How Not to Fall In Love

Chapter 22

The rest of the day went by without any more run-ins with Blake or Taylor, which had me worried because I knew they were up to something. They were waiting for the opportune moment to pounce when our guard was down. 

Austin told me to be ready at six tonight before heading to football practice. He didn't tell me where we were going, just that I needed to be ready by then. Sophie told me she'd run home, then meet me at my house to help me get ready. I got in the car and headed home to make sure Jules could get in the house without any trouble. I pulled into the driveway right as Evie's mom pulled in front of the house. I quickly grabbed my stuff out of the passenger seat, then raced to the front door to unlock the door for Jules and Evie. 

"Hey, I heard you're going out with Austin tonight," Jules said, walking up the front steps. 

"How...Never mind." I opened the front door. 

"I was about to say..." she laughed. 

"I stopped myself before I finished my sentence. Do you need any money?" I asked as she walked up the stairs with Evie. "I might." She disappeared down the hall. 

I got twenty dollars out of my wallet to give her because we still needed money for food. I had no idea when Dad would be back, so I had to make the money last. Even though he was an asshole, I couldn't see him altogether abandoning us for long. Then again, he would leave me for a long time and not think twice about it. He would never do that to Jules, though. 

"Rylee! Where are you?" Jules hollered. 

"I'm in the kitchen!" I hollered back, closing the refrigerator door. 

"Did you say you had money for me?" Jules asked, walking into the kitchen. 

"Yeah." I handed her twenty dollars. "Sorry, I couldn't give you more." 

"It's okay. I've got some saved up from my allowance. We're leaving now. I'll be home sometime tomorrow. Bye, Rylee, love you." She hugged me, then disappeared out of the kitchen. 

"Bye, Jules, Evie." I followed them out of the kitchen and down the hall to the front door. 

They both turned and waved, then flew out the front door and down the steps toward the vehicle. I stood there in the doorway and watched them climb into the backseat of the SUV, and I found myself jealous. Jealous of their carefree attitude and how they acted like they didn't have a problem in the world that they couldn't solve. 

Evie's mom waved and pulled away from the house. I walked out onto the porch, closing the door partway behind me, and watched them drive away. I looked up at the blue sky, watching the white clouds gently roll past the house. A few cars drove past, and a small group of kids walked on the sidewalk, laughing and talking amongst themselves, not realizing I was watching them from the porch. And again, I found myself jealous, wishing I could be that carefree. Once they were past the neighbor's house on the right, I turned and went back inside the empty house. Normally, I would've enjoyed being all alone in the house, but for some reason, all it's doing today is bringing me down. I couldn't understand why I was so depressed about being in the house alone. I stood in the middle of the house, listening to the deafening silence. I turned to walk back into the kitchen when there was a loud thud against the front door. I stumbled, trying to turn around, looking for something to grab as my heartbeat echoed in my ears. 

"Rylee! Help!" Sophie yelled through the front door. 

"Sophie?" I opened the front door to find her standing there with her hands full. She had a bag draped on her left shoulder, one in her hand, and a drink carrier in her right hand. I took the drink carrier out of her hand. The smell of coffee teased my nose. 

"Thanks. I needed this right now," I said, letting Sophie walk past me. 

"I kinda figured you'd like an iced latte and want me to show up early." 

"Thanks." I closed the front door. 

"Do you know what you're going to wear tonight?" Sophie asked, letting the bags slide down onto the floor next to the stairs. 

"No idea." I sighed, turning to walk toward the kitchen. 

"Lucky for you, I called reinforcement." 

"Is that why there are three lattes?"

"You know it." 

About five minutes later, there was a knock on the door. "Where is everyone?" 

"We're in the kitchen." I stuck my head out into the hall. "Your latte is in the refrigerator." 

"Thanks, sunshine," Cole said, walking down the hall. "Sophie said you'd probably need help picking out something to wear tonight." He opened the refrigerator door, grabbing his iced latte. "What time is Austin picking you up?" 

"He told me to be ready by six." I took a sip. "And no, I don't know where he's taking me either." 

"That gives us a little over two hours. We should probably get started." He walked out of the kitchen. "You can't get ready in the kitchen." 

"You look great, Rylee," Sophie said, smiling at me in the mirror. 

"Do you think it's too much?" I looked down at the skater dress. 

"Stop. You look amazing." Cole smiled, helping Sophie put the rest of her things back in her bags. 

"What if he changes his mind and doesn't show up?" I stared at myself in my full-length mirror. 

"Rylee, stop. He's going to show up." Sophie smiled, looking around my room to make sure she had everything. "Do you want me to come back later tonight when you get home so you aren't alone, or you can come stay with me?" 

"No, I'll be okay. I don't know when I'll be home." I turned around, walking away from my mirror. 

"We're going to leave before Austin gets here," Cole said, grabbing one of Sophie's bags. "Who knows, maybe we'll see you out tonight." He winked, walking out of my room. 

My eyes flashed to Sophie, smiling great big toward the door. I stood there staring at her, hoping Cole was joking about running into us tonight. She turned to say something, and her eyes widened the second she saw the shock on my face. She set the bag down on my bed and wrapped her arms around me, trying not to mess up my hair or makeup. 

"It's going to be all right," she whispered close to my ear. She lowered her arms, stepped back, fluffing my hair, and looked at my makeup. "I'm going to go. Have fun tonight." She grabbed her bag from the bed and walked out of my room. 

I unplugged my phone and glanced in the mirror to make sure my dress wasn't wrinkled from Sophie's hug. I was about to leave my room when the doorbell rang, letting the butterflies loose in my stomach. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, slowly opened them, and headed the stairs. I grabbed my purse off the table and then turned to open the door. 

"Wow..." Austin stood looking hot in a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and jeans. 

"Thank you." I smiled. 

"Are you ready?" 

"Yes." I closed the door behind me. 

"Have you eaten yet?" Austin took my hand, leading me off the porch toward his car. 

"No." 

Once I was in the car, he closed the door and got in the driver's seat. "Fasten your seatbelt," he smiled, starting the vehicle. He pulled away from my house, reached over, and laid his hand on my leg, his thumb caressing my knee. His touch drove me crazy, and I craved more, wanting his hands on my body. 

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