lying to me, you’re gonna pay.”
I inhale. “What reason would I have to lie?”
He moves back, studying me intently. “Yeah, you don’t really look like the kind of guy that Taylor would waste her time with.” With swift movements, he drops the picture back into his pocket. “But it’s okay. I’ll find her,” he mutters under his breath. “If she thinks she can hide from me, she’s dead wrong.”
My stomach twists at his words. “Why do you want to find this girl so bad?”
His eyes darken. “She has something that belongs to me, and I want it back.”
I nod slowly, mulling over his statement. What does Taylor have of his?
“Thanks anyway.” Dusty slaps me in the shoulder, and steps around me. His heavy boots clomp on the pavement as he walks down the street. Swiveling, I watch him climb into a black jeep and turn it on. Rock music floods the street as he pulls away from the curb. Standing on the sidewalk, I wait until the jeep is out of sight before heading to my own car. I wish I felt relief about his exit, but I don’t.
His statement chilled me to the bone. I have no doubt he’ll keep looking for Taylor, and eventually he’ll end up back here. When he does, I’m not sure he’ll buy my lies a second time.
TAYLOR
The whole town is talking about Dusty’s appearance in Prairie Creek last night.
Apparently there is no way to fly under the radar in this place. Whispers circle me as I walk the halls of the high school. From the bits and pieces I pick up, I know that Dusty was asking about me.
Great . By the time I get back to Uncle Alex’s house this afternoon, I’m sure he and Molly will have packed up my shit. It’s not like I wanted to stay here anyway, but I know I can’t go back home. Not yet. And I don’t know where else my parents can send me. We don’t have family anywhere else.
Besides, this place is finally growing on me. Cal appears at the end of the hallway, reminding me of the real reason I want to stay. My heart kick starts, and sweat coats my palms. Yesterday I thought of him as nothing more than one of the many jocks at this school. But today my heart and body react to him in a puzzling way.
I haven’t had this reaction to anyone in a long time. Not since I first met Dusty.
I’m not surprised though. Cal impressed me last night. Not just because he’s a good kisser, but because he treated me in a way I’ve never been treated before. The protective manner in which he related to me was reminiscent of one of those romantic comedies my mom likes to watch so much. I used to laugh at them because the guys were so unrealistic.
But Cal proves that there are guys like that in the world. I guess I spent too much time hanging with guys like Dusty to notice them before. As he nears me, I shift uncomfortably from one foot to another. Tucking an errant strand of hair behind my ear, my insides quiver. I’m not sure how he’ll behave towards me. He was so sweet last night, but now he’s had time to process everything. He’s had time to hear the rumors, to ponder our interaction. He might be totally freaked out by this point.
And honestly, I don’t know what I want from him.
It’s not like anything can happen between us. Not now. Not with the secret I’m carrying. However, I’m not sure a friendship with Cal will work. I’m not saying that he likes me or anything, but clearly there’s a mutual attraction. Our kiss was intense. It was the kind of kiss that spins the world on its axis. The kind that changes things. I can’t guarantee that I won’t want it to happen again. Especially if we start hanging out.
But I also know it will hurt if he ignores me. It was only one night, but the night was significant. And rejection from him will scar me. Not in the same way that Dusty has scarred me, but it will maim me just the same.
Before Cal reaches me, he’s intercepted by a group of guys. They exchange words and fist bumps. My gaze flickers around the crowded
I inhale. “What reason would I have to lie?”
He moves back, studying me intently. “Yeah, you don’t really look like the kind of guy that Taylor would waste her time with.” With swift movements, he drops the picture back into his pocket. “But it’s okay. I’ll find her,” he mutters under his breath. “If she thinks she can hide from me, she’s dead wrong.”
My stomach twists at his words. “Why do you want to find this girl so bad?”
His eyes darken. “She has something that belongs to me, and I want it back.”
I nod slowly, mulling over his statement. What does Taylor have of his?
“Thanks anyway.” Dusty slaps me in the shoulder, and steps around me. His heavy boots clomp on the pavement as he walks down the street. Swiveling, I watch him climb into a black jeep and turn it on. Rock music floods the street as he pulls away from the curb. Standing on the sidewalk, I wait until the jeep is out of sight before heading to my own car. I wish I felt relief about his exit, but I don’t.
His statement chilled me to the bone. I have no doubt he’ll keep looking for Taylor, and eventually he’ll end up back here. When he does, I’m not sure he’ll buy my lies a second time.
TAYLOR
The whole town is talking about Dusty’s appearance in Prairie Creek last night.
Apparently there is no way to fly under the radar in this place. Whispers circle me as I walk the halls of the high school. From the bits and pieces I pick up, I know that Dusty was asking about me.
Great . By the time I get back to Uncle Alex’s house this afternoon, I’m sure he and Molly will have packed up my shit. It’s not like I wanted to stay here anyway, but I know I can’t go back home. Not yet. And I don’t know where else my parents can send me. We don’t have family anywhere else.
Besides, this place is finally growing on me. Cal appears at the end of the hallway, reminding me of the real reason I want to stay. My heart kick starts, and sweat coats my palms. Yesterday I thought of him as nothing more than one of the many jocks at this school. But today my heart and body react to him in a puzzling way.
I haven’t had this reaction to anyone in a long time. Not since I first met Dusty.
I’m not surprised though. Cal impressed me last night. Not just because he’s a good kisser, but because he treated me in a way I’ve never been treated before. The protective manner in which he related to me was reminiscent of one of those romantic comedies my mom likes to watch so much. I used to laugh at them because the guys were so unrealistic.
But Cal proves that there are guys like that in the world. I guess I spent too much time hanging with guys like Dusty to notice them before. As he nears me, I shift uncomfortably from one foot to another. Tucking an errant strand of hair behind my ear, my insides quiver. I’m not sure how he’ll behave towards me. He was so sweet last night, but now he’s had time to process everything. He’s had time to hear the rumors, to ponder our interaction. He might be totally freaked out by this point.
And honestly, I don’t know what I want from him.
It’s not like anything can happen between us. Not now. Not with the secret I’m carrying. However, I’m not sure a friendship with Cal will work. I’m not saying that he likes me or anything, but clearly there’s a mutual attraction. Our kiss was intense. It was the kind of kiss that spins the world on its axis. The kind that changes things. I can’t guarantee that I won’t want it to happen again. Especially if we start hanging out.
But I also know it will hurt if he ignores me. It was only one night, but the night was significant. And rejection from him will scar me. Not in the same way that Dusty has scarred me, but it will maim me just the same.
Before Cal reaches me, he’s intercepted by a group of guys. They exchange words and fist bumps. My gaze flickers around the crowded
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