TMI by Patty Blount Page B

laughter.
    Chase stood up and the laughter abruptly stopped. When he sat down again, Meg squeezed his hand briefly. He sucked in a sharp breath of air, so she tried to move her hand, but he only tightened his grip. For a moment, Meg looked at their clasped hands and finally looked up at him. “Chase—”
    â€œMegan.” He smiled.
    â€œWhy are you on the bus? Don’t you have practice?”
    He shook his head. “Canceled. The coach is sick. Probably has what I had last week. Besides, I thought you could use a friend.”
    A friend. She bit her lip. “Why do you keep doing this? You know how I feel.” She almost rolled her eyes. Expecting him to know how she felt when she wasn’t sure was pretty damn ludicrous. She felt like throwing herself into his arms and running away at the same time. But she didn’t have to spell it out for him. Didn’t have to elaborate. Because he didn’t bother to deny it.
    â€œYou’re right. I do know how you feel.” He leaned over with a grin that was almost wicked and whispered in her ear. “Because I feel the same way.”
    No. Meg tugged her hand back, and again, he tightened his grip, still grinning wide.
    â€œMegan, I won’t hurt you. I swear. Not the way your dad hurt you and your mom.” He was completely serious now.
    Her entire body clenched and she snatched her hand away. Meg never talked about her father. Ever. No one knew what had really happened. She’d never told anybody about her parents, except—
    â€œBailey. She—oh, God. She told you.” Damn it. No. No, it wasn’t possible. She swore she’d never tell.
    Chase frowned. “Told me what? It doesn’t take a genius to see you’re pissed at your dad.”
    Meg turned her head away and breathed a sigh of relief. Her anger was a weird thing. It was like someone had poured mad over her entire field of vision, tinting it a murky red. It was like trying to see through Alizarin Crimson. She should have known better. Bailey would never tell.
    Then again, she didn’t think Bailey would stand her up for some guy either.
    â€œI never understood why you guys are friends,” he murmured.
    Meg whipped her head back, eyebrows raised in question.
    â€œYou’re both such different people. Bailey’s all fun, and you’re—”
    â€œNot.”
    He rolled his vibrant eyes. “I was gonna say serious. She’s all fashionable, and you’re—”
    â€œNot.”
    This time, he blew out a frustrated sigh. “Will you stop that? I was gonna say you always look great, even though you’re not all tied up in knots trying to look that way. I guess I just wonder what you guys talk about.”
    Meg blinked. “We talk about anything. Everything. I don’t have to be special for her .”
    His eyebrows shot up. “You don’t have to be special for me either, but you won’t let us be friends like that. I just wish I understood why.”
    Meg looked down at her feet and tried to find a good excuse. “Too scary.”
    He laughed. “You really are afraid of me?”
    Meg burrowed deeper into her hoodie. “Not of you, just…uh, afraid in general.”
    He frowned and shook his head. “Okay, that cleared it up.”
    The bus reached Meg’s stop. “Bye. Oh, um…thanks for…you know, just thanks.”
    Chase stood up to let her by. She walked down the steps, jumped to the curb, and drew in a breath of the cool spring air, wondering if she’d ever feel warm again.
    â€œChase, this isn’t your street.” Meg reminded him when he fell into step beside her. Chase’s house was around the block. Meg could see his bedroom window from hers and often lay in bed at night, refusing to shut her eyes until his window went dark.
    â€œI know where I live, Megan.”
    They walked beside the freshly cut lawns, the crocuses, and tulips bursting from