Before You Read Online Free PDF Page B

can’t do that,” he says. “Please put that down. Have you been cut? Does anything hurt?”
    â€œNo,” I reply.
    He turns to Diego. “How could you make her help you?”
    â€œHe didn’t make me. I offered,” I say, putting down the glass.
    â€œThis is unacceptable,” Bennie hisses to Diego. “Guests cannot help you clean. What were you thinking?”
    â€œI offered,” I say again. “He didn’t make me do anything.”
    Bennie treats me as though I’m invisible. I almost wish I were.
    â€œWe’ll talk about this later,” he says to Diego and walks away.
    The muscles in Diego’s jaw are constricted, like guitar strings strung too tightly.
    â€œHappy now?” he says. “My first day on the job and I am already in trouble.”
    The blond hostess walks up and trails a hand across Diego’s arm, batting her eyelashes, a clump of dark spider legs reaching for her brows.
    â€œDiego, sweetie, are you all right?” she asks.
    Her hand moves up his shoulder, down his chest. I can’t watch.
    Someone make it stop.
    â€œLooks like your first day on the job isn’t going as bad as you say,” I mumble.
    Diego’s eyes narrow but I don’t wait for his response. I walk back to the table to join my friends.
    â€œWhat the hell, Watters?” Sean says. “Are you trying to get us kicked out? I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’ll fight for you, but he doesn’t seem worth it.”
    I don’t correct him. Don’t say it was actually Jason who stepped up to Diego.
    Instead, I quickly glance behind me. Diego is gone.
    â€œWant some queso ?” Rachel offers, her hair red like smeared raspberries, her face crowded with freckles. Also on the dance team, she dates Rob, who’s sitting beside her, his blue hat pulled tight around his fringe of black hair. When he smiles, you almost don’t notice the bump in his nose, left over from a hard hit during a football game last year. Broken once, bent forever.
    â€œSure, I’ll have some,” I say, dipping a tortilla chip into the cheese, a gooey glob of melting wax. On second thought, I put the chip down. I’m not that hungry.
    I glance at Melissa. She’s looking right at me, grinning.
    â€œSo, anyway,” Rachel says, “we were just talking about dance practice.”
    Rachel has a way of keeping conversation light, fun. I’m grateful for her presence.
    â€œCan you believe how Tracy Ram challenged you?” Rachel says. “It’s like she automatically vetoes everything you say just for the heck of it, no matter how great your suggestions are. Thank goodness Coach overruled her. That move was hot.”
    â€œYou know what else is hot?” Melissa says, eyebrows dancing in mischief.
    â€œShut up,” I warn under my breath. Melissa is sitting close enough to hear. Unfortunately, so is Jason. He gives me a weird look. Melissa ignores me.
    â€œThat new boy, Diego,” Melissa says.
    Sean cringes. Poor guy. He needs to let it go. It’s never going to happen.
    â€œYou serious?” Jason asks. “The guy back there with the tattoos and scars?”
    â€œDon’t forget the hot bod and sexy grin,” Melissa says. She’s the only one in our group who could get away with something like this. People expect it from her—crazy, wild Melissa. If I said it? Watch out.
    â€œYou’re weird, Lissa,” Rachel says. “Is it just me who doesn’t see it? Help me out here, Faith.”
    My tongue suddenly feels thick, an extra coating of syrupy spinelessness.
    â€œWhat?” I say. She wants me to tell her whether I think Diego is hot?
    â€œSexy or not sexy?” Rachel clarifies.
    â€œCome on,” Sean complains. “No one wants to hear you girls talk about hot guys. Unless, of course, those hot guys happen to be us.”
    â€œLet her answer,” Melissa says.
    Sean backs