If I Tell - By Janet Gurtler Page 0,12

head and started walking, not wanting to bawl like a big baby or something in front of him.

“Jaz,” he called and walked toward me, catching up quickly with his longer legs. “I seem to keep saying the wrong thing. I just came over to see if you’re working tonight.”

I remembered how he was new in town and probably didn’t have a lot of people to talk to. Outside of drug deals. Sighing, I slowed down a little so I wasn’t speed-walking to get away from him. “I just finished a shift.”

“Oh. Too bad,” he said.

Those simple words made a nice dent in my foul mood.

We walked toward Grinds. “You heading inside?” he asked. “Want to have a coffee before I start work? I’ll even let you buy since you don’t want to take my money.” He grinned.

I thought of Lacey still inside. “Nope. I have homework. I have to go home.”

His expression changed and then he shrugged. “Okay. Well, see ya round,” he said.

I started walking toward Grandpa’s car in the parking lot.

“You’re pretty good with that guitar. It’s an Alvarez, right?” Jackson called.

I stopped and turned back. “How’d you know that?”

“I know some things. People might surprise you if you look harder. Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface.”

I wondered if I even wanted to know what he meant and decided, no, I didn’t.

chapter four

The holidays came and went. I managed to avoid my mom and dodge her calls until she caught me off guard by calling my cell from an unlisted number. I’d just finished a shift at Grinds, and when I answered and heard her voice, I swiveled on my chair away from Lacey. She’d parked herself at my table and was across from me, sipping coffee and flipping through a celebrity magazine.

I zoned out as Mom went on and on about me not returning her calls. She kept talking, but I didn’t pay attention until I heard her calling my name.

“Jaz? Jaz? Are you listening?”

I refocused on her voice. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“I said Simon wants to take us out for supper tomorrow night. Do you think you could possibly make it this time?” Even over the phone her crankiness was tangible. Pregnancy seemed to be catching up with her fast. “You haven’t seen him since Christmas.”

“Uh. Sorry. I already have plans.” I chewed my fingernail and swirled back to face the table but kept my eyes off Lacey.

Mom blew out a big breath of air. “Okay,” she finally said, her voice strained as if she was trying really hard not to freak out on me. “So when? What’s your work schedule like this week?”

“Busy, very busy.” I said, and glanced up. Lacey was pretending not to eavesdrop as she licked her finger and flipped a magazine page.

“Come on, Jasmine. You’ve ignored Simon since you found out we’re pregnant. He’s tried giving you space, but he thinks you’re still mad at him. He’s going to be the father of your brother or sister and your stepfather, so deal with it.” She sighed loudly.

I chewed my lip. “He’s not my stepfather unless there was a wedding I didn’t hear about.”

“Well, he might be someday. Jaz, what’s the matter? You and Simon used to get along great. What’s going on? Is it the baby?”

“No. It’s nothing. I’m just super busy. Actually, I’m working on homework right now, so I should really go.” I wanted to hang up. Forget Mom and her stupid baby. Forget her stupid boyfriend and the kiss I couldn’t wipe out of my memory no matter how hard I tried.

Lacey looked up and raised her eyebrows, but I ignored her.

“We need to work this out,” my mom said.

“There’s nothing to work out.”

“What’s wrong with you?” she snapped impatiently, definitely not sounding like her usual self.

“Nothin’. I’ll talk to you later.” I pressed End.

“Whatever,” I said, even though the phone had no dial tone. I shut it and threw it on the table.

Lacey smirked at me. “Homework?” she asked. “I didn’t know you lied.”

“You want me to tell her the truth about why I’m avoiding Simon?” I asked.

Lacey looked down at her magazine, pretending she wasn’t the reason for my new case of liar, liar, pants on fire. My leg bounced up and down under the table, and I fought the urge to get up and bolt.

Hands slid over my eyes then, blocking my sight. “Hey, sexy,” a deep burly voice growled in my ear, tickling my earlobe. “Want to run away with me?”

“Hey,