The Pass (Smart Jocks #5) - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,63

car and hop in before I realize Amelia hasn’t left. She’s sitting in her car watching the rain pelt down.

Shit.

I hop back out and run to her car. Big, cold drops drench my T-shirt.

She rolls the window down an inch. “I’m just waiting for it to let up.”

As dark as the sky is, she might be waiting awhile.

“Wait inside.”

“Oh no, it’s okay.”

“Amelia, it’s fine. I’m going to find Sydney, but we’ll be back.”

She doesn’t make any move to turn off the car and I continue to get soaked while trying to convince her.

“Please? I’ll feel better knowing you’re not trying to drive in this.”

“All right. You’re sure?” she asks.

“Positive.”

Thankfully she turns off the car and I run her back to the house before I can go about my original mission. Find Sydney and kiss her until she realizes she’s the only girl for me.

24

Sydney

“The things she said, Em.” I swipe a hand over both sides of my cheek to collect the tears I can’t seem to stop. “She made what Tanner and I have feel so… wrong. Am I the reason all his relationships end? Is he only with me because I’ve gotten in the way so many times? Have I made myself the only option by chasing them all away?” I could maybe stand his sister’s wrath, but the idea that I might have somehow been responsible for hurting Tanner makes me feel sick.

I close my eyes and avoid meeting the gaze of Allyson, the Uber driver who keeps sending pitying looks into the rearview mirror.

“I swear to God I’m gonna have to pull this car over, I’m shaking with anger.” Emily’s tone is sharp as nails. God, I love her.

“Where are you? Did you turn back? I wouldn’t blame you between the weather and my drama.”

“No freaking way. I’m still coming. I’m going to tell that wench what I think of her and maybe slap Tanner over the head for good measure. I may have to pull over though, the rain’s starting to come down harder again and between that and my rage I’m not seeing that great.”

“He didn’t know,” I tell her. “I could see the shock on his face when Amelia showed up.”

“Then why are you running?”

“I’m not running. Allyson and I are driving around while I figure out what to do.”

“Allyson?”

“My Uber driver.” I briefly meet her gaze in the mirror and smile awkwardly.

“You ran,” she says decisively. “Though I’m not sure I understand why. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Because some part of me wonders if Tara’s right. Maybe Tanner and I had our shot two years ago, and I should have bowed out and let him move on.”

“You don’t really believe that. You can’t. Whether or not you two work as a couple, it doesn’t change what you’ve meant to each other over the years. Don’t let her ugly view of it, tarnish yours.”

I think back on our friendship. The fun times we’ve had are the first to come to mind, but that’s not all it’s been. Tanner and I have seen each other through hard times too. I don’t know why I’m so quick to discredit what I’ve been to him when, if it’s anything like what he’s been to me, means so much more than anyone else could understand.

“Crap,” I mutter under my breath and sit forward.

“Uh-oh. What now?”

“I’ve got to go back.”

“That a girl! Don’t let Tara, or anyone else, speak for Tanner. Keep me posted. I’m stopping at the next exit to eat and wait out the storm. Go get your man.”

I drop my phone and lean forward. “Allyson, I—”

“On it.” She pulls a sharp U-turn that sends me back against my seat. The rain has definitely picked up here and traffic is slow.

My phone buzzes next to me. Tanner’s name lights up my screen with a text, Babe, where are you?

He’s called a half-dozen times, but I needed to clear my head before I talked to him. Can I really tell him why I left? I don’t know what to do, but I can’t believe I was stupid enough to leave. Who’s the one avoiding conflict now? I don’t respond. I’ll know what to say when I see him. Or at least that’s my hope.

“Good luck,” Allyson says as she pulls up in front of the house.

“Thank you.” I hurry out of the car. A heavy sheet of rain makes it nearly impossible to see more than a foot in front of me. I navigate to the front door