Pride Read Online Free PDF

(and every other team that mattered), perennial homecoming king, Haven High’s golden boy—and suddenly, the Nikkis and the Christies of the world had welcomed her with open arms. More than that, they’d begged her to join them.
    Come to Christie’s sleepover party and home spa day!
    Hang with us at Nikki’s for tanning and iced Frappacinos!
    Let’s all buy this super-cute pink scarf—and then wear them on the same day!
    And so, despite her overstuffed schedule, despite never trusting them or her newfound status, she’d given in. Any free time she’d had that didn’t go to the newspaper or to the diner or to her family or to Adam—and granted, after all that, there wasn’t much left—went to the girls. It had been fun; it had also been, as she now realized, a mistake. A big one.
    For as far as they knew, she’d cheated on Adam, broken his heart. So in their eyes, he was still Prince Charming, while she’d been transformed into the wicked witch.
    She’d been a stranger, she’d become a friend—now, apparently, she was the enemy.
    “Waitress!” Nikki called, waving her over. “Is there a problem? We’re starving.”
    You know my name, Beth retorted—silently. Aloud, she said only, “It’ll be here as soon as possible, Nikki.” Through gritted teeth.
    “It better be,” Nikki growled.
    “Or what?” The words slipped out before Beth could stop herself.
    “What did you say?” Nikki asked with incredulity. She turned to her left. “Christie, is it just me, or is the waitress being rather rude?”
    “I’m sure she wouldn’t be rude, Nikki,” Christie responded in a voice oozing with false goodwill. “Since she knows that then we’d simply have no choice but to complain to the manager.”
    “You’re right. I’m sure I must have misheard,” Nikki conceded. “You can go now, waitress,” she said haughtily, flicking Beth away like a speck of dirt on her white pants. “Just bring us the food when it’s ready—and try not to cheat us on the bill. If you can help yourself.”
    Beth forced a smile and walked away with a steady step. Maybe, if she pretended hard enough that the mockery didn’t bother her, it would stop. Or, at the very least, her feigned indifference might eventually transform itself into something real. But for now, it was all still an act—and the show wasn’t over yet. She was only steps away when she heard Marcy’s intentionally loud complaint: “I just don’t know what’s wrong with the service these days.”
    In spite of herself, Beth hesitated, and turned around.
    “Well, you know what my mother always says,” Nikki replied, glaring directly at Beth. “These days, it’s impossible to find good help.”
    Beth wanted to crawl into a dark hole. She wanted to quit her job, run home, hide under the covers, and wait there until graduation. But instead, she just strode across the restaurant to take her next order, figuring that, at the very least, her shift couldn’t get any worse.
    Wrong again.
    “Hi, beautiful.”
    Kane peeked his head out from behind a menu and smiled up at her. Surprise.
    Beth nibbled on the inside of her lip and hoped he wouldn’t notice the tears that had formed at the edges of her eyes. She hated for him to see her like this—in uniform, serving people, being humiliated. Had he seen her with Nikki and crew? Had he heard?
    “What are you doing here?” she asked, masking her distress with annoyance.
    “I heard the place has the cutest waitresses in town,” he deadpanned, grabbing her hand and twining her fingers through his own. “Thought I’d come check it out.”
    “So what’s the verdict?” Beth asked, flushing.
    “Jury’s still out,” he said, rising to give her a kiss. “But maybe you’d like to offer a bribe that would tip the scales?”
    Beth wriggled out of his grasp.
    “Kane, stop,” she protested, backing away. She didn’t want him near her. Not with grease patches dotting her shirt, not when she smelled like