A nice couple from the North had purchased Mom’s dream home on that street. I inhaled deeply as I made the turn onto Pony Circle, pushing down the memories of days long past. But it was useless when the bluish-green siding with high-angled peaks came into view.
I skidded to a halt when I laid eyes on a For Sale sign, my memories vanishing as my heart raced. I wasn’t sure why. It was just a stupid sign. I really wished Dad could afford to buy the house back. That thought evaporated when I zeroed in on the two cars in the driveway and gasped. Sure, a family lived there, but Colton Caldwell sure as heck didn’t. I knew his truck well and not because he’d hit me with it. I knew his license plate. Yep, I had the darn thing memorized. Then again, it was rather easy to remember when “Hang Ten” was stamped on it.
I riffled through my brain, digging deep into why he would be sitting in my old driveway of all places. If the same family we’d sold the place to still lived there, then the children were definitely not of age to date. But my answer came swiftly when Amanda fucking Gelling glided ethereally out the front door with her auburn hair flowing behind her, tanned legs that I was jealous of, and a flirty smile that screamed she was getting laid or something. That last part made me clench my hands into fists.
She bounced up to the passenger window of Colton’s truck. I suddenly hated Amanda more than even when Colton was whispering in her ear or had his hand on her lower back like she was his pride and joy.
“Amanda,” an older version of Amanda called as she came out with her Louis Vuitton bag and gold-rimmed sunglasses that probably cost more than the Toyota I drove. “My clients are going to be late.”
Amanda stuck her hands on her hips. “I got things to do, Mom.”
Her mom owned Gelling and Associates, one of the top real estate companies in town, as the For Sale sign announced.
I growled under my breath as Amanda said something to her mom before she jumped into Colton’s truck.
I should leave before they see me, or Colton might think I’m stalking him. I placed my skateboard down and was about to get on it when the universe stepped in. My board sailed right toward Colton’s truck as he was backing onto the street.
The word “fuck” dropped from my lips, and not because he or Amanda would notice me, but my board was about to get smashed. I couldn’t lose my one outlet, the one salvation that kept my demons at bay. Sure, I could buy a new one when money wasn’t so tight. But even so, I didn’t want a new one. That skateboard was a gift from Dad. I had to cherish it forever.
I ran like I was about to save a person from getting hit by a car, the word “idiot” coming to mind. I couldn’t tell if Colton could see me or not. His back window was lightly tinted.
My horror-movie scream fell on deaf ears as Colton ran over my board.
Well, fuck.
The truck stopped, as did my heart. Colton got out and darted to his tailgate. He glanced at his tire before those molten-brown eyes drank me in. “Skyler? What in the world?”
Amanda graced us with her presence. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Ignoring the bitch, I grabbed my mangled board. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so bad, but one of the front wheels was bent. Inwardly, I yelled at myself. I usually wasn’t an airhead. It was all Colton’s fault. He was making my mind a glob of goo.
“Skyler,” Colton said in that Southern drawl that made my goose bumps fire to life.
Damn him. My pride was as crumpled as my board. I couldn’t deal with him, and especially not Amanda or both of them together. Shaking my head, I walked away. Otherwise I would punch the smug look off Amanda’s delicate face or say something I would regret. Above all else, I was ready to burst into tears.
“Wait,” Colton said in a loud, deep, and dreamy voice.
Keep walking, Skyler.
“Leave her.” Amanda’s voice was like that cringy sound of nails on a chalkboard. “We’re going to be late.”
“Skyler,” Colton called again. “At least let me give you a ride home.”
I was not getting into Colton’s truck, not with her in it. That was a recipe for disaster. It was bad enough that my hormones were soaring into outer space just from hearing him say my name, and on the other spectrum, my jealousy was at an all-time high.
I stuck a hand in the air and waved without turning around. “I’m good.”
“Her bestie lives at the end of the street,” I heard Amanda say.
