Meant To Be (The Callahans #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,12

get over your differences. And if you can’t manage that tonight, then maybe you should stay home after all.” Mom smiles, looking very pleased with herself.

“Okay, fine. I can handle this,” I say softly, more to myself than her. “You’ll really let us go?”

She nods. “You really want to go? I figured you’d be miserable after what happened last night.”

I’m completely miserable. But I’d rather distract myself with the dance than stay home and cry into my pillow. I’ve done that enough already today. If I go to the dance, I can make my appearance as homecoming princess, and possibly see what’s being said about Eli and me.

More than anything, I need a distraction.

Jake chooses that exact moment to enter the kitchen, coming to an abrupt halt when he spots me. “Can I talk to you, Mom? Privately?”

“We’re all in this together. You can talk to me here,” she says sweetly.

My brother doesn’t even look in my direction. “Dad says I can go to the dance, but I have to take Ava.”

“That’s right.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then you can’t go,” Mom says evenly, her gaze shifting to me. “You two are a package deal tonight.”

“I’m sorry I hit you,” I tell him, deciding to get it over with. “Even though you made me mad.”

His jaw locks. Mom covers her mouth, like she might laugh. “That was a bit of a backhanded apology, don’t you think?”

I shrug. Don’t bother saying anything else.

“Hannah will be devastated if I don’t take her to the dance,” Jake says.

“You can take her. Your sister is going to tag along. And when the dance is over, I expect you two to come straight home. When is the dance over?”

“Ten,” I tell Mom.

Jake glances over at me with annoyance. What? Did he want me to lie?

“Then I want you home by ten-thirty at the absolute latest. You call or text us if something happens.” She smiles. “I hope you two can work out your differences on the drive to the school.”

“Yeah,” I say.

Good luck with that.

I know some high schools make their homecoming dance a big deal, but ours isn’t one of them. There’s no need for the girls to wear a fancy dress or the boys to wear nice pants and a tie. It’s causal, it’s fun and yes, I’m wearing my tiara and sash because this is the last time I get the chance to, and yes, I’m even wearing a dress. Though it’s a simple one. Sleeveless black that hits about mid-thigh. I found a gold chain for Eli’s lost pendant and now I’m wearing it, safely tucked beneath the high neckline of my dress.

It might burn his ass to know I’m wearing it, but too bad. I’m not going to give up on him—on us yet.

Jake sends me a text fifteen minutes before we’re supposed to leave.

Meet me at my truck at 6:45.

I’m sure if things were normal, Jake would be taking Hannah out to dinner first. They’d go to the dance, but bail out early and do God knows what.

If I were still with Eli, we’d do much of the same. Everyone would talk about Eli’s arrival, he’d jump all over the dance floor and act like a fool, making me laugh. Then we could leave and go back to his house and do…

Whatever we want.

My heart aches at the lost opportunity. At the loss of Eli. I hate this. I hate that he’s blocked me—because yes, he also blocked my phone number and unfollowed me on Instagram. It’s like he wants nothing to do with me. He’s erased me from his life, like we were never together.

Like I never existed.

Ellie’s meeting me at the dance. Lindsey and Dakota tried to get me to come over and get ready with them, but I knew Mom wouldn’t let me, so I told them I couldn’t. Going to this dance will either be the distraction I desperately need…

Or a huge mistake.

I’m outside waiting by Jake’s truck when he approaches with a blank expression on his face. Again, he won’t look at me. I wonder how difficult that is, not making eye contact with someone? He’s been doing it for the past twenty-four hours and I’m impressed he’s kept it up this long.

Impressed and hurt, because come on. I’m his sister. I wasn’t with Eli to get at Jake. He has to know that.

Jake rounds the front of his truck and climbs into the driver’s seat. I get into the passenger seat. He starts