Breaking the Bro Code (Breakin' in the 80s, Book 1)

Done with her prep work, she went out to the kitchen and dialed Trevor’s number. She hoped he would come get her, so they could talk in person. She wanted to make things right again, and the phone was too impersonal.

“Hello?” He picked up after the second ring.

“Hey, Trev. It’s me.”

His silence was louder than anything she had ever heard.

Then his voice came through the phone. “Hi, Molly.”

That’s it? “So, you want to hang out tonight?” Her heartbeat filled the silence.

“I don’t know. You sure you have time for me?”

She frowned, glad he couldn’t see her face. “Of course, I do.

Come get me and let’s go do something.”

Trevor chuckled. “Well, what I want to do you won’t. But I’ll be there in a few.”

She gulped in a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready.” He hung up without answering. Replacing the phone on the wall cradle, Molly went to wait on the porch.

After fifteen minutes, Trevor pulled into her driveway, his dark blue Camaro reflecting the late afternoon sun.

Molly swallowed to clear the fear from her throat and walked toward his car.

He sat in the car watching her approach. He’d pulled his dark blond hair back in a ponytail on the nape of his neck, her favorite style. His Oakley’s flashed her way and he smiled. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Was that love? She sat next to him in the car.

“Hi.” Her stomach clenched like it did on their first date, when she couldn’t believe he wanted to be with her.

Trevor pulled the sunglasses to the bridge of his nose and met her eyes. The smile turned to a smirk. “Yeah. We need to talk.”

Her stomach fell to her feet, like being on a roller coaster while it screamed down a hill. “Trevor, I heard what people are saying.”

“So have I.” He pushed the glasses back up, blocking his eyes.

Molly tried to take a deep breath. “You know it isn’t true, right?” This could not be happening. Not today. Everything had finally been going right.

Trevor turned away, looking at Molly’s neighborhood. She glanced around, too, seeing the rundown houses and ill-kept yards for the first time.

He blew out a deep breath. “I don’t think we should go out anymore. And it’s not because of what people are saying.” He took off the glasses and glared into her eyes. “I don’t think you care enough about me. You put other things before me and I’m sick of it, sick of being treated like I don’t matter.”

“That’s not true. Of course you matter.” She tried to breathe, but her lungs were filled with concrete. “Please, don’t say that.”

Trevor shook his head. His gaze dropped to his hands. “The only thing important to you is running. And I don’t want to sit by

and watch anymore. I have needs too but you don’t care about them.” He reached over to open her door. “I’m sorry. But I’m done. I need someone who cares for more than themselves.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Are you sure this has nothing to do with Hayden?”

Trevor’s eyes narrowed, and his top lip twitched. “I told you it has nothing to do with him. Why do you keep bringing him up?”

Molly focused on her twisting hands. “It’s just, Cindy told me everyone’s saying Hayden, well, likes me and I don’t want you to think it’s true.”

“Yeah, I heard. I’m sure my best friend wouldn’t have anything to do with you either. He’s smart enough to know a lost cause when he sees it.”

She gasped. “What the hell. Why are you being so mean?”

What had she done to deserve this?

“Whatever just get out. I need to go. Good luck with running, Molly. I’m sure it will take you places.” He looked around again, grimacing. “I hope it takes you someplace better than here.”

Molly stumbled out of the car, avoiding Trevor’s eyes. Not that she could see him around the tears. She slammed the door. He

hit the gas and raced away, squealing his tires on the bumpy pavement of her torn up road. She ran back inside, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She ran to the kitchen and picked up the phone. On the third ring, Cindy answered. “Hello?”

Unable to form words, she sobbed into the phone. Without hesitation, Cindy said, “I’m on my way, honey.”

Molly hung up, slid to the floor and waited for her friend to come and make things better.