Bryce’s eyes flick to Ashton, his tone turning frigid. “If you think you’re good enough to breathe the same air as Magnolia Mae, I reckon you might wanna work on what comes out of your mouth.” His brows slant down. “Her daddy’s in politics, so you better watch yourself.”
Ashton’s eyes narrow to tiny, angry slits. He shoves away and stomps to grab his things with a muttered, “Fuck this shit.”
When the door of the locker room falls closed behind him, the tense atmosphere relaxes, and everyone resumes their conversations. Dallas shakes his head without a word and turns back to his locker.
Bryce slaps me on the back. “Ready to head out?”
I nod. “Yep.”
We exit through the side entrance of the locker room leading to the school parking lot where I parked my truck. The minute we leave the air-conditioning and enter the faint humidity of the early evening, I breathe out a sigh.
My truck isn’t brand new like most of the vehicles the other students have, but it’s mine. I worked my ass off to buy it, and Dad’s helped me restore it when he’s not working. It’s my pride and joy.
Bryce walks over to his Lexus SUV parked beside me and he unlocks it with a quick press of his key fob. “Can’t let that asshat bother you.” He tugs open a door, tosses his bag inside, then turns to me. “You know that’s all he wants, right?”
I give a short nod. “Yeah.”
“Don’t let him rile you up.” He studies me for a moment. “You know he was talkin’ shit…” He trails off, head tipping to the side. “About you not being good enou—”
“Yeah,” I cut him off. “I know.”
It’s a lie, but I’m not getting into it with him. Not interested in having some Dr. Phil moment with my teammate in the damn school parking lot.
The truth is, I know I’m not good enough for Magnolia. Not good enough for her to continue to give me her time and friendship. Sure as hell not good enough to be her best friend. Her mother and mine have been determined to remind me of that.
Mrs. Barton strikes when I cut their next door neighbor’s grass or at church with one of her plastic smiles to cover the fact that she’s hissing at me while others are out of earshot. My mom’s got free rein, though, since her comments are pretty much nonstop when I’m around and she sure as hell doesn’t care who hears.
Bryce looks like he wants to say something else, but I hurry up with, “Gotta run and head to work. See you tomorrow.” He gives me a two-fingered wave, and we get in our vehicles and exit the parking lot.
On the way to my shift at the country club, my mind wanders. Magnolia and I have been practically inseparable since we first met. Once school started, our last names—Barnes and Barton—ensured when a teacher seated us alphabetically, we’d be nearby one another. As it turned out, no one had a name between ours, so we usually ended up in the same row, with me in front of her.
Magnolia’s the one who’ll straighten the back collar of my cheap, plain white polo—part of the public school dress code. She’ll mother me, and…well, no one else would get away with doing that to me. But growing up with a mom who’s never been much of a nurturer, and Magnolia who’s one of the kindest people around, I allow it.
Hell, if I’m being honest, I secretly love it.
She cares about me. The boy whose family isn’t wealthy and sure as hell doesn’t waste money on hiring a landscaping service. The boy whose clothes are inexpensive and purchased on clearance—if I don’t find them at the local secondhand store. Compared to the brand-new designer khaki pants and polo shirts most of the other students wear, I stick out like a sore thumb.
But Magnolia never makes me feel inferior. When she looks up at me, I feel like I belong.
She almost makes me believe I’m good enough.
“Nice to see you, son.” Grandpa Joe flashes me a welcoming smile.
Mom doesn’t come to church with Dad and me—at least not after the first time. She said she couldn’t stand to be around so many snobs with more money than they knew what to do with. I mean, she’s not completely off base, but a lot of people who attend Holy Cross Church are hardworking folks just like Dad and Mom.
“Good to see you, Joe.” Dad shakes Grandpa Joe’s hand with a smile, and the two start up a conversation about the message from today’s service and then about the upcoming men’s retreat.
I tune them out as soon as I catch Magnolia’s eye from where she stands in the back of the church. Her stepdad and mom are on either side of her like they’re her own personal bodyguards. I swear, they’ve always been like that. Watching her like they think she’ll try to break free and run off or something.
I wink at her, and she grins, her silver braces flashing in the lights overhead. She looks really pretty in that dress. It’s light blue, and the hem stops at her knees. I realize now that it shows off her body more than the everyday polo shirt and khakis uniform we wear to school.
I tug at my collar. It feels like the air isn’t circulating in here enough. Maybe they’re having problems with the A/C unit.
Magnolia’s smile fades, and she leans in to say something to her mother. The woman glances over at me, and if I ever wondered what it might be like to be on Antarctica in a frigid ice storm, this is it. With an icy look, face tight, her lips still form that fake half-smile when I know she’d rather snarl at me.
I just smile back as casually as possible. You attract more bees with honey and all that.
It doesn’t work, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Her eyes narrow on me and I know what she’s silently saying.
You’re not good enough for Magnolia. Stay away from her.
Hell, she says it aloud every time she corners me. But I go against the woman’s wishes for one reason: Magnolia.
Sure, it’s selfish, but I’ve never had a friend like her before. And I have a feeling I’ll never find anyone else like her. She’s irreplaceable. I know she’s too good for me, but I’d sooner die than hurt her.
Magnolia approaches my side and bumps her shoulder against mine. “Fancy meetin’ you here.” Her blue eyes are bright and happy. She tied her blond hair in a low ponytail with a ribbon matching the color of her dress.
She’s just too pretty for words.
I grin and lean in to tease, “I only come here for the gossip.”
She laughs softly, and the sound calms me instantly. “Oh? Pray tell. What did you learn today?”
“Well,” I whisper conspiratorially, “I found out that Marilynn Jeffers thinks her husband has a problem with porn because she found the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in his office.”
Her eyes flash with amusement. “Not that,” she whispers back. “Just scandalous.”
I nod, continuing with my teasing. “And then there’s a rumor goin’ around that a certain high school girl wanted to ask a certain guy to the Sadie Hawkins dance.” I’m just kidding, of course, implying she wants to ask me.
Not that I would mind, though…
Magnolia freezes, her brows slanting together, lips parting in surprise. “How’d you know that? Did he say somethin’ to you?”