doesn’t slip into improper territory because, well…
When I first saw the photo in the trophy case, I’d noticed how pretty she was, but in person? In the dim light of this room, with the red cheeks and the short-shorts? It’s more than obvious. She’s stunning. A little low-key, especially compared to girls like her friend Sydney, but cute in a whole different way.
Not in the big-brotherly kind of way, either.
“Doesn’t seem like a big loss.” I eventually say, shrugging. “Do you really want your first kiss to be with some chicken-shit pizza face, next to the keg?”
I’m not sure why, but she looks vaguely embarrassed by this. “He’s not so bad.”
It occurs to me that she might actually like that douchebag. I have a lot of opinions on this, but don’t voice a single one. I just grit my teeth, reaching out to finger the cigar lighter again. “Whatever floats your boat, Baby V.”
Her eyebrows furl into something dark and combative. “Well, some people don’t have prospects throwing themselves at us all the time.”
I feel my lip curl at this, because I’ve seen the way guys look at Vandy—far better guys than George—and seriously? This is the culmination of Emory’s bullshit efforts to keep them away? I can see it perfectly. She’s going to go for the first guy who has the balls to make a move. All it’ll take are a few generically pleasant words, the right place, and some gentle coaxing, and he’s in there. Just like that. It could totally be George. It could be Tyson, who already lies to a girl every single day, just to get into her pants. It could even be Sebastian, who legitimately seems one misspoken word from an assault charge. It could be anyone.
She’d just… settle.
The thought makes me boil inside.
Before I can decide how to even voice any of that, the sounds of distant sirens begin swelling beyond the house. I instantly recognize it as the howl of Fucking Jerry’s golf cart. I walk to the window and take a furtive peek through the curtains, and sure enough, his amber lights are flashing up the drive.
But blue lights follow close behind.
“Fuck.”
It’s not just him this time. He’s called for back-up from his buddies, two police cruisers rolling up behind him.
I glance over at Vandy, and all of that restless, wide-eyed panic has returned with a vengeance. “Oh my god, I can’t get caught here.”
“You and me both, Baby V.” There’s no Mountain Point at the end of this road. There’s just probation violations and more time in juvie, for me. I snatch the lighter off the desk and put the guillotine carefully back in its place. Then, I walk over to the opposite side of the room and push back the sheer white curtain, revealing French doors that lead to the side yard. “Come on,” I tell her, holding out my hand.
She blinks and stares at it, frozen still as a statue.
It’s like I’m transported back in time. Suddenly this room is a parking lot and I’m watching the glow of stadium lights playing across the softness of her young cheeks and bright eyes. It takes me a moment to blink myself out of it, but when I do, I snatch my hand away.
I swallow and ball my fist, shoving it in my pocket. “I can get you home safe. I promise.”
The words ring hollow, even to me—even knowing that I can. That I will.
For a moment I think she’s going to turn and run, and for a longer moment I’m thinking that she should.
She should run like hell.
Instead, she braces herself and walks across the room, following me out the door.
It’s the second time Vandy has put her faith in me to get her somewhere safe.
This time I’m not going to fail.
13
Vandy
I stare at that hand for a long, hard moment, fear licking up my spine. The last time I followed Reynolds McAllister, it destroyed my life and his. But the sirens are growing louder, and outside the library door I hear frenzied footsteps, kids shouting, “Cops!” and I know that if I get caught here, that’s all she wrote. My mom will never let me out of the house again.
I also know if I don’t make a decision quick, Reyn will leave me here. He’ll have to, I wouldn’t even blame him. He’d be facing a prison sentence that’s a lot worse than the mere parent-mandated house arrest I’m looking at.
Self-preservation kicks in, and before I can change