Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

five times time on Tuesday and called three times already on Wednesday. Candace hadn’t returned a single phone call or text. He was more convinced than ever she was responsible for the Gherring’s picture being given to the NYC Word. She was obviously avoiding him. He didn’t even know what he was going to say when he finally talked to her, but he needed to give her a piece of his mind.

His cell rang, the caller ID showing Becca’s name. She’d been calling him nonstop since the hike on Saturday, seemingly undiscouraged by his accusations on Monday. He let the call go to voice mail, but his phone slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor, bouncing under his desk. He rolled his chair back and leaned under the desk to reach the phone.

“Hey, Spencer. What’re you doing?”

He jumped at the sound of Emily’s voice, banging his head on the desk.

“Ow!” He sat up slowly, rubbing his head.

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

“No. I mean, yes. I guess I bumped my head. I was trying to pick up my phone.” He held up the retrieved object.

“Sorry I startled you. Uhmm, I needed to talk to you.”

“Sure, what’s up?” He tried not to sound too eager. This was the first time she’d come by his desk—maybe it was a good sign. “How was art class with Grace? I’d love to see what you worked on.”

“Uhmm, great. It was great.” Her cheeks reddened.

“That is, if you want to show me. You don’t have to.”

“No, I don’t mind. But, uhmm... about Thursday… I’m going to have to cancel pizza. I’m having dinner with Mom and Steven, so uhmm... I mean, I’m not going to jazzercise either.”

He felt a knot in his stomach. She was ditching him, and she wasn’t making eye contact. “It’s okay. Your mom’s more important. How’s she feeling? Must be better if they’re planning dinner.”

“Yeah. Well, Steven and I will probably eat a real dinner, and she’ll probably eat toast or something like that.” She twisted her braid with one hand. “We could do it another time. Maybe this weekend?”

“Sure. Well, I’m supposed to go on an overnight hike this weekend.”

“Oh. With Becca?”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s mostly guys from the hiking group, maybe one or two girls.” He cocked his head to the side as an idea had popped into his head. “You could come if you want to.”

Emily’s face paled, and her eyes widened. “Oh, uhmm, I don’t have the camping stuff.”

“You could borrow some if you want to go. But, no pressure.”

“Well, thanks for asking. And… and thanks for being so sweet about my mom and taking me to the hospital and getting your mother to be her nurse and all that.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I really like your mom and Mr. Gherring. And my mom’s glad to have a good job.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, later.” Watching her walk away, he felt like his chances of being more than friends were dwindling with every step.

His phone rang—Becca again. He declined the call and turned his phone off, running frustrated fingers through his hair until it looked as crazy as he felt. He must have done something to make God mad at him.*****

Emily felt relieved she’d finished that detestable chore. She hated lying to Spencer, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Now she needed to cancel with Becca.

Becca answered the phone call quickly. “Hi, Emily. I’m glad you called. I was about to call you. I’ve been trying to reach Spencer. Don’t you work in the same office? Is he there today?”

“Uhmm. . . Yes, I think he’s here. But he probably doesn’t answer his phone during work hours. You know how it is.” She felt a surge of guilt at how easily the lie came to her lips. “I called you because I have to cancel for jazzercise tomorrow night.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry. I really want to go. Maybe next week?”

“Sure, that’s fine,” she said with a heavy sigh into the phone. “It’s just that, uhmm... Well, I really wanted to talk to you. I mean, you’re probably too busy to talk now, but...”

“No, I’ve got a few minutes to talk. What is it?”

“Well, it’s about Spencer. You see, I thought we had a good thing between us, but lately he’s been distant. And so I wondered if you two were... You know. Do you like Spencer? Is there something going on between you?” Emily could hear her sniffling. “Is that what you’re doing Thursday night? Are you going out with Spencer? Because he isn’t returning my phone calls.”

“No, we’re only friends, Becca. We’re not dating.”

“Are you sure? Because I wouldn’t want to come between you or anything. You’re not going out with him Thursday night?”

“No, I’m not. Actually Becca, if you can keep a secret...”

“What? I won’t tell. What is it?”

“Well, I’m sort of going out on a date with my art teacher Thursday night. Although it’s not really a date—it’s only coffee.”

“Really?” Her voice sounded hopeful. “So you don’t mind if Spencer and I date?”

Emily felt her stomach churn. She didn’t really like to think about Spencer dating Becca. But she couldn’t really be upset about it if she was going out with Asher.

“No, of course I don’t mind. Spencer and I are good friends. But he told me he wasn’t really interested in dating right now. Maybe that’s why he’s been a little standoffish.”

“Maybe so. I thought it might have been because of the picture. You know, the one in the tabloid.”

“What picture? What are you talking about?”

Now Becca began to cry again. “He called me yesterday and accused me of taking a picture of your mom and sending it to the NYC Word. It must have been Candace. But he was pretty mad. And he hasn’t answered my phone calls since then.”

“What picture are you talking about? I didn’t know about a picture.”

“It was a picture of your mom when she came off the hiking trail. I guess