The cut I came here tonight to forget, along with the man in front of me when it happened.
Along with the difference in reaction from the ones I’m with now when they saw it.
He doesn’t allow me to escape, though.
He holds me there, gently rubbing at my skin as if he sensed I was scared.
As if he’s aware I needed comfort.
As if he knows those very things left me angry with myself and landed me here.
As if he’s telling me all of that is okay.
And letting me know he’s willing to be whatever I want him to be.
But the best part is he doesn’t confirm who he is, allowing me to pretend everything he’s saying with his touch... means absolutely nothing.
As it should.
I lift my head, and I’m slid down, my body still flush with the one holding on to me. With one last touch to my cheek, the hand drops to my dress, stretching it back into place, and I’m released.
There’s some shifting around me, but only when the exhaust kicks on, heating my leg, do I reach up, freeing the bandana from my face.
An unexpected hesitance swirls in my stomach, and I glance over my shoulder. Ransom and Beretta drop into the back seat, Arsen behind the wheel. They aren’t staring or smirking or laughing.
They’re simply allowing me a moment, waiting for me to be ready to join them. Slowly, I spin, the front of my body now faces the car.
I glide my fingers along the trunk space, and my lips twitch, my chest rising with a heavy inhale.
And then I’m laughing. A full-on, stomach clenching, abs aching laugh, and the boys look to me.
At first, they’re unsure, but then low chuckles slip from each, and Beretta shoots up in the seat, grabs me over the trunk and hauls me forward. I squeal, flying forward, and landing across his and Ransom’s lap.
His arms spread out along the back of the seat, and Ransom unclasps my heels from my feet, tossing them to the floorboard before leaning over, grabbing my hands and tugging me toward him.
His arms wrap around me, and I shift so I’m sideways in his lap, my knees bent and feet flat on the middle seat. His left hand falls to my thigh, the other drumming along the outer edge of the Camaro, so I drop my head back, resting it on the bend of his elbow.
Arsen turns up the music and we pull from the parking lot, my eyes on the stars above us.
Oh, what the September skies have seen.
My mother would murder me.
I close my eyes, grinning at the thought.
Stepping from my car, a hand comes around my shoulder, swiftly stealing my coffee from my grasp as a second pair wraps around my hips, driving me against my door.
I’m held still, warm, wet lips gliding along my cheek, pausing at my ear. He inhales, a low rasped whisper following, “‘Morning, Trouble.”
Mint and clary sage assaults my senses and I exhale. “Ransom.”
His lips press harder, twitching as if he wants to kiss me, or say more, but holds back.
He squeezes, and then he’s gone.
My hands fall to my window, and I pull in quick breaths, a low chuckle escaping me as my chin falls to my chest.
My god, I’m a mess, and clearly, easily enticed.
I lock my car, glancing around to find other students shuffling from their cars toward the school.
Only then does my mouth fall open as I spin around, searching for my coffee, but I don’t find it.
Oh, hell no!
I stomp my ass to the main building, into the corridor, and cut the corner leading to senior row, where all the senior lockers are located.
I wave at a few people as I pass them, spinning to answer Keri Morgan’s question about a quiz we have in English today, but I keep moving forward.
Scott and his teammates are grouped together in conversation, and I manage to slip by them without having to pause to engage.
I spot the three pariahs near the end, stuffing their backpacks inside their lockers without so much as pulling a single book out.
I sneak in quickly, snagging the paper coffee cup from Ransom’s hand as he did mine.
I step out, spinning around as he’s whipping around to face the thief, but the mischievous gleam in his eyes tells me he knew exactly who it was. And that he was waiting.
Taking backward steps, I bring it to my lips and raise a brow.