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and messed up before, it sure as hell is now.
    In the car, she’s still fuming, staring out the window and I don’t know what to say so I turn the music up loud enough that conversation would be awkward.
    A few miles from the high school she turns down the volume. “Did I do something wrong? Is it because I kissed you?”
    She thinks I’m the one stewing? Okay, maybe I am. Her brother-in-law opened Pandora’s ugly box back there and she’s not offered word one of what he meant. After that kiss in Sizz’s kitchen, I imagined breaking it off with Amber Rose before dinner tomorrow night. But shit. If Amber Vaughn has another boyfriend . . .
    â€œNo, Amber. I mean, yeah, we shouldn’t have done that. Technically, I’m dating a different Amber.” I have to ask her the question she hasn’t provided an answer to.“What did Sammy mean about your other ‘fella’?”
    She stiffens. “Well, technically , I have no ‘fellas.’ But I believe he was talking about Sean. He gave me a ride home the other night, and Sammy met him.”
    My mind jumps to the worst possible scenario. I gave Amber Vaughn a ride home recently, too. Is she stuck in Sean’s brain the way she’s stuck in mine? Did she sing with him, too? I won’t even let myself go to the bigger question. This night has gone from the pinnacle to the pit.
    â€œLook, Amber. If you don’t mind, I’m going to just drop you off. I’m not so into football game dance nights, and I think I’d rather go home.”
    Amber’s mouth drops in disbelief. “Sean’s only a friend, Will.”
    I want to believe her. I really do. But I’ve seen them talking at school. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. What guy wouldn’t be into her? Especially another musician.
    I pull up to the school. “No, not because of Sean. I mean, who am I to say if you like the guy or not? Remember?” I point to myself. “Girlfriend.”
    Amber flinches and if I were smart I’d finish that sentence, say something like, for a few more hours anyway, but really that’s not all of it. For the first time since I moved here, I finally feel like I’ve found a place. Like I know what my next move is. The only way I’m going to convince mydad I’m strong enough to do what it takes to pursue music is to show him I’ve kept my promises and my nose clean.
    Amber’s doing that trembling thing again but this time I think it’s anger not nerves. “I don’t . . .” She takes a deep breath and starts again in a dead calm voice. “I don’t like him.”
    I notice she doesn’t add anything about liking me.
    â€œIt’s not about Sean, Amber.” Not totally the truth. I’m definitely having some jealous feels. But I’m not playing that card. “It’s about me. And my dad.”
    â€œYour dad?”
    â€œMy dad will crucify me if he finds out I’ve been hanging out with dealers. Tonight was fun, and you’re a great singer.” God, I sound so lame. “Really great.” I stop while I’m ahead and stare at my hands on the wheel.
    Amber’s like a volcano. Red creeps onto her cheeks and I feel it before she explodes. “But I didn’t invite Sammy! He showed up at Sizz’s on his own. He would’ve showed up, whether or not you took me.”
    The chink in my mortar. The same thought had been swimming around the edges. If Sammy’s a regular then I can’t keep going up there. At least not until things with my dad are rock solid again.
    â€œI know that.” I’m getting ready to grab her hand and plead my case. To ask her to just chill for a minute orthree while I sort things out in my head, but Sarabeth and another girl walk by and I don’t want Amber Rose to hear about my asshat status from anyone but me. “But things are complicated.”
    Amber Vaughn sees the