Crushed by Amity Hope Read Free Book Online

much stuff in just one day, Cleo wasn’t sure. “Can you imagine the three of them together?”
    Cleo laughed. “I know. I was surprised their mom already called last night . Luci just about bounced through the ceiling when I told her she could spend the night
     at their house this Friday.”
    “So if you’re free…” Emma had a conniving look on her face as she got the notebook loose. “T hen you can come with me and Lauren on Friday.”
    Cleo raised her eyebrows and made a face. “To Melanie’s party?” She shook her head. “No.”
    “ Cleo ,” Emma whined. “You might have fun.”
    “Watching Mia attach herself to Reece all night? Not my idea of fun. Now come on. W e’re going to be late,” Cleo said in an effort to change the subject.
    “Maybe they won’t be there?” Emma suggested . She scurried along, following her friend down the nearly empty hallway.
    Cleo gave her a look that said they both knew better.
    They slipped into class just as the bell rang. Cleo gave Mr. Jessen an apol ogetic look. He gave her a cheery nod as she slid her self into her chair.
    “Alright class, today, you’re going to start working with your partners. I’m going
     to hand out a questionnaire . I would like to know what you are hoping to get out of this class. W hat , if any, p rior volunteering you have done. W hat your views are on public service projects, etcetera. I’d like to do this in an
     interview format . You will be question ing your partners and writing down their answers. At the end of the year, we’ll do a similar questionnaire on how
     you feel about your participation in this class. Now, if you could pair off and just
     slide your desks together accordingly we’ll get started.”
    They a ll slowly got to their feet. Cleo glanced at Reece. He was gathering up his things. A pparently he’d decided he was coming to her . As the other s tudents moved about the room, she slid her desk ov er. She moved it closer to the w all so they could fit another desk alongside it.
    “Hi,” Reece said when s he turned around. He was just inches away, closer than he’d been in months.
    “Hi,” she returned . She knew she should take a step back . But moving away from Reece had always been as agreeable as not breathing. She was vaguely aware of people scuffling about. T he scraping of desks across the tile floor. T he chattering of classmates as everyone moved around. But mostly, she was just aware of Reece. He was studying her intently. He did not look happy.
    “You’re not sleeping.”
    It wasn’t really a question and she didn’t want to get into an argument . She didn’t bother to deny it. “Nope.”
    The silence between them dru g out awkwardly long . She realized most of the class was sitting again. She took her seat and Reece moved the near est empty desk alongside hers.  
    “So, this is going to be fun,” he grumbled as he slumped down in his chair . His tone was completely flat.
    “I’m sure it will be,” she agreed for lack of anything better to say.
    She glanced at Mr. Jessen. He was scowling as he rifled through the papers on his desk.
     Everyone was now seated but ch atting . H e hadn’t demanded their attention yet.
    “ How are things with Ethan ?” Reece asked. His expre ssion was completely blank. She had no idea if he was asking because he was actually wondering…Well , not wondering, exactly. Just… she didn’t know what. “Well, how is he?” he demanded. He sounded irritated this time when she took too long trying to decipher his original question.
    She shrugged. “G ood. He’s good. ” It was a perfectly neutral ans wer. “How’s Mia?” Ugh , she had not wanted to ask t ha t. It had just popped right out. She wondered if that’s what had happened wi th Reece. She was pretty damn sure he did not actually care how Ethan was.
    He smirked and her stomach worked itself into that painful knot again . “Mia’s awesome.”
    Reece had called her every day over the first week