked.

“Ethan Jackson.”

“Who is this?”

Something strange was going on. Gemma responded cautiously. “This is Gemma. Who is this?”

“Gemma?” the voice said. “This is Angela Rattner.”

Gemma's jaw dropped. Before she could respond, there was more static and the phone went dead. Kind of like her hopes to find a decent guy who was not a lying, cheating conniver. Furious, Gemma hopped into bed and pulled the covers over her head. “They must be having a great laugh over this,” she said to LeBron, who was curled up next to her pillow.

What an idiot she had been.

“So what did he have to say for himself?” Maria asked Gemma at lunch the next day.

Gemma rolled her eyes. “
He
had nothing to say but Angela had plenty.”

Maria furrowed her brow. “What does she have to do with this?”

“She answered his phone when I called.” Gemma was almost too embarrassed to admit the truth. She had been played.

“No way!” Maria exclaimed.

Gemma told her the whole sordid story. With each word, Maria's eyes grew bigger and bigger until Gemma thought they would pop out of her head. “Luckily, I have avoided him all day,” Gemma said.

As if on cue, Ethan sauntered through the cafeteria doors. Gemma's heart leapt into her throat. She whipped her head back around, attempting to avoid eye contact with him at all costs. But he saw her.

“Gemma, I'm so sorry,” he said as he came up to the table. “I forgot about this charity auction thing I had to do. I tried calling last night to let you know, but my phone kept going in and out of service.”

A charity auction? Out of service
?
What next, Angela was moonlighting with Verizon and was only there to fix his cell?

“I am so sorry,” he said, taking a seat next to her. Maria was giving him a serious glare, but he didn't seem to notice. “I wanted to hang out with you so badly last night but I couldn't get away.”

“Hm,” was all Gemma could muster.

“I'll make it up to you,” Ethan said. “I promise. Let me take you out tonight.”

“So why did Angela Rattner answer your phone last night?” Gemma angrily blurted out.

“What?” Ethan looked surprised. “Angela is a volunteer too. But she should definitely
not
be answering my phone. What did she say?”

“She really didn't have a chance to say anything. The phone died.”
Or someone hung up on me
.

“I'm so sorry, Gemma,” he said. “She shouldn't have done that.”

Gemma really wanted to believe him. But she just didn't know if she could.

“After all this, would you even still want to hang out with me tonight?” he asked.

“I may be busy,” Gemma replied.

Maria gaped at her. Luckily, Ethan couldn't see her friend's shocked expression.

Ethan frowned. He was obviously trying to decide if she was blowing him off or if she really wasn't sure of her schedule. “I understand. But if you can, let me know.” With that, he stood up and walked over to his basketball buddies.

“I don't get it,” Maria said. “He told you what the deal wasâAngela is a stalker.”

Frustrated, Gemma turned to her friend. “What if he really is still seeing her? Even if they're just hooking up randomlyâwhere does that leave me?”

“How will you ever find out if you don't go out with him again?” Maria said. “Then you can ask him if he's still seeing her, straight up.”

Gemma shrugged helplessly. “I just don't know.”

TO GIVE ETHAN A SECOND SHOT,

turn the page.