Believe in Us (Jett #2) by Amy Sparling Page A

kissing the top of my head.
    Today I got parents and a new sibling in the same day. “Yeah,” I say, smiling at Becca. “It’s the best.”

Chapter 14
     

     
    The gym is loud today. Normally I can tune out all the noise and listen to music on my earbuds while I work out, but today I’m working out with D’andre so no music. The gym at the track is huge enough to be a regular gym at one of those chain companies like 24 Hour Fitness. Because of this, we sell gym memberships to regular people too, not just dirt bike riders. It’s a great source of extra income for the track, which my dad always stresses is important when you run a business, but sometimes it’s annoying when I’m used to having the place largely to myself.
    The Track is located right between two small towns and there aren’t any other gyms nearby. So although today is a Thursday, and it’s only two in the afternoon, seemingly everyone and their freaking mom is here working out today.
    D’andre sits on the bench opposite of me and focuses on dumbbell curls. He’s a lot stronger than I am but he doesn’t give me shit about it, which is part of why we’re friends. He doesn’t get all macho man competitive with me. Of course, I’m faster than he is on a dirt bike so I guess it all evens out.
    “That’s kind of insane,” he says after I’ve told him more details about the Parks adopting Keanna. “It’s like a perfect girl for you just fell from the sky.”
    I snort and lift the weight bar. “It’s a good thing, too, because there’s no good girls for me here in Lawson.”
    “Yeah right,” D’andre says quickly. “I seem to remember your ass dating a new girl every week before you met her.”
    I point at him. “Exactly. There weren’t any girls to settle down with before. Now there is.”
    He shakes his head. “Keanna helps me out, too because now you’re not taking all the chicks around here.”
    “What’s up with you and Maya?” I say, sitting up and re-racking my weights. “Is that still going on?”
    He nods. “I’m hoping my luck continues until school starts. Can you imagine what kind of cred I’ll get by dating a cheerleader first thing? I’ll have girls tripping over me like they used to trip over you.”
    I shake my head. “Don’t even act like you’re not completely obsessed with this girl, man. You couldn’t be a player if you tried.”
    He sighs through his nose and readjusts the fifty-pound dumbbell to his other hand. “Hey, I only like her if she likes me, okay? At least, that’s how I’m acting. That way if she ditches me for some other dude, it’ll look like I don’t care.”
    I sigh, suddenly feeling like I’m the Yoda of dating advice. “Man, the only way to pull off the vibe that you don’t give a shit is to genuinely not give a shit. She’ll see right through you if you’re only faking it.”
    He grunts as he does a few last curls of the weight. “Then let’s make sure she likes me.”
    A sudden high-pitched and insanely feminine ringing bursts through our part of the gym and D’andre grins like he’s a kid in a candy store.
    “What the hell was that?” I ask.
    He reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone, all the while his smile stretches across his whole face. “It’s Maya texting me.”
    I run a hand through my hair that’s half wet with sweat, so then I wipe my hands on my shirt. “What the hell is that ringtone though?”
    He shrugs. “Last time we hung out she said she wanted a special tone for her number and I let her pick it out.” He grins goofily and clutches the phone to his chest. “It’s like music to my ears.”
    I stare at him. “You’ve officially gone off the deep end.”
    He reads her message and his eyes go wide. I can’t tell if he’s happy or terrified. “She said she wants to come see me.”
    “Tell her to stop by. Keanna loves watching me work out. I’m pretty sure all girls think it’s hot. She can see you being all swole and shit.”
    He