Persuaded (8 page)

“Smile. You’re really pretty when you smile, Andy.”

My heart melted right then and there. I’d almost forgotten his nickname for me.

“You’re sure, though, that you’re okay?”

I watched him glance down at my sore ankle and realized he must’ve seen me trying not to limp. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just tripped over a fallen branch. It’s no big deal.”

“Hey, guys, we’re going to be heading back soon and we’ll be taking a different route.” Carson announced to the group. “Ethan has offered to give up his front seat to anyone who’d rather have more leg room.” He turned to us first. “Gregory? Amanda? Would either of you like to sit up front? It’ll be more comfortable.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” Sydney’s shrill voice took us all by surprise. “I might’ve wanted to sit up front. Seriously, you should’ve asked me first.”

Great. Sydney is in one of her moods.
I sighed.
Kylie stealing Gregory must’ve made her madder than I thought.

It was Kylie who put my stepsister in her place. “Well, Sydney, you’re definitely welcome to the front. And Ethan—” Kylie turned to him “—we would love to have you take Sydney’s spot in the back with us.” The smirk Kylie directed at my sister reminded me a little of a cat.

It was almost comical to watch the emotions flail through Sydney’s head. I would’ve treasured the moment a bit longer, but my attention was caught by Gregory as he stepped up to Carson and spoke quietly to him.

In the next instant, Carson turned to me and asked, “Amanda, would you like to sit up front? I mean, you do look a little tired. Plus after your fall I’m certain everyone here can agree that you deserve it more than the rest of us.” The last part was directed right at Sydney.

“I . . . uh . . . ” I was completely taken aback. “No, really—” I would’ve protested more, knowing how my stepsister would react, but Gregory placed his arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the passenger side of the Land Rover. Before I’d even fully comprehended what was happening, the door was whisked open and I was placed carefully on the seat. Then Gregory gently lifted my legs and brought them around in front of me. He shut the door. I was so astonished I didn’t say a word.

Clearly dumbfounded, I stretched my legs and found my ankle hurt more than it had just a few minutes before. I was grateful to have the seat with the better legroom—my ankle would’ve been doubly cramped the whole way home if I’d sat somewhere else.
And Gregory knew it.

The ride back was much more fun, mainly because Carson was such a great host. He had me laughing out loud while he rehearsed antics of past four-wheeling experiences with his brother.

When I asked why the Land Rover had two gearshifts instead of just one, Carson explained about overdrive shifters and their purpose. I was only able to follow about a quarter of the conversation, due to my particular lack of automobile knowledge, but he was still so friendly and cheerful, it didn’t matter that I had no idea what he was talking about. I just enjoyed hearing him talk.

When we got back he insisted that we all pose around his beautiful Beast so he could have a picture to hang on his office wall.

“Can I have a copy too?” When everyone else turned around to stare at me, I clarified, “You know, just sent to my email or whatever.”

“Sure.” Carson smiled. “Remember to leave me your email address and I’ll send it to you.”

“Great.” I couldn’t believe it, but I’d really, really enjoyed myself—and for some reason, I wanted the memory of it to last.

The next morning it was announced over breakfast that instead of moving into the new house later that day with my family, I was going over to Kylie’s. Her mom had called while we were four-wheeling to say she’d be away on a business trip for a couple of weeks and didn’t want Kylie to stay alone. Ms. Russell had arranged with my stepmom for me to go there this afternoon.

I was just about to protest, knowing full well Kylie would enjoy the house to herself, but Sydney spoke up right then.

“Good. We definitely don’t need your whining attitude around at the new house. I hope you stay all summer with Kylie!”

My whining attitude? What is she talking about?
I glanced over at my parents to see if I was going to get any help in the defense department, but Veronica was scrolling through text messages on her cell phone, and my dad was engrossed in his laptop. Looking back over at Sydney, I watched her choke down a Slim-Fast. Even with her face all puckered and free of makeup, she still looked beautiful. It never failed to amaze me how attractive my family could look first thing in the morning.

Just looking at them made my toast stale as I realized how much I didn’t fit in. After another attempt to eat, I gave up and swallowed my orange juice before heading over to the sink. I quickly loaded the dishwasher and then ran up to my room.

My full beauty regimen took approximately four and a half minutes, including washing my face, brushing my teeth, pulling my hair into a ponytail, slapping on some mascara, and putting pink-lemonade-flavored Smackers on my lips.

After getting ready, I opened my packed luggage and transferred some clothes into a smaller suitcase to live out of for two weeks. Kylie’s family had a washer and dryer, of course, so I didn’t need to bring much. I spent the rest of the morning doing last-minute packing and cleaning in my room.

When I finished, the weight of the move finally hit me. It was hard to realize I would never see my bedroom again, and I found I didn’t want to go to the new house just yet. I wasn’t ready for my life to change. For the first time since that morning, I felt thankful Ms. Russell had asked me to stay with Kylie. Even if it was for just a couple of weeks—at least I didn’t have to face reality until then.

