Page 36 of Puck Love

On Saturday,Van doesn’t haveto train. He makes pancakes for breakfast, and I sit around in another one of his flannel shirts and a pair of tights as I play my guitar. I’m working on a new song today. It’s called, “I Hate Van Ross.” I think it’s going to be a rock number with lots of squealing guitars, feedback, and heavy drumbeats driving thetrack.

We haven’t discussed that kiss, but the smug bastard has been getting on my goddamn nerves by not meeting my gaze and chuckling quietly whenever I come near. At this point, I’m surprised he hasn’t pulled mypigtails.

Emmett sits opposite me looking glum, even though I’m playing music, which he seems to almost turn catatonic for. He’s not himself today. I’m not sure if it’s because he caught Van and I molesting one another or if it’s just because it’s kind of rainy and extra especially cold. I pluck a few strings and ask in a singsong voice, “What’s up, Em? Why’re you lookin’ glum? I’m sitting here thinkin’, that this song might bedumb.”

This does get a laugh out of him, and even Van turns from his place at the stove to grin at me. Emmett grimaces. “I was just thinking aboutSadie.”

I sit forward, setting the guitar on the ground between my feet. “Youwere?”

His frown deepens, and he rests his head in his hands. “I was really mean toher.”

I nod and say placatingly, “You know, it’s never too late to saysorry.”

“Yes, it is. Justin Bieber saysso.”

I make a pfft noise and sit back in my seat. I don’t bother telling him that that isn’t how the song goes. “Come on. You really gonna take Justin Bieber’s advice ondating?”

“Do you think she hatesme?”

“I think she does the opposite of hating you.” I dare a glance at Van. He doesn’t turn to look at me, but he shakes his head. And again, because I can’t stop myself from meddling, I say, “Do you have hernumber?”

“No.”

“But we could get it, right? I mean, she must be listed in the phonebook.”

“Her parents mightbe.”

“So, call herhouse.”

“Isn’t that kind ofweird?”

“No! No, it’s not. If you really like this girl, a grand romantic gesture is just what youneed.”

Van does turn around this time, and with the scathing look he gives me, it’s not hard to see why others might skate the other way when he’s hurtling towards them on the ice. “Stella, that’s not what henee—”

“No, enough out of you,” I say, pointing my finger at Van. “Your bad advice is the reason he’s in this mess right now. If he hadn’t listened to you, they could already betogether.”

“Jesus Christ.” Van pinches the bridge of his nose. He rolls his heavy shoulders and then turns and pulls a bottle of pills from a cabinet near the stove, shaking several out into his palm. He chews them like candy, and I make a note to do some super sleuthing later to find out exactly what he’s taking. I know his shoulder is still causing him grief, but crunching pills as if they’re treats is definitelynew.

“I wanna call her,” Emmettsays.

I set my guitar down in the case and jump out of the chair with a squeal. Bending to close the lid, I pick it up. I forget about the fact that I’m not wearing a bra and quickly straighten. Emmett is still staring at his pancakes, but his brother is not. Van’s eyes are on me, and they are filled with lust, and maybe still a little bit of ire. I blush and scurry from the room, returning a few minutes later with Van’s phone and a laptop that mostly lives in the den. Oh, and I’m wearing one of the bras he bought from Victoria’sSecret.

We find several listings for Clarks on the internet, and Emmett rings each one until finally we reach the last. I take the seat beside him and crowd inclose.

A female answers on the fourth ring. A beat later, Emmett confirms that it’s Sadie’s number, and that her mother is calling her to the phone. I get up to leave and give them some privacy, but Emmett’s hand shoots out and pins mine to the table. I’m a little surprised by his strength, and stare at him with wide eyes. “You can’t goanywhere.”

“I was just going to give you a littleprivacy.”

“Em, let her go,” Van says, a little tooharshly.

Emmett glares at him. “Tell her tostay.”

“I want no part in this,Brother.”

“I’ll stay,” I assure Emmett. “Just talk toher.”

“Hello? Hello?” Sadie’s small, feminine voice squeaks from the other end of theline.