Cody nailed it and whooped in celebration. “That’s three in a row.”
“Are you keeping score?”
“Yeah, aren’t you?”
She didn’t reply.
“That’s three more questions you have to answer.”
“Clock’s ticking.”
“Tell me about your family. Do you have any siblings?”
“No. It’s just me and Dad.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“Sorta explains why you’re a robot without a girly bone in your body.”
This time it was Hannah who closed up. She dropped the ball she’d been about to serve and stomped over to her bag, shoving her racket in and slinging it over her shoulder.
“Where ya going?”
“I’ve had enough practice for this morning.”
“I was just kidding. Well sort of, but come on. If you can dish it you gotta be able to take it.”
“I can. Insult me all you want, Cody. But leave my family out of it.” She stormed away heading for the locker rooms.
16
Cody was leaning against his car waiting for Hannah—annoyed that she had the keys and he was locked out. What the hell was taking her so long? He was about to barge into the locker room to move her along when a girl walked out. He did a double take, drinking in the long stems, high heels, short skirt and tailored top. Cody barely recognized her. Hannah looked like Golden royalty—and it made him shiver.
Hannah strutted across the parking lot looking like a plastic version of herself. She’d spent way too much time in the locker room slathering on every cosmetic in the bag from Neiman Marcus. She was no Roderick or Hector, but she still managed to achieve the desired look. She wore her new blazer, shirt and stilettos along with pieces of her Stanton uniform.
Cody’s face wore a look of worry when she walked up to him.
Hannah immediately doubted herself and looked down to see if she’d missed a button or something. “What?” she asked. “Did I screw something up?”
“No.” Cody cleared his throat and snapped out of whatever thoughts he’d been lost in. “You look fine.”
He reached for Hannah’s bags and helped her stow them in the back of the Range Rover.
“Remember what I said,” Cody reminded when they drove to the student lot. “The Goldens are going to want gossip from the source so you have to be prepared.”
“I know, I know. Tell them I felt bad for you, you’re a charity project, blah, blah, blah.”
“It’s important that they think you don’t like me.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard,” Hannah said smiling sweetly. “You did spend all morning insulting me. I’ll just think of that.”
Cody smiled. “I was just reinforcing my point.”
Cody made Hannah park in the back corner of the bustling student parking lot.
“I don’t want anyone to scratch it,” he reasoned buffing an invisible spot off the hood with his sleeve.
“At least when we drive my car we can park anywhere we want,” Hannah taunted.
“You’re right, doll face,” Cody said slinging an arm over her shoulder as they walked toward the school. “Your car is much better. I mean it rides so nice and the paint job is very specific. Rust chic was the look you were going for, right?”
“Hey! You’re the one that said it draws attention,” she ribbed, ducking out from under his arm. “I thought that was our goal?”
“Yes. But I believe I clearly said it drew the wrong kind of attention.”
“Yeah, well—”
“Look out!” Cody shouted grabbing Hannah’s arm and yanking her out of the path of a speeding Mercedes.
She dropped her bag and the sound of screeching brakes filled the air as she clung to Cody’s chest. She could feel his heart pounding against hers as he steadied her on her feet. Good Lord, she’d almost been hit. Cody saved her life!
He was frantically running his hands over her, as if in disbelief that she was unharmed.
“I’m okay,” she whispered, wanting to quiet the panic in his eyes.
The driver of the silver Mercedes coupe rolled down his window and hung his head out, slowly removing his sunglasses. It was Harrison Cohl.
Hannah looked back at Cody and his panic had morphed to rage as he charged toward the Mercedes.
“Jesus, Harrison! Watch where the fuck you’re going!” Cody yelled.
A crowd of onlookers was gathering.
Harrison looked right through Cody to Hannah. “You okay, lovely?” he asked smoothly.
She nodded.
Harrison winked. “No harm, no foul,” he purred to Cody.
“You could have killed her,” Cody hissed.
“Yes, and then you’d have two dead girlfriends,” he whispered. “You really should be more careful,” Harrison said giving Cody a chilling grin before driving away.
Hannah, slowly approached Cody. He was visibly shaken. “Come on,” she whispered slipping her hand in his and pulling him away from the crowd of students in the parking lot. “I think we’ve gotten enough attention.”
17
Hannah reassured Cody for the thousandth time that she was okay before he agreed to leave her in the library. She didn’t have class until after lunch and since discovering her laptop had smashed after she dropped it to avoid getting hit by Harrison’s car, the library was the only place Hannah could get any work done. Not actual schoolwork—she’d been done for weeks. But she was busy studying her tennis opponent for her match on Saturday.
She’d been alone for less then five minutes before Madison Carmichael approached her. “Hannah, right?”
Hannah nodded.
“I heard what happened this morning! Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine, but my laptop wasn’t so lucky.”
“Oh no. Do you need a new one? I’d be happy to let you borrow mine.”
