Read Online That's What's Up! by Paula Chase - Free Book Online Page A

bumps.
    He put his arms around her and rubbed her arms. “You cold?” he asked.
    Mina laughed, embarrassed. The sun was shining right into the café’s court, burning the chill in the air. But she wasn’t about to explain.She ignored his question by starting a new conversation. “Are you excited about your first Extreme? It’s mad crazy down there even when it’s not spring break. But this year ...” She shook her head as if that completed her thought.
    â€œOh I’m curious about it, for sure. People are hyped,” Brian said. He nuzzled her. “But I’m more pressed about being with you the whole weekend.”
    â€œWell, me and my parents,” Mina reminded him.
    His thick black curls blew as a slight breeze zipped through the café. He whipped a perfectly creased cap from his back pocket and sat it lightly atop his head as he teased, “What else is new?”
    Mina elbowed his stomach. But she was lucky. Brian was a good sport about having to hang out at her house under her parents’ cool eye whenever they weren’t with the entire clique. They rarely had real alone time. Scratch that, they never had any alone time. Papa and Mama Bear Mooney made sure of it.
    The Extreme would be different. She’d already warned her parentsthat the cheer squad had lots of bonding plans. As long as she was with the girls ... well, near the girls, her parents wouldn’t questionit. She and Brian were going to get some time to themselves if she had anything to do with it.
    As if reading her mind, he said, “But your moms and pops not planning to crash the beach with us, are they?”
    Mina rolled her eyes at the thought. She could seriously see her parents trying. But they were old pros at cheer events. Mina knew they’d gladly find other things to do rather than have their ears pierced by the girls’ constant, rowdy giggling and multi-group conversations.
    â€œNope,” Mina answered, a smile in her voice and on her face. “You’ll have me all to yourself on beach night.”

Doubts
    â€œS.O.S. please someone help me.”
    â€”Rihanna, “S.O.S.”
    Â 
    Â 
    L ater that afternoon, Mina turned around in the passenger seat to look Michael in the eye. Only half-teasing, she asked, “So remind me again why you’re ditching on my first Nationals as a Blue Devil?”
    His dark chocolate face pleaded with her to drop this, not to have this conversation with Brian in the car. Mina got the message loud and clear, but wasn’t having it. Torn between understanding that Mike had his own thing, and totally irked that he’d choose Nationalsweekend to do it, had her feeling especially pouty. She pressed when there was no immediate answer. “Seriously, Mike, you know I need all you guys there giving me that good juju.”
    â€œI’m breaking the karmic chain?” Michael grinned.
    â€œWhy yes, in fact you are,” Mina said primly, but she couldn’t keep a straight face. She turned sideways in the seat, tucking her legs beneath her so she could see into the back of Brian’s Explorer, where Michael sat directly behind her. Her voice lost its pouty bossiness as she pleaded, “You know I would never ask you to choose between your fashion gig and me ...”
    â€œExcept you are,” Brian said. He took one hand off the wheel for a hot second, so Michael could lean forward and give him a pound. His large eyes narrowed as he gazed Mina’s way, smiling slyly.
    She gave his arm a light shove then turned down the Go-Go music, which Brian kept on constant blast.
    â€œNo, I’m not.” She squinted in concentration, turning back to Michael. “For real, Mike, I’m not asking you to choose. But ... I mean, I just really want you there.”
    â€œDiva, you know Brian and JZ gon’ hold it down for you,” Michael said. “And you can call me fifty-eleven times a day to