I laugh and shake my head. It’s true that she’s a bit awkward in her moves, but with her body, it’s not like anyone noticed. “You did great,” I say. “It takes a lot of practice.”
“You practice that a lot?”
“Well, there was usually a little twerking in our halftime routines,” I admit. “We were more of a dance-cheer squad combo. And I took lessons. The real question is, where’dyoulearn to shake that booty like a pro?” I ask, turning to our freshman friend. “Who knew our sweet little Dixie had it in her?”
Dixie’s face turns scarlet. “I just like dancing,” she mumbles. “I watch videos and do the moves at home. Like you did with cheering. But my parents didn’t know. Oh my god, they’re here!” Her hands fly up to cover her mouth, and she gives a muffled wail. “They’re going to kill me!”
We’re almost to the parking lot when someone whistles. Dread clamps around my belly, but I keep going. Dixie, however, turns around.
“Oh my god,” she says. “It’s Chase London. I think he just whistled at us.”
I stop and turn around, a smile breaking across my face before I can stop myself. “Chase,” I say, seeing the familiar boy who rescued me from the bad part of town. “Shouldn’t you be at your own game? Preston didn’t fuck up your hand, did he?”
“Nah,” Chase says, gesturing to his jeans and hoodie. “It’s our bye week. I came to scope out the competition. You were lying about your brothers.”
“Just wait,” I say. “The best one is injured right now, and the twins are only freshmen.”
“Guess I can kiss my state championship goodbye,” he says. “Hey, Dixie. And Dolly. How y’all doin’?”
“Chase!” A tiny blonde girl appears from behind the bathrooms, a hand planted on her hip. She gestures impatiently for him to join her.
“Hey, come here, babe,” he says, calling her over.
Great. The Darling girl he’s dating.
“This is the damsel in distress I told you about,” he says, sliding an arm around her waist and winking at me. “The one who’s hot for your brother.”
She gives me a forced smile. “Hi. I’m Lindsey Darling.”
“I gathered that,” I say. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for sparing your boyfriend to help me out that day. He’s quite the gentleman.”
“Why, thank you, ma’am,” Chase says, tipping an imaginary hat at me and smiling in a way that says he clearly adores the flattery.
“Don’t even mention it,” Lindsey says, clinging possessively to his arm. “Oh, hi, Dolly. That was quite a performance. I didn’t know majorettes danced like that.”
“Oh, it wasn’t for majorettes,” Dolly says. “That was for my own personal satisfaction.”
“I think it brought some other people satisfaction, too,” Chase says with a crooked smile.
“Chase,” Lindsey scolds, looking scandalized.
“What?” he says. “The cops are gonna charge y’all with murder if they catch you.”
“We should probably get out of here,” Dixie agrees, glancing around nervously.
“Murder?” I ask, laughing. “Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“Not really,” Chase says. “Pretty sure at least one guy dropped dead of a heart attack when he saw y’all twerking like that. That must be illegal in this town because I’ve sure as hell never seen a girl move that way around here.”
I laugh, my own face warming with pleasure at his admiration. “I might be a bad influence,” I admit.
“I bet you are,” he says with an appreciative smile. “When you asked for advice about the Darlings, you should have started with the fact that you can do that. I’d have had some different advice for you about landing Preston.”
“Chase,” Lindsey scolds, pinching his arm so hard he winces.
“What?” he says.
“Come on,” she says. “We need to get back to the game. It was nice meeting y’all.”