I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Author:Lyla Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

HENRY IS QUIET FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE DRIVE TO my house. He’s tense, like he’s nervous about something. Whenever we make eye contact, he smiles, but it’s his fake, professional smile, not his real one.

Since Henry’s clearly not in a talking mood, I plug my earbuds into my ears and listen to “Crazy in Love” on loop as I study some Quizlet flash cards I made for my psychology test on Monday. I have so much going on between school and the competition, I have to be as efficient with my time as I possibly can.

We’re about to get off the 5 when I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder. I startle and look up from my notes to see Henry gesturing at his ear, like he wants me to take out my earbuds. I take one out and say, “Yeah?”

With uncharacteristic shyness, Henry holds out his phone. “Can I, um, have your number?”

“Huh?”

He glances away and runs his hand through his hair. “It’ll make coordinating practices a lot easier this week. You said you wanted to practice during the week as well, right? Since we’re so short on time.”

I’d totally forgotten I said that during practice. Was that what Henry had been nervous about this entire time? “Oh, sure!”

I type in my number, and he texts me a quick message. My phone buzzes.

Henry’s mouth slides into a lopsided grin. “Okay, good,” he says. “So you didn’t give me the number for the Rejection Hotline.”

I snort. “I don’t hate you, you know. At least not yet. Talk to me a week from now and that might change.”

Henry raises his eyebrows at me in mock surprise. “Guess you’re not one for ‘friendly competition.’”

“We can be friendly,” I amend. “But I’m still going to win.”

He laughs, and his smile is so genuine that it makes me grin, too.

Wow, I think before I can stop myself. I wish he smiled like that more often.

I look away to add his number to my contacts. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself I’m doing.

“Is this your personal number?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Henry replies, sounding puzzled. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, I don’t know. Aren’t celebrities supposed to be really secretive of their personal information or something? The last time you called me, it was from a ‘No Caller ID’ number.”

“Oh, I was actually using Portia’s phone because I didn’t have mine with me. And she likes to keep things private since she has kids. As for me, well . . .” He grins. “I am secretive. You’re the only person I’ve shared my number with in a long time. The only person besides Portia and Steve that I’ve genuinely interacted with for a long time, really.”

He winces, as if he’s mentally kicking himself for admitting the last part to me.

“Wait,” I say. “What do you mean? Do you . . . not have any friends?”

“Not anymore. The last real ones I had were from school. Before my parents decided to homeschool me.”

“Oh . . .

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