Cruiser Read Online Free

with the guy you love.” She snorts. “Then why can’t you keep your eyes off—?”
    “Hi,” a female voice says. I look up an d find the girl Cruiser’s been flirting with standing before me.
    She’s really beautiful, like model-turned-movie-star beautiful. The first thing I noticed about her when I walked into Juice Me was her hair. So sleek and smooth, with so much life and bounce. Her hair is similar to mine, dark and wavy, except mine looks like it went th rough a hurricane.
    “ I’m Erica. Do I know you?” she asks. “I’ve been staring at you for ten minutes, but I can’t figure it out.”
    My eyes move from her to Cruiser, who’s behind the counter. His gaze is locked on us.
    I return my attention to Erica. “I don’t think so.”
    Her eyes scrutinize me and she takes a small step closer. “Are you sure? I swear I know you from somewhere.”
    Cruiser lifts the counter and heads toward us. My breath catches in my throat. He stands next to Erica and says, “Hey.”
    The top three buttons of his shirt are open, and these little bursts of fire go off in my body— between my nerve cells, deep inside my organs, in my bloodstream. If I had a superpower, I’d shoot a laser beam at the hand caressing her arm.
    I quickly shake my head. Why am I thinking these things? Running my hand through my hair, I say to Erica, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
    Cruiser’s finger twirls around a lock of her hair. Pretty soon they’ll be rolling over each other on the floor. I don’t realize I’m pinching my arm until it stings.
    Erica furrows her eyebrows and pushes some hair behind her ear. “Oh my God . It’s like at the tip of my mind….”
    “Bimbo,” Dani mutters to me. I kick her.
    “I know!” Erica says, jumping on her heels like she’s doing a small victory dance. “I saw you at last year’s nationals. You’re on your school’s pom squad, right?”
    This time, my eyes spring to Cruiser before I have a chance to give them a direct order. He’s intrigued. What? Is he happy to see me play nice with one of his pick-ups? I turn my head away. “Yeah, I am.”
    “I knew it! You looked so familiar because I remember thinking what a great dancer you are. That’s so awesome. I’m co-captain of my squad.”
    Something pricks under my skin. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe that I don’t like having something in common with this girl? I want to hate Erica and call her a slut, but I don’t know if she is one an d I have no reason to hate her.
    “Whadya know,” Dani says. “Word has it Lex might be voted captain next year.” I glare at her.
    “Totally cool! I hope to see you at nationals. Good luck!” They walk away.
    When they’re out of sight, Dani says, “Well, you going to listen to a skank?”
    “What?”
    “Erica told you what a great dancer you are. So maybe you should stick with it?”
    “Oh, shut up.” I kick her again. “She was actually pretty nice.”
    She snorts and closes her magazine. “Ready to take on some algebra?”
    I scowl. “Yes, unfortunately.” One glance at Cruiser shows he’s back on duty and Erica’s back to flirting with him. Home seems like the best place to be right now.

Chapter Five
    Cruiser
     
    Music plays from inside the house. Bach, is it? Mozart? Who gives a damn. I park my bike in the garage. Rey stands in the middle of the living room, violin in tow. It’s pressed so hard into his neck I wouldn’t be surprised if his skin starts to swell.
    The parents sit around him like they have front row orchestra seats. Eyes shining with pride, love, respect. They’re so into it they don’t hear the floor creak beneath my feet. Rey does, though, maybe because he needs a break. I’ve seen how hard the parents are on him, how they tell him to play the piece over and over until he gets it right. I remember how my arms would kill after practice. Glad I gave that shit up years ago.
    “Sup, Cruise?” Rey says, resting his violin and bow on the