They don't.
Not even asshole Ross.
“Your dad's kind of a prick,” Spencer says, looking at me like he's searching my face for some hint of … something. I'm still in shock that he's alive, and I think I might be crushing so ridiculously hard on the guy that it's impossible to force my snarky mouth to make words. Words are hard.
“He can be,” I choke out as Tobias swings has green gaze between me and Spencer. “But I've lived with the guy all my life, I'm used to it.”
“Right.”
An awkward sort of energy falls between us, and Ross clears his throat.
“As fascinating as this all is, I have about a hundred people I need to text, social media posts to update, and an entire mess of shit to mop up that you,” he jabs his finger into Spencer's chest, “just crapped all over my meticulously managed schedule. Do you know how much work goes into being the Student Council's assistant?”
“About as much as goes into actually being in the Student Council, which is to say not a whole lot,” Spencer quips, and Ross stabs him with a finger again.
“You have no idea the mountain of paperwork I'm going to have to fill out over your disappearance. You're in huge trouble, sir.” Ah, I'd almost forgotten that Ross has a huge crush on Spencer. Looking between the two of them, I'm almost … jealous? Eww, gross. Like I care what Spencer does or doesn't do with other people.
Only … I do.
Because I like him. A lot. And when I thought he was dead, I felt like someone had clipped off a piece of my heart and I'd be forever bleeding.
“Did you know Chuck's secret?” Spencer asks, looking Ross dead in the face. The other boy stutters and flushes, and then clamps his lips shut tight. “Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm still reeling here.”
“Better get over it quick,” Tobias says, giving his friend a look. “We were all devastated. Micah could barely eat or sleep, and Virgin Chuck spent most everyday sobbing.”
My cheeks go beet red, and my eyes widen so much that I wouldn't be surprised if they fell right out of my face and went bouncing down the stairs. Gee, thanks Tobias, you dick, I think as Spencer turns slowly to look at me, some of the same horror from my expression reflected back in his.
Two things I didn't want him to know, he's now privy to. Fantastic.
“Virgin Chuck?” Spencer asks, but then we all hear the sound of the front door opening and Nathan's signature shuffle walk. “Where'd that nickname come from?”
“Okay, I'm tired. As excited as I am that you're not six feet under, I want you out of my house.” I put both hands on Spencer's back, ignoring the tingle in my palms, and then push him toward the staircase.
The boys go down in a group, seemingly at my command, but when I turn to head back up, Spencer grabs my wrist and pulls me close to him.
“Your nickname,” he starts, but I'm not having this conversation two feet from my father's back.
“Get a new phone and then text me,” I grumble, pulling my arm from his grip. But halfway up, I pause to look back and find him still staring at me. Something inside of me lights up at that look, but I spin away before the stupid goofy smile on my lips ruins everything.
Spencer Hargrove is alive.
This is the greatest day of my life.
But also, I need him to not know any of that or I'll die from embarrassment.
Being seventeen sucks.Sleep comes far easier than I thought. I assumed I'd be tossing and turning all night, dreaming of Spencer, but then my body must've realized that being in a continuous state of anxiety for seven days straight was just too much and I conk out.
In the morning, I find Dad in his office, talking in hushed tones on his phone. He sees me and shoos me away with his hand which is fine by me. The last thing I feel like doing right now is hanging out with him.
I don't have a lot of clothes that I feel would keep up my disguise, and I'm not interested in wearing my uniform on a day off, so I flip the top open on my laptop and send Tobias a message.
I mean, I'd send one to Spencer, but apparently he doesn't check his goddamn messages.
I'm dying here. Can we all go into town together?
For several minutes, I just stare at the screen, tapping my fingers on the desk and waiting. But Tobias gets back to me quickly, those satisfying little dots popping up on the bottom of the screen to show that he's typing.
Definitely. Meet you at your place in thirty?
I hit the thumbs-up emoji, and then leap up to get dressed. If I'm going out, I may as well go full-glam. Well, as glammed up as I can get in a half an hour.
