Meant To Be (The Callahans #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,21

never get to school this late, but my motivation was zero this morning when the alarm went off.

Yesterday I did nothing but lie in bed. Waiting for Eli to respond to my text, which he never did. I still can’t believe it. He sends me those texts and then…nothing.

Really? So rude.

So typical.

My being late to school sets the tone for the rest of the day. I’m running late to everything. I fail a surprise pop quiz in math. My English teacher assigns a five-page essay on the latest book I was supposed to read—guess what, I didn’t—and it’s due Thursday. Every single teacher I have dumped mega homework on us. By the time school is finished and I’m at the cheer room getting ready for practice, my nerves are frayed. I change quickly into my practice clothes and decide to have a snack before we start. Dakota and Lindsey aren’t here yet, so I sit by myself on the floor, munching on Cheez-its when Brandy walks in, her gaze searching, before it lands on me.

And stays.

“I heard a rumor about you,” she says as she slowly approaches me.

I go completely still. Brandy hates the Mustangs with everything she’s got. She went to this high school too back in the day, so she can’t stand our rival team. Like sometimes she’s worse than us students.

Okay fine, most of the time she is.

“What did you hear?” I ask carefully, setting the snack bag of crackers aside.

She kneels down in front of me, her voice lowering. “Actually, it wasn’t a rumor. It was something I saw with my own two eyes.”

I blink at her, but remain quiet.

“You know what I saw, don’t you?” She tilts her head.

“I can take a guess,” I say slowly.

“Damn it, Ava! Really?” She settles in beside me and now we’re both leaning against the wall. She reaches for my crackers and takes a few, tossing them in her mouth.

“You never told me what you saw,” I say innocently.

She sends me a pointed look. “I don’t want to say it out loud, considering who’s in this room and they’re probably all trying to listen.”

I look around, spotting Cami and Baylee watching us with speculative gazes. They quickly avert their eyes when I catch them.

“Yeah. Them,” Brandy says when she sees who I’m staring at. “They’ll tear you apart over this, especially you-know-who.”

Cami. Who dated Eli. And my brother. Supposedly at the same time.

Closing my eyes, I exhale raggedly. “I have terrible taste in men.”

“Yeah, you do,” Brandy readily agrees with a little laugh. “Are you two really a thing or what?”

“We’re more in the or what territory right now.” I hesitate for only a moment before I decide to confess. I really like Brandy. And she knows how to keep a secret. I probably shouldn’t be talking like this with my coach, but screw it. “Jake found out about us.”

“Oh man. I bet that was bad.”

“Whatever you’re thinking, it was worse,” I tell her, making her laugh. But she’s not laughing at me. I can tell her laugh is one of sympathy. She’s feeling for me.

And I appreciate that. I’d rather laugh at the absurdity of it all. It’s either that or I fall apart crying yet again.

Considering I’ve been on the verge of tears since late Friday night, I’ll gladly take this distraction.

“You can’t keep it up with that kid,” she says, her voice dead serious. “He’s insane.”

“You’ve heard the stories?”

“Honey, I’ve heard every single one. You kids think you move through this school and that the adults are oblivious to what’s going on. More like you guys are oblivious.” She leans in close. “I know all.”

That’s terrifying.

“Most of us do,” she continues. “And we hear what’s happening at the other schools too. Crazy shit. Things I’m not even allowed to tell you.”

Okay. That’s ominous.

“So yeah. I know all about Eli Bennett and what a troublemaker he is. All the stories he’s made trash-talking your brother and the rest of the football team. The car accidents and the girls and the fights and that one time when he got caught on campus with a wax pen.” She clamps her lips shut and shakes her head once. “Wasn’t supposed to reveal that one. Forget I said that. And the teachers threatening to flunk him if he doesn’t get his act together. Yep, I have heard every single story there is out there about Eli Bennett.”

“You didn’t hear about the two of us together until Friday,” I tell her, feeling