I Shouldn’t Love Him (Book 2) – Chapter 51
LAKE
Tiffany thought she had the best room between us and didn’t often let me forget about it. It’s because she didn’t know what she was missing. My window opened onto a flat part of the first floor roof. Saturday night, I crawled over, sat up, and pulled my knees up to my chest to wait.
Already, Tiffany was breaking the rules. She told Dad we were going for a ride with her friend Sarah instead of Manning, who was on his way to pick us up. I didn’t like lying to my father, but spending time with Manning, I was willing to do it.
id to Tiffany. I put on shorts and Converse before running a brush through my hair. My fitted pink and purple paisley t-shirt is from Wet Seal. I never shopped there, but it was a Tiffany heirloom. She had been in our bathroom for an hour doing her hair and makeup, but that wasn’t unusual.
inst a wall where others could see. I wouldn’t mind holding Manning’s hand, though.
y’s room from mine.
at?” she
.”
t to fall. It contained countless lipsticks, all kinds of eye makeup, hairpins, compacts, etc. Until recently, the only interest I had in this drawer was the desire to organize it. I never wanted to play with makeup like Mom and Tiffany.
in the reflection of th
next few minutes might be the only time I’ll be alone with Manning tonight. I went downstairs. The hall fed into the living room, where my parents were sitting on the couch watching an action movie. Their backs were turned to the windows overlooking the front yard. I tiptoed past.
urted.
her makeup.”
ad ask.
s, Charlie. Hardly a party outfit.
nt I spent less time talking to Manning, but if I seemed too eager
t ten, okay? »
clean. A tall, dark figure leaned against the driver’s side.
?” »
head but did not sp
hed it one last time. As it was long, it got tangled easily. “Tiffany will be ready
gh the window. I was still worried that they would look and see me standing with Manning, but not so much that I wasn’t going to do it. “Is this your car?” I asked.
his pockets. “Sorry about the smoke.”
I shrugged my sho
that first time, and you’re hooked. For life. Got it?”
ll say no,” I promised.
Good. Have yo
wanted to come tonight.”
? How w
ly should have watched the movie.
a bike on a Ferris wheel? »
get there?’
thing like that, you could fall at any moment, I was sure. It probably h
He asked.
“Not r
”
the concrete. The tall, dark Manning would have blended into the night if it weren’t for his faded white t-shirt. “
had spanked him and we got home early. “I don’t think scared is the right word. . I don’t just don’t trust it.
ch. “What’s your curfew?”
u know I have o
at mine. “You don’t?”
ght with him and my sister, but it bothered me that Manning might think I was childish. “Ten,” I said.
parents know I’m taking you g
“No.”
tilted his head toward the sky, but quickly looked back at t
about bumper cars?
you afraid of a little turbulence?”
I smiled.
shorter than mine, her ponytail and earrings swinging. Despite all the time and effort it took her to prepare, she looked cheerful. Confident.
.
tanding in the dark?” » She was chewing gum. “Hey, Manning.”
ack and looked at her. “Or?”
We’re not
iends will be there.
ooked up to Tiffany. There was no r
t it looks like.
rom the sidewalk. “She does not want to.”
the window sill and steered with one hand. Tiffany’s knee knocked against Manning’s every time the truck bounced. She whispered instructions to him. At every turn , the urge grew inside me, unwelcome and unfamiliar. I couldn’t stop looking at their legs. What would it feel like to have Manning’s jeans against my bare thigh? The hair on my legs stu
his, but his knee stayed in place.
hair thick and veins corded, his skin brown from working in the sun.
oor? I had never gone to a party for reasons that had nothing to do with my strict father – I had no desire to get drunk and be stupid. It was stupid how Tiffany and her friends wore hangovers like gold medals. But that didn’t mean I wanted to stand alone in a corner drinking water. Manning pulled up to the driveway and parked the car, watching the two of us in the party. A group of elderly people stood by the mailbox with red cups in their hands.
dn’t want to go in. Even though everyone there would know Tiffany, they wouldn’t know me. They would try to make me drink. I would be embarrassed in front of my classmates, in front
front of Manning.
t. She squealed and squirmed as he threatened to drop her in.
re not going into that.”
asked, looking really confused.
e park.
any grabbed his arm. “Lake needs it. She can’t study in her room all her life.
of my arm.”
stepped back. “
that sound, Lake?
r.”
don’t know what your sister wants.”
what I wanted. But he did it.
when did she give in so easily? Wasn’t she going to wear Manning out until he agreed to return to the party?
a few tense seconds, Manning shook his
d it slightly for one song. When it ended and the DJ said the name, I memorized “Black” by Pearl Jam.
k’s Fun Zone was a long strip with an arcade, bumper cars and the biggest draw – for some people – a Ferris wheel.
u can.”
were childish?”
ur boyfriend earns it for you. Come talk to me when you get one.”
ated her like that sometimes.
you to act like you’re better than everyone,” Tiffany said , looking like she was about to rush towards me.
breaking the rules and hurting people, but always handing it all over to her. ‘No.’
a favor by accompanying you toni
two.”
mplying I’m an idiot.”
asked. “Is it true?”
“No”
es?” »
r, having some sort of moment.
eah,” she finally said, looking over her shoulder at me. “Who cares what you think?”
his face. “Why don’t you go get us some ice cream, Tiffany?” Give yourself a second to calm down.
ce
n eyebrow. “You kept talking about that when you invited me over.”
you want to come with me?”
f Manning kept telling her no, it might be good for her. Either she would learn that she couldn’t always get her way, or she would get bored and move on.