Hannah looked skeptically at the gorgeous brunette. She was even prettier up close. “Thanks for the offer, but I just signed this one out from the school.”
“Oh, right,” Madison said looking at the laptop like a moron. “I love your blazer,” she added, sitting down at Hannah’s table. “I never noticed how cute you dressed before.”
Hannah shrugged. Madison apparently interpreted it to mean she could ask more questions.
“So did Cody Matthews really save you?”
“Yeah. I guess he did.”
“Are you two . . . dating?” Madison asked.
“I don’t like to put labels on things.”
Hannah smiled to herself, thinking Cody would laugh if he heard her quoting him. “The truth is I just feel bad for the guy.”
Madison snorted. “Yeah, he’s a total fuck up.”
Hannah cringed at the cruelty in Madison’s voice. She nodded. “Yeah, I guess. But he just follows me around like a lost puppy.”
“I get it,” Madison said. “He is hot. But just be careful. Hanging around with Cody isn’t good for your reputation.”
“I know. I was going to ditch him already but I’m sort of just using him for his key to the masquerade.”
Madison’s mouth fell open. “Harrison’s party?”
“That’s the one.”
“Really?” A grin snaked across Madison’s pretty face. “Ya know, I could probably get you your own key. Then you wouldn’t have to drag Cody’s dead weight around.”
“Oh, I don’t want you to go through any trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” Madison said, standing.
“You said what?” Cody growled from their spot on the lawn.
“I did what you said. Why are you getting so mad?” Hannah asked taking a swig of the vanilla latte Cody bought her for lunch from their private campus kiosk.
“I didn’t tell you to mention our plan!”
“The best lie is a true one.”
“What?”
“If I can get my own key to the party, then I won’t have to sneak in using yours. It
means that they’ll want me there. That’s the whole point of this. Making actual friends and memories in my last few weeks of school.”
“Hannah, I hate to break it to you, but you don’t just dress pretty one day and get invited into the Goldens inner circle. They’re up to something.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.”
Harrison Cohl was sauntering toward them looking like he’d just walked out of a GQ ad. “Hannah, darling. I just heard your laptop was damaged in our little run in this morning. Is this true?”
“Well . . . I mean . . . yes, but,” she blushed, realizing she was stammering like an idiot.
“Well that won’t do. What’s your home address? I’ll send a replacement over today.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I have a computer at home. And my father always has extras laying around.”
“Nonsense. I own up to my responsibilities.” Harrison said glaring at Cody. “Where shall I send your new laptop?”
“She said she doesn’t want anything from you,” Cody growled.
“Does he always speak for you?” Harrison asked looking at Hannah with concern.
Hannah glared at Cody. “No, I make my own decisions.”
“Good. You see, Cody, I’m simply dealing with my indiscretions like a gentleman. When you break something, you should offer to repair it. Not get it drunk and drive it into a tree.”
Cody snapped. He was on his feet in an instant. He had Harrison by the throat, rammed against the trunk of the massive oak they’d been sitting under. Harrison held his arms up in surrender, as Hannah tried uselessly to pull Cody away before he got himself expelled.
“You don’t get to talk about her,” Cody growled, fury radiated off him in waves.
“Or, what? You’ll kill me too?”
“Stop it!” Hannah yelled, finally shoving her way between them.
She kept one hand on Cody’s heaving chest while Harrison smoothed out his blazer.
“Be careful, Hannah. I’d hate to see him ruin another sweet girl.”
Harrison shook his head and walked away, as the rest of the campus stared at Hannah and Cody—cell phones out to capture the whole embarrassing scene.
No chance the Goldens didn’t know who Hannah was now.
18
Cody grabbed his bag and stormed to the parking lot. He needed to get the hell out of there or he was going to lose it. Harrison’s sickening grin brought Cody back to his last night with Elena. Harrison’s words echoed through Cody’s head. God I love taking things from you. The memories made Cody see red. Harrison was the reason Cody’s life was fucked right now. Deep down he knew it, but he couldn’t prove it.
He kept pumping his legs trying to put distance between him and the school because he could feel it coming. His breathing was raged, his heart racing. Cody scarcely heard Hannah’s voice calling after him as he charged through the parking lot. He spotted his car and reached into his pocket. Shit! Hannah still had the keys!
Cody walked behind the car and leaned against it trying to calm himself down. He pressed the palms of his hands into his eye sockets until his saw spots. It wasn’t helping. He could feel his muscles going rigid. He took in a shaky breath and started to list things to keep him in the present. He needed an anchor to keep him from slipping back into the nightmares of his past.
“Friday, May 12th. Calculus exam. 1:30 pm. Hannah . . .”
“Cody?” Hannah’s voice drifted to his ears. He could feel her softly kneeling next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“Please leave,” Cody ground out through his clenched jaw.
“No. Tell me what to do.”
“Hannah . . .” he begged. “Please, leave me alone.”
He heard the car unlock and Hannah put her shoulder under his arm dragging him to his feet.
“Come on. Let’s go,” she urged.