She would know. She’d hung out with us a few times in middle school, mostly at Georgia’s birthday parties, which her mom was famous for throwing for her only child.
I sharpened my hearing the farther I got from them, praying Colton would listen to Amanda and just get the hell out of there. I had only three more houses to hurry by before I was in the safe zone. Then a wild laugh broke free in my head. Safe zone—it wasn’t as if he would hurt me.
But as much as I didn’t want to look, my curiosity got the better of me. Colton stood in the street, watching me as Amanda hooked her arm into his. Then she flattened her hand on his chest and said something to him.
He threaded his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, and I swore a whimper came out of my mouth. I was so screwed. I wouldn’t make it through the first week of senior year. Either Colton would destroy me in a delightful way, or I was going to cave and just pull a Grady and stick my tongue down Colton’s throat. Maybe if I did, I would get him out of my system.
Other than Grady and his gross antics in the seventh grade, I’d only locked lips with one other dude, and that was in my sophomore year. Bruce Maddox had asked me to dance at the spring fling. He was nice and cute, but not someone I’d been interested in dating. Anyway, he’d kissed me that night when the music had ended, all hard lips and teeth. “Awkward” was the way I’d described the moment to Georgia after the dance.
Colton and Amanda finally got back in his truck. When he took off in the opposite direction, I let out the sigh of all sighs as I ran up to Georgia’s front door.
7
Georgia and I sat on the bleachers, watching the football team and the cheerleaders practice. After Mia was finished, the three of us were headed to the beach.
Georgia fanned herself with her notebook. “Have you recovered from yesterday?”
“What do you think?” I’d been grumpy all day because of my skateboard. When I’d gotten home from Georgia’s the night before, I tried to fix the mangled front wheel, but it was useless. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a bitch.”
She patted my leg. “It’s just a skateboard. You can buy another one.”
I narrowed my eyes at my BFF. “You did not just say that.”
She lifted a bare shoulder that was reddening from the orange ball of heat in the sky. “Skye, I’ll buy you another one.”
I should have hugged her for being the best friend a girl could have. Actually, I’d thrown myself at her the day before, crying in her arms for many reasons, not just my skateboard. “As I told you last night, my dad gave me that board. Sentimental, you know.”
She resumed fanning herself as she looked out at the field. “It’s scorching today.”
Mia and her squad of cheerleaders were practicing one of their high-flying routines while the footballers were huddled in the middle of the field, listening to the coach. I spotted Colton. It was hard not to. He was one of the taller ones among the group, and leaner than most.
I laughed. “We live in the South. You know, you’re starting to fry.” She was fair and tended to burn easily. Normally, she wasn’t one to wear a tank top for that very reason.
“I put on sunscreen. I’ll be fine.” Her tone was huffy.
I chewed on a nail, feeling like a witch for taking out my problems on her. “I know you want to help, and I love you for it. But I just want to mourn the loss of my board for now.”
She lowered her sunglasses, and her pretty green eyes sparkled beneath two coats of mascara. “I love you too, chica. But seriously, you need to let loose. You’re wound tight and I�
��m worried.”
I bumped her shoulder with mine. “I know. It just seems like bad things keep happening. My aunt is coming in this weekend.”
She whipped her head in my direction. “You didn’t tell me that.”
I’d been too amped up about Colton and Amanda and the murder of my skateboard. “That was the original reason I came to see you yesterday. You know my dad is preparing his trust. He wants me to go live with her.” The last part, she didn’t know. I’d been keeping it from her in the event that Dad changed his mind—and he still could, if I could convince him.
She swiveled in her seat. “No fucking way. Skyler Lawson, you are not leaving me. I’m going to talk to your dad.”
I laughed, the act freeing. “You can try. But seriously, I can’t blame him for wanting to make sure I’m taken care of when he’s gone.” I’d thought a lot about it while I snuggled with my cat, Stella, the night before. I couldn’t live on my own. Well, I could. But since I was only seventeen, adults would have a problem with that. “I told him I want to live with Nan.”
