Double Trouble (Troublemaker Series #2) - Cassie Mae Page 0,1

with right now.

It was something a teacher taught me forever ago, back when I was in high school and juggling schoolwork, extra-curriculars, and working the job to pay the bills for Dad who had horrendous budgeting skills and an addiction to boot. Ms. Miller. She pulled me to the side after I completely shut down during class. I mean, I was a statue of nothingness, my mind too chaotic that I just turned it off. She told me to put all my stresses in separate boxes, then pull them out one at a time to shuffle through them. When I was done, I put that box away and then take another one out the next time.

That piece of advice is probably the best I’ve gotten. I pick at that frosting and move the box of skateboarding sponsorship out of the way, push the huge box labeled simply “Dad” and then take the box labeled finances and pop the lid.

Pete and I have lived together since I was eighteen, and we’ve shared in the financial responsibilities. Dad hasn’t asked for money once since Pete gave him the third degree and took Demi off his hands, but now I have a baby sister to provide for and one less income to rely on.

I could go back to my job at the theater. My days are filled with my job on Candace’s farm, and I’m lucky enough that I have benefits and it pays well, but when we moved to a three-bedroom apartment, our rent went up, and with Demi growing, clothing, food, and school activities… all of that costs money, and Pete and I shared what we had.

There go my nights at the skate park, and I need that. I came so close to a sponsorship last year, and this year I think I have it in the bag, but if I don’t get in practice time, I can kiss that chance goodbye.

The image of a life without boarding cracks my heart in two.

The pressure to do it all by myself collapses on me, and I slam the lid down on the box and jump to my feet. “I’m headed to Troublemakers.”

Pete jerks from my sudden outburst. “Uh… you okay?”

“Yep.” Fake smile. “Just wanna get some practice time in before bed. Congrats on this, Pete. Seriously, she will love it.”

That part is honest, and I’m sure there’s some sincerity behind my hidden panic that’s coming up. Candace is awesome, and I already think of her as a sister. I just didn’t expect her to become official family this quickly.

“Bring me a cookie this time!” Demi calls at my back. Guess I wasn’t great at hiding my treat. I throw a thumbs up over my shoulder, grab my board, and head out. It’s time for some cathartic boarding, so when next time Pete talks about his engagement, I won’t have to force so many grins.

Today is the day.

I’m gonna tell Brink I’m totally into her, and we should be a thing, but I’m gonna say it way better than that.

I’ll tell her I’m one hundred percent in love.

About fifty times a day, I talk myself in and out of asking her out. She’ll do a sick trick, and I’ll convince myself that I got this, then she stops in for a slug of water, does this thing with her eyebrow that shuts my voice down, and before I know it, she’s back out on the floor and I didn’t say a damn word.

But not today. I came prepared.

Troublemakers indoor amusement park is the place to be during the winter, but not so much at summertime. So with the place practically empty, there’s little to distract me from my goal. I’ve got a heart full of love and a stuffed Yoda to declare it for me. The little recording inside it even does the asking out for me. Just give that guy’s ear a squeeze, and my voice—in a spot-on impression of Yoda, if I do say so myself—says, “Go out with me, you will?”

Damn, she’s gonna love it.

I push up onto the Wheel Zone’s counter, twisting my torso enough to grab the mic to make the half-hour to closing announcement. Brink’s usually here by now, but I’m not sweating it. She never misses the opportunity to board, even if it’s only for a half hour.

“Attention skaters and boarders. Troublemakers will be closing in thirty minutes. So get your last tricks in before we shut down.”

The two people on the rink give each other