Page 11 of Billionaires Don’t Date Cheerleaders (Texting the Boyband #2)
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Jude
Did you watch the livestream last night?
Sloane
What livestream?
Jude
Hudson and Neil
They did a Q3 That’s how
By the time we were finished getting Jude’s student card, the lunch period had started, and the hallways were flooded with students. He grabbed my hand, loosely interlocking our fingers. When I looked at him questioningly, he said, “The hallway’s packed. I don’t want to lose you.”
A weak excuse, but I didn’t care enough to argue as I turned back around and led him back down the stairs to the first floor.
“Do you have another cheer meeting today?” Jude asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “But I doubt it will take long. Just confirming which uniform for the game this week and stuff like that.”
I was probably cutting it a little close by walking Jude all the way to the cafeteria, but it would have taken more time if I left him to get lost and then had to go find him again. As we got downstairs, I checked the time on my phone. I had to be at the meeting in a minute if I wanted to be on time.
I had a few texts from the cheer team, no doubt reminding us about the meeting. I think most of the girls—myself included—tended to forget that this group chat was actually supposed to be for team reminders, not just for us to chat amongst ourselves, which was why our coaches were in. However, I had no doubt that the coaches had the chat set to mute and only opened it on days like today.
Group name: Summerfield Cheer
Members: Sloane, Jess, Kelsey + 15 others
Coach Bee
Girls, don’t forget about the cheer meeting!
We’re still missing Sloane, Paige, Cate and Fiona
Fiona
I’m on my way!
Ummmmm did I just see Jude Turner holding hands with Sloane??
Sloane
No
My immediate answer was guaranteed to just make them suspicious, but there wasn’t much else I could do. I obviously couldn’t just say yes. Well, maybe I could. We’d been holding hands for a completely innocent reason, after all. If I just explained… Well, it was probably too late for that now that I’d already said no. And even if I hadn’t, who was to say they would have believed me anyway?
“I have to go,” I said. I hesitantly pulled my hand out of his, trying to ignore how cold it felt without it. “Will you be okay?”
Jude nodded. “I see the other guys already. I’ll just go sit with them. Have fun at your meeting.”
“I’ll meet you back here at the end of lunch, okay?” I said. “I’ll help you find your next class.”
Jude nodded. “It’s a date.”
Gosh, I hope nobody heard him say that… the rumor mill would be going wild with that one if they did. Especially since everyone already saw us holding hands. I could just see the headlines now: JUDE TURNER ’ S SECRET GIRLFRIEND? EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT SLOANE EVANS…
As much as I enjoyed my popularity at school, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be quite that well-known. But as I walked Jude into the cafeteria and felt everyone’s eyes land on me, I wondered whether I would have much choice in the matter at all.
Group name: Summerfield Cheer
Members: Sloane, Jess, Kelsey + 15 others
Paige
Don’t think we’re done talking about this Sloane
Sloane
There’s nothing to talk about
Eloise
You were holding hands with JUDE TURNER
Sloane
Prove it
Paige
[image]
^^my friend sent me this photo
Sloane
It’s blurry
Can’t see my face
Paige
She’s wearing your exact outfit
Sloane
We have a uniform??
Everyone looks the same as me
Paige
But not everyone’s wearing the same shirt/skirt combo
Jess
Plus it’s your backpack
Eloise
And your hair
Sloane
Geez ok I get it
Look I was just holding his hand so we didn’t get split up by the crowds of people
Because he doesn’t know his way around the school yet
Eloise
Suuuuuuuure
Sloane
What do you want me to do to prove it??
Ask him yourself, he’ll tell you
Paige
Right as if Jude Turner would ever talk to us
Sloane
He definitely would
He’s really nice
Eloise
You know what would help our chances? You dating him
Sloane
I—
Assistant Coach Riley
Girls… may I remind you again that I am in this group chat
Put your phones away and listen to Coach Bee