“She’d be lucky to have you,” I told my sister, jumping down. I kissed the top of her head and said, “Night, Angel.”
“Night, Captain. Love you.”
She made a heart with her hands, and I returned it as I walked away, shaking my head at the reference.
As I maneuvered down the short hallway, I couldn’t help wondering if Captain America would’ve taken twelve-hundred dollars to be Lily’s dance partner. I wanted to think he would, given the circumstances. Angéla said he was the ultimate leader, strong, protective, and loyal, which is why she’d given me the nickname years ago. She always said I was her hero, and in the end, that’s all I wanted. To be her hero, the studio’s hero, and if I could swing it, even Lily’s hero, because that girl deserved a break. But a part of me couldn’t help feeling like this whole thing was kind of shady.
I peeked my head around the corner to the living room, wanting to tell my parents good night before crashing. The television was on, but they weren’t watching it. They were seated close together on the sofa, Ma with her legs tucked under her, Dad with a hand on her knee and the other clenched in his black hair. A stack of bills was on the coffee table.
Dad rubbed his forehead. “We’ll find a way to make it work, Vik. I’ll ask the chief for extra shifts and take on more security jobs. Brighton put in a request for police presence around the school and games anyway. That’ll let me take care of my family double time.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. “We won’t lose Ilusiòn.”
Ma exhaled shakily. “After thirteen years, I got complacent,” she said with a slight sniffle. “The old owners only raised the rent a handful of times. But this?” She grabbed the bill on top of the pile and studied it. “I don’t know if we can make it past the holidays.”
“We’ve got enough in savings to cover this month and next,” he told her, rubbing her shoulder. “As for after that…” Dad kissed her temple and closed his eyes. “We’ll figure it out. I promise.”
My heart pounded as I slumped against the wall out of sight. I’d guessed things were tight, but I had no idea they were this bad. Not make it past the holidays? It was already mid-September.
Gathering myself, I shook my head to clear it and washed my face of all emotion before entering the room. Ma sat up instantly, discreetly wiping under her eyes, and Dad took the bill from her hand and set it facedown on the table.
“Just wanted to say good night.”
Ma gave me a quivery smile. “My handsome boy. Did you have a good time at the festival?”
“Yeah.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried not to stare at the stack of papers threatening my family. “I, uh, actually ran into Lily Bailey while I was there.”
“Oh?”
I nodded, flexing the muscles in my jaw. “Yeah, I didn’t get to tell you yesterday, but I spoke with Marcus before her lesson. I’m gonna be Lily’s permanent partner.” Ma’s eyes widened in surprise, and Dad looked between us. “Angéla already agreed to cover the phones for the hour class, so it’s all good.”
A slow smile transformed my mother’s face, chasing away the sadness and replacing it with pride. I swallowed another wave of guilt. “That is wonderful. Isa would be so happy to see her daughter flourishing in dance. You can help make that happen.” Her smile quivered again, and her gaze darted to the bills. “It’s good to have you at Ilusiòn with us.”
I heard what she hadn’t said—before we lose everything—and raised my gaze above her head, focusing on the framed picture of the Virgin Mary. “I’ll always do what I can to help you, Ma. Never doubt that.” Forcing a smile, I reined in my emotions and glanced at my parents. “I’m turning in.”
Ma beamed with lingering pride, but Dad’s dark eyes were narrowed. I didn’t have a doubt in my mind his cop intuition was going off. I could never keep a secret from him, although I’d never had a reason to until now.
As I retreated, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his mouth set in contemplation. “Night, son,” he called out, suspicion lacing his tone, and I muttered a good night as I slunk to my room.
The shoebox was at the top of my closet. I didn’t know how much they’d raised the rent, but the amount inside had to cover the difference for at least a couple of months. Hopefully that’d be enough time for enrollment to pick back up and we could get through the holidays. New Year Resolutions always brought a fresh wave of students.
My mind raced as I grabbed the box and sank onto my mattress. All the possibilities of how to explain where the money had come from bounced in my head. Unable to decide on anything remotely believable, I inhaled a long, deep breath and raised my head. My eyes landed on my bookshelf.