I got a text message from Kylie, saying she would be there around noon to get me. By 11:00 I was ready to go. I slowly wandered through the rooms of the house and silently said goodbye to each one.
By Monday morning, all of this will belong to Gregory’s family
, I thought with a sigh.

Because of my family’s financial situation, I was relieved that we were moving into a smaller place. Still, I was surprised at how painful it was to leave my childhood home. It really was a disgustingly large house for any average family’s standards, but it was all I had ever known.

My final tour of the backyard brought me up to my mother’s coveted koi pond. I missed her. No, not her, exactly. I missed the fun we could’ve had together had she chosen to stay with us. But she hadn’t. I shrugged my shoulders in pretended nonchalance and tried not to think of her boyfriend and their beach house in Hawaii. She had met him on one of our annual Hawaiian trips during Christmas break. The next year when she saw him again, she didn’t come back. I was eight.

It’s her loss, right?
I took a deep breath and headed back into the house. Kylie was waiting for me.

When we got in her car, she said, “I’m soooo glad you’re coming to stay with me. I’ve thought of the best idea ever. I mean, the best.”

“What?” I chuckled, grateful to have something to snap me out of my mood.

“You can help me get Gregory.”

“Me?”
I am supposed to help her get Gregory?
My
Greg?

“Yeah! It’s perfect. I’ve thought it all out.”

“You have?” My hands started to shake.
Okay, okay, okay. Stop freaking. This is what I wanted, right? To help Gregory find someone. There. Okay. Kylie’s great. I couldn’t have planned it better myself, right? Right?
Kylie was still talking, and it took every bit of self-control I possessed to listen to her.

“. . . So all you have to do is just casually mention it to him. He’ll pick up on it for sure.” She sighed as she put the car in gear and pulled into the road. “So please, please, please say you’ll do it for me?”

“Huh? You want me to . . .” I trailed off.

“Ugh.” Kylie rolled her eyes. “Just mention that I like him, okay? You know, that I think he’s hot—that sort of thing.”

“How? When? I mean, I don’t even talk to the guy.”

She waved her hand agitatedly. “Just the next time you hear from him, or see him, or get a chance to talk to him—just bring it up for me, okay?”

“Wait. Don’t you think me telling Gregory that you like him is a little immature?”

Kylie’s jaw dropped as she glanced over at me. “No, I don’t.” She focused back on the road. “It’s not like you’re going to bring it up like we’re kids, or something. Just mention it casually, you know? Sheesh, Amanda! Make it natural. Just promise me you’ll do it, okay?”

Grr.
“Fine.” The chances of me having an opportunity to tell Gregory would be scarce anyway.

Little did I know he would prove me wrong just a few hours later.

Seven: Matchmaker, Matchmaker . . .

“Hey, Amanda! Can you get that?” Kylie hollered from her bathroom where she was touching up her makeup again. Her cell had been ringing off the hook since her mom had left a couple of hours ago.

“Sure, hang on.” I set the celebrity gossip magazine down and rolled off the guest bed to answer the phone that was chirping merrily with the latest pop song on Kylie’s dresser.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Kylie?” Gregory’s voice shocked me so much I almost dropped the phone.

“Uh, no. It—it’s Amanda,” I managed to choke out.

“Who is it?” Kylie mouthed.

I covered the phone with my hand. “Gregory.”

“Shut up!” she hissed. “Are you kidding me? You’re gonna tell him about me, right? You have to.”

“Hey.” Gregory chuckled into my ear. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”

“Oh—hi, Gregory.” I feigned surprise. “You needed Kylie?” I smiled at her and walked forward.

“Yeah, sure, if she’s around.”

Kylie shook her head, stepped into the bathroom, and slammed the door shut.

“Uh, well, she’s in the—the shower right now. Can I have her call you back?”

“Okay. This is her cell, right? You can just have her call me back on the number that’s on the screen.”

His phone number.
My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would explode. With a deep breath, I nodded my head and then realized he couldn’t hear me. “O–okay, that’ll be great. I’ll let her know.”
Tell him. Just get it over with and tell him.

“Thanks. You’re awesome.”

He thinks I’m awesome.
My hand began to shake as I clutched the phone tighter. Then, before I lost my nerve, I blurted, “Oh! Uh, Gr–Gregory, I wanted to tell you something.”

“Yeah?”

His voice sounded so good. I closed my eyes and swallowed. “Well, you know how Kylie’s not around at the moment?”
What am I saying? Just spit it out.

“Um, yeah?”

“I—uh, anyway, I just wanted to say before she comes back, that she, she—uh, she—”

“She—?” I could hear the grin in Gregory’s voice and it nearly disarmed me.

Say it already.
“Look.” I attempted a chuckle but failed. With another deep breath I plowed on. “Kylie likes you. I mean, a lot. S–so, if you want to ask her out or something—I’m not saying you have to, just if you do, she’d probably really like it.”
There. I said it.
I held my breath and waited for the verdict.