LIB

Chapter 13

            “You’re like my little sister, Hailey. I don’t want some guy to hurt you again.”

            “Not all guys are like Marcus, Jared. If I’m smart enough to know that, then you should be too.”

            Jared scowled at me. “I know they aren’t all like that prick. But how do you know that Blake just doesn’t want to use you?”

            “Jared, that’s not fair to Hailey and you know it,” Amanda interjected quietly. “I know you just want to protect her, but have you not been listening to what she’s been saying? I haven’t met the guy, but even I can tell that there is something deeper going on with the two of them.”

            Jared rubbed his hands over his face. “I know. I just don’t trust any guys with her.”

            I reached over and squeezed his arm gently. “You have to trust me, Jared. Blake hasn’t made any moves on me and he probably won’t. Just because we finally opened up to each other doesn’t mean we’ll fall into each others arms.”

                He sighed. “I know. Sorry for how I reacted. I just get a little edgy whenever I hear Marcus’ name.” He looked over at me. “Has he tried calling you again since that one night?”

            “No. I think he got the hint,” I replied.

            “Good. If he calls again, I want to know about it.”

            “Yes dad,” I said teasingly.

            We spent another forty- five minutes with Jake and then Jared and I got back into his truck and he drove me to the park. I had sent Blake a text already, telling him that I was on my way.

            When we arrived at the park, I climbed out of the truck. I stuck my head back in for a moment. “Thanks for the ride, Jared. I’ll see you later tonight. Have fun with Cindy.”

            He flashed me a smile. “Oh, I’m sure I will.”

            I made a face at him and then shut the door on his laughter. I headed straight for the benches and saw that Blake was there already. I also noticed a group of five girls around our age standing a little ways off. I saw that they kept glancing at Blake every couple of minutes. I frowned a little. Had he always attracted this much attention and I just hadn’t noticed?

            I shrugged it off as I reached the bench where Blake was waiting. I sat down and gave Abby a pat. “Hey,” I said to Blake.

            He turned to me. “How’d it go?”

            I shrugged. “It’s not so bad now that Amanda and Jared go with me, but it’s still hard to see him like that.”

            Blake lifted his arm and put it around my shoulders. “I can only imagine what it must be like.”

            I laid my head on his shoulder. “I like it when you’re nice like this,” I admitted.

            He chuckled. “I kind of like having someone to be nice too,” he replied.

            My eyes were drawn back to the girls who were about thirty feet away. They were still looking over here occasionally, but they seemed disappointed now that I was here. “Did you know you have some admirers?” I asked him.

            He groaned. “How could I not know? They’ve been standing there and giggling for the last ten minutes. They keep on daring each other to come say hi to me.”