Page 99 of The Darkest Note

“What are you talking about?” I laugh.

“Hunter is so much cuter and nicer in person. Admit it. He was into you.”

I think back to our short conversation at the dance yesterday. Hunter’s brown eyes were warm as we both laughed over how I’d DM’d him the day he took a detox from social media.

“He was not,” I insist.

“Then why did he offer to drop us home?” Viola undoes her bun and runs her fingers through her dark hair.

“Because it’s on the way,” I tell her.

“I know for a fact that it isnoton the way,” Viola argues. “And he barely spoke a word to either me or his brother. He was just staring at you the entire ride.” She nudges my hip with her foot. “And you liked it.”

“It’s called being polite.”

“You didn’t have to accept his ride,” my sister shoots back.

“Yes, I did.”

There was no way I could get back in a vehicle with Dutch after playing together.

“Well, if you don’t like Hunter… do you like Dutch?”

I almost burn my hand with the iron. It’s only my quick reflexes that cause me to jump out of the way when the hot plate teeters off the board.

Viola shrieks. “Cadey, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I brush my hair behind my ear and stoop to pick up the iron. Thankfully, it’s not broken.

“Breeze thought you two were dating.”

“I talked to Breeze and cleared that up.” Before we left the dance, I took my best friend aside and explained as much of the situation as I could. She swore she wouldn’t forgive me for not telling her I was ‘friends’ with The Kings, but eventually we hugged it out.

Breeze still has no clue about Dutch tormenting me. And she doesn’t know about me toying with him as my alter ego either. I’m not telling her all that until I have to.

“No, I don’t like Dutch.”

At least not the Dutch that got Mulliez kicked out.

Or insinuated that I was sleeping with a teacher.

Or ruined my locker, destroyed my keyboard, and treated me like absolute crap.

But the Dutch that stood up for me in the cafeteria and pushed me to face my fears is… well, a different story.

I’m notagainstthat Dutch.

I’d actually like to see more of that Dutch around.

“Oooh. Are you thinking about him right now?” my sister teases.

“You’re distracting me.” I shoo Viola out of the room. “Go get ready for school.”

“Fine. But for what it’s worth, I’m Team Dutch.”

My eyes bug. “You don’t even know him.”

“I know he kept looking at you when he was playing yesterday. And you were looking at him too.”