Trophies cluttered the four dusty shelves, along with various awards and accolades all given to me because I could throw a decent spiral. My fingers drummed across the lid of the box as a rock settled in my stomach. I’d trade the whole damn bookshelf of trophies to save my mother’s dream. Helping my family meant more than any stupid achievement I’d made on the field. This was real life. This was what mattered—not some meaningless, entertaining skillset, here today and possibly gone just as fast tomorrow. Forgotten in the rubble of past hotshots who were once somebody in high school.
My knuckles blanched as I brought the shoebox closer. Shady or not, this deal with Lily’s dad was a way to help my family. My only way. Lily would understand if she knew the whole truth.
After counting the total inside, needing the reassurance, I surged to my feet. My knees popped in the quiet. I carried Mr. Bailey’s money back to the closet, then hid it under my baby blanket on the top shelf where no one would see it. Dad had said they had September and October covered, which meant I had at least a month before they needed extra cash. My parents weren’t desperate for my help just yet.
Hopefully by the time they did, I’d have figured out a way to explain where it came from.
Chapter Ten
Lily
“Come on, girl, you can do it.” I leaned over the steering wheel, stroking the dash as I willed my car to start. My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I cursed myself for not getting her looked at sooner. “Please start. Please, please, start.”
Holding my breath, I flicked my wrist again. A series of empty clicks met my ears, and I banged my head against the wheel.
The school parking lot was a ghost town. A couple cars remained, but there wasn’t a soul inside them. I’d hung back after final bell to discuss my upcoming AP European history paper with Ms. Kat, and now because of that, I was stuck.
Groaning, I shoved my door open. I popped the latch for the hood and walked around to peer inside, not because I had a single clue what to look for but because it seemed like the thing to do. Yup, lots of stuff to see. Black boxes. Hose-looking things. Couple of jiggambobs. It all appeared normal to me.
Male voices floated in the air, shooting hope through my chest. I leaned against the bumper, hoping whoever it was had a pair of jumper cables in their car, and watched as Stone and Aidan turned the corner of the main building. I sighed. Poor guy. He seemed forever destined to save me.
My designated white knight held a football in his right hand while Aidan gestured at an open binder, animatedly saying words like Open 236 Belly G.
These guys spoke a whole other language.
“Uh, hey there!”
They instantly froze at my awkward call, and I waved with a slight wince. I hadn’t seen Stone in three days, ever since I lost Battle One of our dare on Sunday, and here I was, a damsel in distress. Feminists everywhere were groaning in sympathy.
Shoving my glasses higher on my nose, I pushed away from my opened hood and said, “Any chance either of you can give me a jump?”
Aidan’s eyebrows shot sky-high, and I swear Stone snorted. Playing back my words, along with its juvenile implications, I lowered my head and groaned.
Gah, just shoot me now.
“Sorry, Lily.” Aidan tucked the binder under his arm and grimaced. �
��I don’t have a car here. I only live a couple blocks away, so it’s easier to walk.”
I nodded, raking my teeth over my bottom lip, and swung my gaze to Stone. His mouth turned down at the corners as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can look in the truck, but I’m pretty sure I lent them to Chase this summer and never got them back.”
I nodded again because that figured. It’d be too easy if he had them, though truth be told, I doubted a jump would do the trick anyway. While I knew squat about cars, I did rock at research, and from the little I’d done I’d discovered if the alternator was wonky, a fully charged battery didn’t necessarily make a difference. I had a hunch that was the issue. This time, at least.
Stone walked over, giving the engine and other jiggambobs a glance. He lifted his head with a sheepish expression. “I have no clue what I’m looking at. I mean, I know the basics, but that’s about it. My cousin owns the best shop in Cypress Lake, though. I can give him a call and have him pick it up while I give you a ride home.”
I rocked back on my feet. Debbie had to be looked at, but part of me was worried about what they’d find. An alternator and battery issue should only cost around five hundred dollars, at least according to Google, but what if it was more? I had just over a thousand in my checking account. I could use Dad’s credit card, but then he’d see the bill and push to replace her again. She was thirteen years old and had over two hundred thousand miles. I was already fighting a losing battle.
