Page 34 of Puck Love

“I think Sadie likes you,Emmett.”

He turns and gives me the same incredulous look his brother is. “No, shedoesn’t.”

“Yes, yes, she does. She was crushed when you rejectedher.”

He makes a scoffing sound. “I want a normal girlfriend, not someone with Downsyndrome.”

Van sighs from the driver’s seat, and I come to the conclusion that this is not the first time they’ve discussedthis.

“Emmett?” I venture, because I’m already pushing the friendship here, and I’ve never been one to do anythinghalfway.

“Yeah?”

“Do you see yourself asnormal?”

“Ofcourse.”

“So don’t you think that Sadie sees herself that way,too?”

“I don’t know, but she’snot.”

“Why not? What’s normal anyway?” I throw my hands up and slump back in my seat. “Your brother’s inability to take a hint is not normal. Nor ismy—”

“Cooking,” Van finishes for me. “That shit iswhack.”

I scowl at him. “Shut up,Van.”

“Maybe I want what you guys have. What’s so wrong withthat?”

I meet Van’s eyes in the rear-view mirror and look away when a blush creeps across my cheeks. “What wehave?”

“You know, chemistry and shit. I want a girlfriend that looks like Stella, and not my uglymug.”

“I think Sadie is gorgeous. I mean, have you seen those eyes?” I lean forward and tap Van on the shoulder. “Van, you saw her up close. What shade arethey?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know?Blue.”

“They’re green,” Emmettsnaps.

A slow grin spreads across my face. “So you have noticedthem?”

“Maybe.”

“I think you might have a little crush too,Emmett.”

“I don’t have a crush,alright?”

“Okay, no crush.” I throw my hands up in a placating gesture when he turns to scowl at me. “If you did, though, you might wanna be nicer toher.”

“I thought you were supposed to treat them mean, keep ’em keen,eh?”

“Who told you that? This jackass?” I point to hisbrother.

Emmett punches him in the arm, and Van chuckles. “What? I waseighteen.”

“You told me that a year ago,asshole.”

“Van Ross, do you have any idea what you’ve done? You, sir, have stood in the way of what could have been true love, and now some poor girl is probably crying into her pillow because you told your brother to be mean to girls. Emmett, you like her, right? No bullshit. How do you really feel aboutSadie?”