Devon Delaney Should Totally Know Better by Lauren Barnholdt, Nathalie Dion Read Free Book Online

go.” He sounds annoyed.
    “Are you mad at me?” I ask.
    “I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t have told me about your old boyfriend.”
    “Well, you didn’t tell me about Bailey,” I say. “So I just figured we weren’t going to have those kinds of conversations yet.”
    “Bailey?” Luke frowns, like he’s never heard of her, and/or doesn’t understand what she has to do with this conversation. Which is everything.
    “Yeah, that you used to go out with her last year.”
    “I thought you knew about that,” he says. “It’s not like it was a secret.”
    “Well, I didn’t,” I say. I look to see if my dad’s getting impatient, but he’s on his cell phone. I can tell because his gesturing with his hands, and I can almost make out the Bluetooth in his ear. Probably on a business call.
    “Oh, right,” Luke says, pulling his hand away from mine. “That’s because you liked Jared. You probably knew who
he
was dating.”
    “Not really,” I mumble. I actually
did
know who Jared was dating, but that doesn’t—wait a minute.
    Is Luke jealous? Is that why he’s acting so cranky all of a sudden? Is he jealous of this anonymous Greg person who doesn’t even exist? Not that Luke
knows
he doesn’t exist. In fact, as far as Luke knows, Greg could be some kind of totally hot guy, a four-wheeling champion who buys me flowers and kisses me. I feel a secret rush of excitement thinking about Luke being jealous of some other guy.
    “Well, it would have been nice if you’d told me,” he says.
    “I’m sorry, I really am.” I reach for his hand again, and give it a squeeze. “I should have told you, I just didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Really, he meant nothing to me. He was nobody, just a . . . a summer fling!”
    “Well then,” Luke says. “If it was just a summer fling, I can see why you didn’t mention it.”
    “Totally,” I say, nodding. “He doesn’t even cross my mind, not even a little.” And then I remember Kim’s doubtful comment in mock trial, and realize I need to make this sound as realistic as possible. “Of course,” I add, “We still IM sometimes, but it’s nothing, we’re definitely just friends.” People usually keep in touch with their ex-boyfriends, don’t they? Bailey’s still in touch with Luke. Of course, they do go to the same school, so it’s a little different. But still.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I can see my dad still on his phone call, but I stand up anyway. “I should go,” I say. Luke stands up, and for a second, I wonder if he’s going to kiss me in front of my dad.
    “Well,” he says. “I think I should meet him.”
    “My dad?” I ask. “Right now? Um, now’s probably not the best time.” The thing is, I kind of sort of haven’t told my dad that Luke is actually my boyfriend. I mean, my parents know who Luke is and everything, but they don’t know he and I are going out.
    “Not your dad,” Luke says, his blue eyes grim. “Greg.”
    “Oh,” I say. “Right. Of course.” Not. And then I wave goodbye and rush off to the car before he can realize I’m panicked.

    When I get into the car, my dad quickly gets off his phone call. “Okay,” he says briskly, “So we’ll touch base about that on Monday.” And then he gets a very guilty look on his face as he flips his phone shut and takes his Bluetooth out of his ear.
    “Hi, honey,” he says. “How was mock trial?”
    “It was . . .” I grasp around in my head for something to say that won’t exactly be a lie or sound too negative. “Interesting.”
    “You know, when I was in high school, I was in debate club.”
    “I know,” I say as I buckle my seat belt. “One time mom showed me all your old debate club trophies.” I hope he’s not going to start telling me stories about debate club. Mock trial was boring enough.
    “Well, I
was
the best in the state,” he says, pulling the car onto the highway and looking pleased with himself. “I remember one time—”