Page 36 of Scarlett and the Fake Boyfriend (Scarlett #2)
“Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve been really distracted recently.”
I swallowed hard. That was because of me. And Mr. Halifax’s stupid flirting. “I’m sorry,” I said again.
“Really, we don’t know it’s him. He was helping you with acceleration questions during detention, remember? He could have just been referring to that.”
I slowly nodded. “I guess that’s true.”
“Totally.” She smiled. “The third base acceleration was just a random coincidence.” She was so much better than me at pretending that none of this was worrisome.
***
I was starting to hate the class my dad taught almost as much as Mr. Halifax’s class.
My dad had been really cool about Jacob and I dating.
But now he kept giving Jacob dirty looks in class.
And he kept talking about how coding was a great independent activity.
And that more of us should spend our free time doing that.
Plus another section of our project was due at the end of the week. He gave us way too much homework.
It was almost time for the bell to ring when the speakers turned on and our principal’s voice came into the room.
“Eek they’re announcing the homecoming court!” Sophie said.
My heart started racing as our principal read the names of the nominees for homecoming king.
“Axel Stevens. Jacob Miller. Luis Rodriguez. Eli Jones. And Billy O’Reilly.”
I heard Axel and Jacob high five behind me.
“And our nominees for homecoming queen,” the principal said. “Sophie Hunter.”
I smiled at her.
She shrugged like it was nothing.
“Gigi Cannavaro,” the principal announced.
“Gross,” Sophie said.
I laughed. The principal went on to announce Gemma and Georgia too. And then there was a long pause. “And Scarlett Hunter.”
My heart stopped. I hadn’t really expected it .
My dad gave me a weird look. It almost looked like he was...disappointed.
“I knew it,” Sophie said.
“Congrats, Scarlett,” Jacob said.
I turned around. “Thanks, you too. Both of you.” I glanced at Axel.
“Told you that you’d be nominated,” he said.
My cheeks flushed.
“See you after practice?” Jacob asked as he grabbed his backpack.
I nodded.
“Oh, what are we doing after practice?” Axel asked. “I’m game for whatever.”
Jacob and I looked at each other.
He cleared his throat. “We were actually planning on hanging out just the two of us.”
“Just the two of you?” Axel asked.
“Yeah.”
“Like a date?”
“Not like a date,” Jacob said. “An actual date.”
“How long, you think? Cause Scarlett and I need to work on that assignment tonight.”
“It’s due on Friday,” I said.
“Yeah, but we don’t want to work on it at the last minute. Homecoming is this weekend.”
That was true.
“I’ll drop her off at home after dinner,” Jacob said.
“Actually, I think I need to do it right around dinner time,” Axel said. “I’m busy later.”
Busy with his own date? Come on. I was just about to protest, but Jacob shrugged.
“Sure, whatever,” Jacob said. “See you in a bit.” He squeezed my shoulder as he walked past me.
“And I’ll see you for dinner,” Axel said. He squeezed my shoulder in the exact same spot that Jacob just had.
Sophie rolled her eyes as the two of them left. “I swear this is going to end in a fist fight at homecoming. It’ll be just like our dads at homecoming.”
“Don’t.”
“I’m serious. Axel is getting so possessive. Which is really giving me kiss thief vibes. What’s the last thing the kiss thief texted you again?” Sophie stopped talking as soon as my dad walked up to us.
“Ready to head home, pumpkin?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I just need to get a few books from my locker.”
“Alright. I’ll come with you.”
Okay then.
My dad stayed glued to my side at my locker. And on the way out of school. He opened up the car door for me and closed it behind me.
He was being weirder than usual.
He climbed into the car, but instead of starting the ignition, he took a deep breath and then turned to me. “We need to talk.”
“About...what?” But I had a feeling I knew exactly what. That creepy Mr. Halifax wink.
“I know that you’re your mother’s daughter.”
“And your daughter.”
“You know what I mean,” my dad said.
“I really don’t.”
He scratched the scruff on the side of his jaw. “Your mother...well...I think she’d be okay with admitting that she may have had a thing for authority figures.”
Good Lord, why?! “Dad... ”
“And it may be something you picked up from her.”
Kill me.
“But your mother was in college. Scarlett, you’re only 17...”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about right now.”
He took another deep breath. “You can tell me anything, you know.”
I really couldn’t.
We both just stared at each other.
“Scarlett, I’m only going to ask you this once. And I want you to be honest with me.”
I nodded.
“Has West...I mean, Mr. Halifax. Has Mr. Halifax ever been inappropriate with you?”
Honestly...I had no idea. If he was my kiss thief, we’d done a lot of inappropriate things in closets. And he’d pointed to a question about third base today way too many times to be appropriate. And he kept giving me special attention. And I’d accidentally straddled him last week...
I swallowed hard. “No, Dad. Gross, stop.”
“It’s just that he winked at you...”
“Dad, I’m not Mom.”
He just stared at me.
“Besides, I’m dating Jacob.”
He kept staring at me.
“And I’m saving myself for marriage,” I added, just to try to end this awkward conversation.
He smiled. “Right. Good. I’m glad to hear that.” But he still didn’t start the car. “You’d tell me though, right? If anyone ever made you feel uncomfortable?”
“You’re kind of making me uncomfortable right now.”
He laughed. “Fine. But I am here, Scarlett. If you ever want to talk.”
“I know, Dad.” I did. But I was hoping I wouldn’t have to take him up on his offer.
“And if Jacob does ever try to pressure you to be intimate, you just tell me, and I’ll handle it.”
That definitely sounded like he was going to kill Jacob.
I needed to start being very careful. Jacob and I were already being intimate. And I didn’t want my dad to murder him.
But I also had no intention of canceling my third base training date in just a couple hours. I just hoped I wasn’t practicing for Mr. Halifax.