She nods. The restaurant is so loud, I figure we can talk, as long as I keep my voice down.
“What do you think of the Friend Scheme?”
“The plan of the Donovans’, you mean?”
I nod.
“I guess … I dunno. A part of me thinks it’s risky, but also it’s kind of genius? Even now that it’s been found out. Like, I have this theory that the whole point of it might’ve been to freak us out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, ever since we found out about it, everyone has been super paranoid. And your dad has closed ranks, Mom told me. Some of the big meetings have changed to be Millers only, and Mom’s been left out of some stuff. She says she gets it, but I can tell she’s pretty upset. If you look at it that way, it’s genius.”
Ever since he was shot, meetings have been taking place in Dad’s hospital room instead of at Jimmy’s. It’s not ideal, but Dad paid the hospital a lot of money in order to ensure privacy. I haven’t been invited to these meetings, but Luke’s been to a few.
“Right.”
That actually does make sense.
If we’re fractured, not as strong as we used to be. Maybe that was a big part of their plan, and we played right into it?
I should talk to Dad about this as soon as possible.
But after I’ve watched Jason play baseball. I’m not going to miss that for anything.
“What are you thinking?” she asks.
“Just that you might be sort of brilliant.”
“Sort of? I’m offended, Matt.”
“Okay, you’re totally brilliant.”
“Thanks,” she says, and she grabs another dumpling with her chopsticks. “I know.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My phone lights up.
It’s a text from Jason.
You’re still coming to the game, right?
Sure am.
I’m in my car, in the lot of the restaurant where I had dinner with Cassidy. In front of me is a huge tropical mural, with a few red birds and butterflies on it. I rest my head against the headrest and smile. Hanging out with her has made me feel so damn good. I wonder if she knows how great it is for me to talk about being attracted to guys around her, and for her to not even care.
It’s new for me. I love it. Plus, she’s cool and smart and funny. Being friends with her would be a good thing.
My phone buzzes again.
Sweet! See you then.
I should enjoy this for a second. I know things aren’t perfect, but this a big deal for me. I’m making friends. I’m maybe even becoming more than friends with Jason, which I never would’ve expected even only a few weeks ago. I picture the way his eyes light up when he smiles, and his laugh, which is sort of goofy. It’s like he lets slip who he really is for a second, because he can’t control it.
I lock my phone and turn on the engine. A pop song starts playing on the radio, and I don’t even change it.
What can I say? Things are good.
After a short drive I reach the baseball field, which is behind Jason’s school. The bleachers are already crowded. There are so many people here.
When I get to the bleachers, I see Naomi and Bri sitting in the back row. Naomi waves at me with both arms. I jog up the metal steps. When I get there, I sit down beside her. The bleachers are crammed, so everyone has to touch (eek), and a bunch of them are holding up signs in Jason’s school colors, which are yellow and blue. A Nicki Minaj song is playing over the speakers.
“So,” says Bri. “You and Jase. What’s happening there?”
“Wow,” says Naomi. “You couldn’t even give him two seconds to sit down? Jesus.”
“I mean, why not just cut to the chase? So, Matt. Tell us everything.”
“Um, we’re friends.”
“Just friends?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. That’s disappointing.”
“Why?” I ask.
“I thought you might be dating, or at least hooking up. I’ve got to say, you and him together would be, like, the cutest. I would just die.”
I swallow hard. “Sorry to disappoint.”
So what if we’ve kissed a few times? They don’t need to know that.
Plus, even though we did that, we are still just friends. I actually hate that saying, though. Just friends. Like it’s a consolation prize. If he wanted to stop making out and stay friends, I’d do it. At least that way we’d avoid total disaster, given our families.
“Don’t be,” she says. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little