park.” She looked at Scott’s car driving away and then back at Jordan. “Because this is all about saving the park, right?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AVA SAT on the bleachers between Jordan and Martha, and felt the stiffness radiating from each of them. It was the final football game of the season and the first real snow of the year. The whole athletic field was speckled in white. The girls didn’t usually go to football games—CJ was the only sports fan—but this was the last game of the season. It was the last game of their entire high school experience. So they wrapped themselves up in maroon-and-gold scarves, huddled in the stands under blankets, and kept their hands warm with paper cups of hot chocolate.
The football team must have done something good because the cheerleaders suddenly started high kicking and waving their gloved fingers in the air. Jordan clapped and shouted onto the field, “Go Bears!” Then she leaned over Ava and touched a gloved finger to Martha’s arm. “This is fun.” She was trying so hard to make everything feel normal. “I wish we’d gone to more games when we had the chance.”
“Do you even know who’s winning?” Martha asked.
“Not a clue,” said Jordan. “But that’s not the point. It’s nice to be here together.”
“Well, we’re getting our asses kicked,” Martha said. “How much longer are we going to stay here? I have to go to work soon. You know, because I’m poor.”
Ava and CJ traded a tense look as Jordan turned to Martha.
“I’m sorry,” Jordan said. “I’ve said I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say—”
CJ’s phone chimed, and she used it as an excuse to cut Jordan off. “Help,” she said. She shoved her phone into Jordan’s face. Jordan was the only one wearing gloves with sensor pads on the fingers. Jordan used her index finger to unlock CJ’s phone. She knew the code because they all used the same one. 0809. August ninth. The day they’d met in the park.
The text message popped up and Jordan gasped. “Clarke Josephine Jacobson,” she said. “Why is Wyatt No Last Name Provided sending you a dick pic?”
There was a mother with young children sitting in front of them, and she turned around and shot CJ a look. “I’m so sorry,” CJ said to the mom. “It’s not actually a… you know. It’s a vase.”
The mother turned back to her kids, and Martha and Ava both leaned over to see CJ’s phone. Wyatt had sent her a picture of a bulbous piece of pottery.
“It’s an inside joke,” CJ said defensively. “His mom makes these vases.”
“Nope,” said Martha. “There is no way that’s a vase. That is definitely a penis.”
The mother whirled around again. “Hi,” Martha said casually. “How’s it going? Enjoying the game?” The mom gave an annoyed warning glance before turning back to her kids.
CJ shrank down, looking mortified. “Please kill me now.”
Ava laughed. Even though CJ really did look like she wanted to die, she was also smiling. “You and Wyatt certainly have a lot of inside jokes,” Ava said, teasing.
CJ talked about Wyatt all the time. She told funny stories about him that weren’t even really that funny. She found ways to bring up his name.
“Anyway.” Martha said, “I really do have to go.”
CJ put her phone away. “Okay. How about we meet you at the theater after the game? We still need to figure out our next move on the park.”
They were encouraged by what the mayor had said. CJ felt that now was the time to make a push. Ava agreed. They just didn’t know what that push should be. Jordan was reluctant to publish anything. She didn’t want to out herself as a high school student. Ava didn’t really understand why that mattered.
“What’s there to talk about?” Martha said. “If Jordan doesn’t want to do anything…”
Jordan stiffened. “I do want to do something. I just don’t think publishing a boring article will solve anything.”
“Then don’t write it boring,” Martha said.
“You know what I mean. It’s not worth burning my source yet.”
Martha rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Okay. Whatever.”
“No. Don’t keep saying ‘whatever.’ If you want to yell at me, then yell at me.”
“Okay,” Martha said. “I’ll yell. No. I’ll say it calmly. Who cares about your dumb source? Scott’s a jerk.”
Jordan brushed the snow away from her eyelashes. “He’s not a jerk. He’s been incredibly helpful. He gave me the scoop on that meeting because—”
“Because he wants to get in your pants!” Martha shouted. “He just wants