“Isn’t the house yours when he…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it either.
“It is, but I’m a minor.”
She mashed her glossy lips together. “You can live with me. My parents already said you could.”
Mr. and Mrs. Branson had offered to talk to Dad, but Dad was adamant about me living with family. “Can we talk about something else now?” I shouldn’t have brought it up. It only served to twist my stomach into knots.
Georgia nodded as tears pooled in her green eyes. “I’m organizing a beach party for this weekend. We’ll do a bonfire and just let loose. I think I need to take my mind off things as much as you do.”
I bumped her arm with mine. “I know you love my dad too.”
She wiped a tear away. “He’s like a second dad to me.”
“Girl, if you get emotional, I will too.” And the football field was the last place to become a blubbering mess, especially with Colton nearby.
“Um… look who’s coming our way.” As subtle as she could be, Georgia stabbed her blue-painted thumbnail at the field.
Colton strutted toward us, carrying his sports bag in one hand and his helmet in the other. He looked rather beat and definitely sweaty. All that football gear had to be brutal in the Southern heat.
Grady caught up to him, patted him on the back, then darted over to Mia, who was packing up her gear. I didn’t get them, except maybe I did. Guys liked sex, and Mia was crazy for it. And yowza, she wasn’t one to hold back the details, either. Frankly, I blocked my ears when she was gushing about her latest conquest, which as of late had been Grady.
Mia would always laugh when she found me trying to tune her out. Then she would say, “I like sex, and I’m not ashamed to admit it like you and Georgia.”
“It’s not sex,” I would fire back, though it might have been—I was still a virgin. “You like Grady.”
“He’s hung like a horse,” she would say proudly. “And he’s good in bed.”
“Ew” would be my response, followed by the need to puke.
Regardless of my sexual inexperience, I admired Mia. She knew who she was, knew what she wanted and liked, and wasn’t afraid to admit it.
I, on the other hand, was still trying to find myself. Having gone through one death and getting ready to lose another parent, I felt lost and a little out of sorts, particularly in the guy department, and more so with Colton in the picture.
Georgia waved a hand in front of me. “Where did you go?”
I blinked away the image of Mia throwing herself at Grady. “Nowhere.” Everywhere.
“I don’t get those two,” Georgia said as Grady pulled Mia flush against his body.
“Join the club. But we’ve had this convo many times.”
“Do you think we’ll be as excited about sex when the time comes?” Georgia sounded frightened.
I couldn’t blame her. I was sure my first time would be nerves galore.
Georgia nudged me with her elbow.
My gaze swung from Mia and Grady to the only guy I wouldn’t mind giving my virginity to.
Colton crossed the track, his muscular legs eating up the space, and when he climbed the bleachers, my body started to shake, rattle, and roll.
I tucked my hands between my thighs and squeezed, hoping I could get them to stop trembling.
Colton gave me a wolfish grin. “Ladies,” he said.
My pulse went into overdrive, the sweat multiplying—and not from the thick humidity hanging in the air.
“Skyler, how’s your elbow?” His drawl was electrifying.
“Fine.” The swelling had gone down, and except for the occasional throbbing, I didn’t even think about my injury.
He gripped the straps of his sports bag as though the item was his lifeline. “You didn’t tell your dad, did you?”
I bored a hole into him as we locked eyes. Anger hotter than the Southern sun burned away the nerves and the butterflies, and my hands stopped shaking.
As if Georgia could see the myriad of emotions plaguing me, she said to Colton, “I’m having a bonfire party on the beach behind my house on Saturday. Why don’t you come?”
“Grady is having one too,” Colton said.
Georgia pursed her lips. “Mmm. Maybe I’ll postpone mine. We should have parties every weekend until graduation.”
Colton smoothed a large hand over his sweaty helmet hair, which was pulled back into a low ponytail.