“Where?”
“Anywhere you want.”
He balled his hands into fists and tried to get his limbs to respond. He finally got in the car with Hannah’s help. She raced around to the driver’s side and buckled him in.
“Tell me where to go,” she begged.
“I don’t know,” he growled.
“Pick somewhere that makes you happy and I’ll drive you there, okay?”
Cody took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“Cody!” Hannah yelled. “Open your eyes and give me directions.”
His eyes flew open and he looked at the road. Hannah was already out of the school parking lot. “Hidden Hallow Drive.”
“I don’t know where that is. Right or left?”
“Right,” Cody answered.
Hannah turned right. Her hand reached for Cody’s and squeezed. “Now what?”
“Left on Powell Road. Two miles ahead.”
She squeezed warmth back into his fingers and whispered, “I’m with you.”
19
They were sitting on the grass, their backs resting against the grill of the Range Rover staring out over the lush green pastures of the horse farm below. They hadn’t spoken since they got there. Hannah sat quietly next to Cody, their shoulders touching, offering her silent support.
“How did you know what to do?” he finally asked.
“My mom used to have panic attacks.”
“Why?”
“Is there a why?” Hannah asked.
Cody shrugged. “For me there is.”
Hannah searched his exquisite features, waiting for him to share more. But Cody clearly seemed tormented by the idea of saying more. To save him from suffering she began talking.
“I don’t know what it was for my mother. I always tried to be perfect so I wouldn’t trigger her attacks. But it didn’t matter if I was the perfect daughter. In the end she left us anyway. I was eight.”
Cody finally looked at Hannah. It felt like he was seeing her for the first time. His brown eyes glowed—the sunlight catching the tiny flecks of gold, making them dance like fireflies. There was so much sorrow on his beautiful face that Hannah barely recognized him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, taking her hand in his.
Hannah swallowed hard, staring at Cody’s hand and feeling his warmth and sincerity. “Thanks.”
“It’s not your fault she had panic attacks.”
Hannah smiled sadly and pulled her hand away. “You don’t know that.”
“I do. We do it to ourselves. No one causes it. It’s just our inability to sort out reality.”
“I heard my mother tell my father that we made her sick.” Hannah said quietly. She could feel Cody staring at her but she couldn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she looked down at the ground and tore up a long blade of grass, wrapping it around her finger. She gave a sad laugh. “She couldn’t stand the sight of us. And then she left us. What else am I supposed to take from that?”
Cody grabbed Hannah’s hands, stilling her fidgeting. “I don’t know. It was probably something between your parents, because I find it pretty hard to believe that someone couldn’t stand the sight of you.” He tucked a stray piece of hair behind Hannah’s ear, smiling kindly.
She tried to return his smile, but her heart hurt. Hannah never spoke about her mother. She tried not to think about her at all, because all it did was make her feel inadequate.
“Thank you,” Cody said softly.
“For what?”
Now it was his turn to look at the ground. “For helping me.”
Hannah hated the serious tone their conversation had taken. It felt too . . . real. Today had gotten off track and she needed to right it. “You’re welcome.” Hannah nudged Cody’s shoulder trying to lighten the mood. “So why this place?”
“It just makes everything better.”
“That’s all I get?”
“I came here after my parents got divorced.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Cody shrugged. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“But how’d
you even find this place? It’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“I used to come here when I was a kid. My parents had horses at the stables and they would let me come out here with the hounds to placate my begging for a dog of my own.”
“Why couldn’t you have a dog?”
Cody sighed. “Too messy.”
“I can see that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, your house is kind of . . . sterile.”
“Sterile?”
“Yes. It looks like a museum. I’m actually surprised you’re allowed to live there. Your room is the only thing in the house that isn’t perfect and white.”
Cody burst into laughter. “Please . . . don’t hold back.”
“Sorry,” Hannah blushed.
“No. It’s honestly refreshing. I hate my house. It’s huge, but it’s always empty. Everything has to be kept just so, but for what? It’s just me and my dad. And he’s never there. It makes no sense.”
“The grass is always greener,” Hannah sighed.
“You just called my house a sterile museum.”
“Yes, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t live there. We can trade if you’d like. I have a dog, a cluttered house and my dad is always home.”
Cody laughed. “Careful, I might take you up on it.”
“So, it’s Friday. We blew off school . . . what do you want to do for the rest of the day?” Hannah asked.
“I don’t know. But going to my sterile house and being alone isn’t appealing.”
“Okay. How about we go to my house, play with Custard, and start my movie tutorial.”
“Custard?”
“My dog.”
“You named your dog Custard?”
“I was eight!”
Cody laughed and stood up, pulling Hannah with him. “It’s a date.”
20
Their conversation was easy on the way to Hannah’s house. And Cody noticed she was getting more comfortable driving the Range Rover. She even dared to open the sunroof. He smiled as he watched Hannah’s hair dance about in the breeze while she animatedly told him about Custard the dog.
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