Page 30 of Her Always Choice

“Oh god, Steph will have an aneurysm, especially if you manage to take away the top spot, but then again she has more classes than you do, which means more opportunities to raise the GPA.”

“Ah but I’ll still have plenty of credits to graduate with and…”

“And what?” Tate asked.

“Yes and what Sis?” Nicole said sliding into the empty seat beside her.

“How’d…please tell me you and Jordan aren’t tracking my phone,” Mel said accepting the hug she offered.

“Not at all, Jordan simply told me that it was the first day back and that he’d told you to take the afternoon off. I figuredyou wouldn’t listen and since we’re having dinner with Mom and Dad, I guessed you’d be here.”

“I dragged Tate dress shopping with me,” she admitted. “I know how much your parents like to dress up so I figured I needed a few more to tide me over.”

“And don’t forget Alana’s wedding this weekend.”

“I completely forgot. I still can’t believe she wants to announce my marriage to Jordan. I know she doesn’t know the whole story but what are people going to think? When they find out that I’m a senior in high school.”

“They’ll think you’re pregnant and then they’ll see the way Jordan looks at you and it’ll all be clear.”

“Would you two stop it? We’re friends,” she argued shaking her head.

“And I justlikemy Manolos,” Nicole laughed.

“Alright what were you going to say before this one got here?” Tate said letting the conversation about her and Jordan’s feelings drop.

“Oh, I got my results.”

“From the tests?” Tate asked.

“What tests?” Nicole inquired confused and a bit worried.

“The SAT and ACT she took this summer,” Tate explained.

“Well?” they said looking at Mel expectantly.

“I did pretty awesome if I do say so myself.”

“Mel,” Tate groaned.

“Thirty-five on the ACT and a fifteen-fifty on my SAT.”

“No way,” Nicole exclaimed.

“Told you,” Tate grinned.

“So who wants to go shopping?” she asked paying the bill.

“Me,” Nicole told her. “You can come too Tate.”

“I was planning on it,” he stated following behind them.

∞∞∞

“You’ve been pretty quiet Mel,” Jordan said as he steered their personal car towards his parents’ place. “Did Tate and Nicole wear you out shopping?”

“How’d…okay so I might have taken off and did a bit of shopping, but I think it was worth it don’t you?” she said looking at the dress she’d bought.

“Completely.”