I held back a whimper. “Rock star” came to mind. All he needed was a guitar. I could totally see Colton sitting in a chair, strumming a guitar and crooning as his hair fell forward, veiling him and giving him a mysterious vibe.
Amanda’s voice pierced the air, calling Colton’s name before she all but rushed up the bleachers to stand beside him. “There you are. I’ve been waiting for you in the parking lot.”
Georgia wagged her finger between Amanda and Colton. “Are you two an item or something?”
Colton stiffened.
Amanda snarled at Georgia. “None of your business, Branson.” She never called anyone by their first name unless she liked them.
Georgia flipped her off.
Amanda tittered as she slipped her hand into Colton’s. “Come on, big guy. We have plans.”
I lifted my brows at Colton, who was fixated on me for some odd reason.
Oh, that’s right. He wanted to know if I’d told my dad he’d hit me with his truck. I imagined if Dad knew, he would tell Colton’s mom, and then his dad would find out. I hadn’t forgotten the fight between them.
Amanda tugged Colton. “Let’s go.” She sounded irritated as she flipped her auburn hair over her shoulder.
I really wanted to cut off her thick locks.
He sighed heavily as darkness washed over his handsome face. Then he tipped his head toward the field. “I need to talk to Grady for a second.”
Amanda slid her hand over his butt, then up his back. “Make it quick. We don’t have much time before my parents come home.”
I clenched my teeth, even though I couldn’t blame her for wanting to get Colton alone. I was hoping my facial expression was blank and not showing the ocean of jealousy burning through my veins.
Amanda climbed down in a huff.
Colton’s gaze was like molten lava as he regarded me.
“So, you two seem to have hit it off,” Georgia blurted out. “I don’t know how much you know about Amanda, but once she gets her claws into you, you’ll need a surgeon to cut them out.”
I snorted.
Colton just grinned, seemingly not caring whether Amanda clung to him or not. Then again, guys loved sex, and maybe that was all he was after. I suddenly wondered if I would have to put out for him to date me. If so, he wasn’t the right guy for me. Mia might only want sex, but I wanted more.
Before I could analyze the topic to death, Amanda shouted from the track, “Come on, Colton!”
My nostrils flared. Amanda Ge
lling had always been an irritating individual, but her liking the same guy I did made it even worse.
Colton started to leave, then stopped. “I’m sorry about your skateboard.” He flashed his big brown eyes at me, then trudged down the bleachers, his cleats clicking on the metal benches. Once he joined Amanda, she slipped her hand into his, no doubt marking her territory.
I growled under my breath. “Colton, wait,” I blurted. Dad had mentioned that maybe Colton could help me change the oil in my car, and maybe he could fix my skateboard too. “Can you stop by later? I have a proposition for you.”
Grady whistled as he met Colton on the track.
I held back the urge to flip him off, keeping my focus on Colton and no one else.
One side of Colton’s mouth turned upward, and a funny feeling pulsed between my legs.
Amanda snarled. “What could you possibly offer Colton with those flat tits of yours?” Her voice was so loud, I was sure the football coach could hear her from his spot on the field.
My middle finger popped up like a jack-in-the-box.
Georgia snorted.
I wasn’t the type to start fights, but I would in a heartbeat if it would shut her up. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Georgia came to my rescue. “At least her tits aren’t fake,” she fired down to Amanda.
Grady was clearly enjoying himself, wearing his normal irritating smirk.
“I’ll see you tonight,” Colton said to me.
Then Grady, Colton, and Amanda left.
“I so want to climb Colton like a monkey,” I mumbled.
Georgia busted out laughing. “You’ve been listening to Mia too much, but I agree. I wouldn’t mind either. So give me the deets. What’s your proposition?”
“My skateboard. Nothing more.” Oh yeah. My car too.
“Good plan.”
Now to shuck the nervous nellies.
8
I deposited my bag at the door, and for some odd reason, my heart sputtered. I could feel the heaviness in the air. The house was normally quiet, given that Dad was in bed most days. But usually I could at least hear the TV.
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