Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Read Free Book Online

squad loyalty.
    Yeah, JJ didn’t understand it either. It’s not like anyone is getting married. But when it comes to Henry, the rule doesn’t apply: the girls disregard it and mess around with him anyway.
    Too much drama for me.
    Speaking of fooling around, Ty’s sitting so close I can smel him. The scent of soap and detergent wafts up to my nose.
    Ty leans over and whispers in my ear, “I don’t know whether to thank you or hate you for sending me home with Henry yesterday.”
    “Oh hel ,” I say. “What did he do?”
    He stuffs a few French fries in his mouth, but keeps talking. “First he takes us to this diner. Those friends of his, Kristen and Marie, are al over us.
    Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Kristen doesn’t seem to have anything between her ears.”
    I snort and chocolate milk comes out my nose. Yeah, I know, I’m the sexiest creature on the planet. Ty grins at me.
    “Go on,” I say, wiping up my chocolate snot.
    “So we stay at the diner for a couple hours, talking about absolutely nothing. And I mean nothing . Oh yeah—there was no studying going on either. Henry and Marie made out for, like, an hour.”
    I start cracking my knuckles as Ty goes on. “Then we go out to his truck, and I’m thinking, great—final y, I get to go home. My grandfather’s probably worried sick about me. But no, Henry doesn’t take me home. He drives us way out into the country into this field. It’s basical y a giant mud puddle.”
    I grin. “Henry took you mudding?”
    “Yup. So we’re in the field, and Henry drives his truck around in circles at about eighty miles an hour. I think I’m gonna die. Everybody’s screaming. He rol s down the windows and mud’s flying al over the place, al inside the cab of the truck. I’m covered in muck. Final y he stops the truck and we al fal out into the giant mud puddle.” He looks down at his cheeseburger, picks it up, and takes a bite. With food in his mouth, he says, “Pretty soon I’m the only person stil wearing clothes. And then Kristen—” Ty suddenly grabs some fries and eats them, his face growing pink.
    I’m jealous out of my mind, but I’m stil laughing hysterical y. Only Henry would do this to the new guy on his first day at a new school.
    “You think it’s funny, do you?” Ty says, grinning. “I didn’t get home until after midnight. I showed up covered in mud and now I’m in trouble.”
    “Hel yeah, it’s funny.”
    “And that Kristen chick has been stalking me al day.”
    I glance over at the cheerleader table, where Lacey continues to glare at JJ and the redheaded French fry slave. I locate Kristen, who is gazing over at us. She waves at Ty and blows him a kiss. I’m tempted to catch the kiss and pretend to crumple it up with my hand, throw it on the ground, and stomp on it.
    Instead, I sip my chocolate milk and say, “Sucks to be you, man.”
    He elbows me. “I think you planned the whole thing.”
    “Did not.”
    “Did too.”
    “Did not.” What is this? Third grade?
    “Make it up to me.” He stares straight into my eyes.
    Breathe, Jordan, breathe. “I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not making anything up to you.”
    “What are you doing after school today?”
    JJ and I are going out to eat after school. I could invite Ty to get grub with us. I want to, but I just can’t—if he comes, I won’t be able to relax at al , and I need to freaking relax before tomorrow night’s game.
    JJ and Carter final y come sit down at our table. The minute JJ’s back is turned and he’s facing me, I see Lacey stand up and go over to the redheaded freshman. I don’t need to read lips to know what Lacey’s saying. I’m pretty sure she just cal ed the girl a whore. The redheaded freshman gets up and rushes her tray to the dishwashing window, then bolts out of the cafeteria as tears fil her eyes.
    Ty leans over to me. “Did you see that?”
    “Yup.”
    “I take it she’s a bitch?”
    “Yup. I’l go make sure that