Spider

I feel uncomfortable and I’m just about to dash off to grab some menus to get away when Oscar covers his heart with his hand. “Spider’s song and Trenton’s acceptance to NYU is incredible, but you know what would make this moment truly wonderful?”

“What?” Aria snaps as she glares at Trenton and me. She’s obviously annoyed because Trenton likes me. She doesn’t think I’m good enough for him. I’m tempted to stick my tongue out at her—but that’s too childish. But, man, sometimes, I really want to.

“Yeah, what?” Lexa asks. She’s been watching the entire interaction quietly, playing it cool.

Oscar clears his throat. “Well, seeing as Trenton invited Rose to the Spring Fling, I think it would be super special if Lexa and I were also invited?” He bats his eyes at Trenton.

I suppress a giggle. Oscar has no shame.

Trenton nods like a king. “Done. You’re both invited.”

Well, that was easy enough.

Aria puffs up. “We can’t just go around inviting everyone, Trenton. It’s an exclusive party—that’s the whole point.”

Trenton shrugs. “I’m the Class President, and I say they can come.”

Garrett, who’s been silent up to this point—I suspect because he’s slow and unable to follow our conversation—decides to speak up, “Looking hot in that polo, Rosie. If I tip you big enough, do I get a private lap dance later?” He waggles his eyebrows.

Spider immediately scowls, his face hard. “Shut up, arsehole. Show some respect.”

Garrett sneers. “Whatever, dude. It’s Tin Town Rosie—she knows I’m just kidding, right?”

My fist tightens within the pocket of my apron at the stupid nickname. Some of the students called me that when I first arrived and it still comes back to haunt me.

“Of course. You’re hilarious,” I say. “But I don’t give lap dances to baseball players who lost their starter status. Only the best for me.”

It’s no secret that the coach recently benched him. Rumor is he’s been partying too much and not showing up to some of their practices.

“Crash and burn,” Oscar says, tittering like an old lady as he makes an exploding sound.

Spider’s face is red and tight, and I watch as he leans over the table and whispers something under his breath to Garrett. I try to hear what it is, but I can’t, not with Aria in my ear. “Menus? Today?” she calls out loudly.

“Right.” I flounce off and am halfway back to the kitchen when Trenton catches me at the counter. “Hey, sorry about Garrett. His mouth is out of control sometimes.”

I nod.

“Why don’t we go to dinner this week?” he says. “Like a real date before Spring Fling gets here.”

I’m barely listening though, my eyes on Spider as Aria flirts with him.

Garrett seems to have left because I don’t see him anywhere. I wonder what Spider said to him.

Just then Aria touches Spider’s neck tattoo, and anger flies over me.

Ugh. I’m so jealous.

“Rose?”

I look back at Trenton, coming to a quick decision. “I’d like that.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to it.” He hesitates and then briefly kisses my cheek. “I’ll grab the menus for our table. You do whatever you need to.”

“Okay,” I say, feeling rather bemused as he walks away.

I pass the rest of the night in a hurried kind of crazy, trying to get to all of my tables before my shift ends, my feet aching. My classmates order their meals then I barely check on them, instead sending my co-worker Cyndi, promising her the entire tip.

I keep a wary eye on the table as I take orders and bus tables, looking up every now and then. Each time I do, Spider meets my gaze . . . and so does Trenton.

Later, I head to the restroom to avoid saying goodbye. I barely have my hands washed when Spider walks in and closes the door behind him.

My eyes flare. “What are you doing?”

He crosses his arms, a sure sign that he is either closing himself off or feeling vulnerable. “Your friends are all arseholes—except for Oscar.”

“Okay.” I cross my own arms. “You seem to be having a good time with Aria.”

He lets out a frustrated growl. “For someone so smart, it’s interesting that you’re missing what’s right in front of you.”

I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”

He grinds his teeth together and glares at me. “I’m at a diner . . . in a restroom that reeks of Clorox . . . to talk to a girl that . . . that . . . I like.”

I grow warm. “Is that a bad thing?”

“It is when you’re my stepsister and I’ve been warned to stay away from you.” He gets a frustrated look on his face.

No. I don’t want that.

“Is that what you want?”

He stares at the floor. “The only reason I came here was to see you and tell you my good news, and now I’ve figured out that Trenton is the guy you were reading the book for. Am I right?” He looks back up, and there’s wariness in his gaze, almost as if he’s preparing himself.

“Yes.”

He exhales and rakes his hands through his hair. “Fuck me.”

“Why do you care?”

“Nothing. Just . . . nothing.”

“You’re jealous,” I say softly, the realization so clear that I’m giddy.

He ignores that. “And you’re going to NYU with him?”

I pause, my chest tightening as I think back to my dream. “Anne won’t let me. I didn’t want to ruin his news, so I didn’t say anything.”

“But you want to go?” He studies me.

“Not for him. I want to go for me. My Granny always promised me that she and I would leave Tin Town and run away to New York.” I grimace, thinking of her dying when I was ten, a year before Mama. “It was just something she said, and I guess I’m still trying to get there.”

He spears me with devastatingly beautiful eyes as he palms his spider tattoo.

“What?” I ask.

He lets out a heavy sigh and rakes a hand through his hair. “I just can’t stand the thought of you with him. Hate it so much it makes me want to pound on him—and don’t even get me started on Garrett. I told him to leave the diner or else.”

My mind is reeling from hearing this. I want to throw my arms around Spider and hug him. Maybe more.

He pivots around to head back out the door.

“Spider! Wait,” I call out. “You can’t leave after that.”

But he doesn’t turn around or stop.

Since it’s the end of my shift and I don’t have any more tables left, I hurriedly undo my braid and apply a quick swipe of lip gloss I have in my apron. Spider and I are going to talk.

I fly out the door just a couple minutes after him, but he’s gone already.

In fact, the entire place has nearly emptied except for Oscar and Lexa. They both give me quick hugs and leave too, saying they have homework waiting on them. Cyndi comes up to me, glowing because Spider left her a hundred-dollar bill as a tip. She offers to give me half, but I sigh and say no.

I just want him, not his money.

Spider

I RUN MY HAND ACROSS the dashboard of my Jeep. It might be close to six years old, but Father kept it in pristine shape while he stored it in one of his garages at the house. It brings back good memories . . . and bad. Aria was right—I was a hell raiser in prep school. I even ran away a couple of times, anything to get my father’s attention.