Plus, I didn’t want to put Stone out. Every time he looked around these days, there I was. Falling down staircases, tripping over my feet in the studio. Now he had to drive me home?
“Look, if it’s the money you’re worried about, the shop’s not too far,” he told me. “If my cousin waits until tonight to come get it, he probably won’t even charge you for the tow.”
“That would certainly help,” I admitted. “But are you sure you don’t mind giving me a ride? I can call Sydney and see if she can pick me up…” Although she watched her siblings after school and it’d be a huge hassle to schlep them all over here.
Stone’s mouth did this slow twitching thing as he glanced at Aidan. “How many stupid stunts have girls pulled over the years, trying to get in one of our cars, and this one fights me over it.”
He shook his head, and while Aidan frowned, Stone’s smile stretched into the unicorn-sneezing-rainbows variety that made my stomach flip. He needed to put that thing away.
“I have to bring you home now, on principle,” Stone declared, pointing to a green truck parked two rows over. “Get your stuff. I’ll call my cousin and drop you off on my way to Ilusiòn.”
I bristled a bit at his bossiness, but it wasn’t like I had a ton of options. Plus, he was doing me a huge favor, and by this point, I’d almost gotten used to Stone being pushy. In a weird way, it was part of his charm.
After grabbing my bag and snatching a few other necessities from the trunk, I locked the car and handed the keys to Stone, who’d already made plans to drop them off with his cousin. I waved goodbye to Aidan, wondering why he still had a weird look on his face, and followed Stone to his truck.
“Thanks for this,” I said, hopping into the muggy cab. My shirt was plastered to my back just from standing outside. Technically fall started next week, but you’d never know it. “And thanks for calling your cousin. Have him get in touch with me once they figure out what’s wrong, and I’ll take care of it from there.”
Stone nodded, and with a flick of his wrist, his engine roared to life. I sighed in envy. That’s what was supposed to happen when I did it, too. “Have you figured out how you’ll get to school tomorrow?” he asked.
“The bus picks up at the front of my neighborhood.” I shifted the A/C vents so they’d hit me full-blast when he turned it on, and Stone rolled down the windows, letting the stupid-hot air escape. I glanced over with a grin. “Looks like I’m riding with the freshmen.”
“I can pick you up, if you want,” he offered. “I’ve got practice at six fifteen, but if you don’t mind getting here early—”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” I cut in, not even ashamed at how quickly I latched on to his offer. Never mind the underclassmen, the bus driver was an old bat, and the whole thing smelled like tuna. “It’ll give me more time to study.”
Stone smiled, like he’d expected I’d say that, and reversed out of his parking spot.
After putting my address into his GPS and stuffing the books from my trunk into my overstuffed bag, we drove in comfortable silence, listening to the radio while pretending I wasn’t checking out his inner sanctum. Other than a receipt for Foot Locker and an empty water bottle, I got nothing. We were at the red light on Maple and I’d just shoved my face in the delightful stream of cool air pouring from the A/C when I noticed Stone frown at my backpack like it had offended him.
I leaned back and kicked at the enormous bag at my feet. “What?”
Guilty eyes, like he’d been caught, raised to mine. They coasted over my face as his firm mouth twisted back and forth, as if he wanted to say something but at the same time didn’t.
Yeah, that didn’t make me suspicious at all.
“The other day…you mentioned you’d been sick and missed a test.”
I narrowed my eyes, wondering where he was going.
He glanced back at the road. “You don’t seem like the type to skip over a cold or anything. I was curious what happened.”
The red light switched to green, and Stone accelerated past the intersection. I shoved my hands under my thighs, unsticking them from the warm vinyl.
I’d known the guy for twelve days—minus the twelve years of shallow acquaintance prior to that, of course—and I’d already shared a ton. Stone knew about my approach to school, my focus on the future, and a couple key memories from my past. That was more than my old therapist had gotten out of me. He’d been shockingly easy to talk to so far, but this…this was kind of heavy. I hadn’t even told Sydney the whole story yet.
Then again, if Stone knew the truth, maybe he’d better understand the way my mind worked. And why he was never going to win the dare.
Inhaling a breath filled with Clean Linen air freshener, I focused on the St. Christopher medal hooked to the visor. “This summer, I took a couple classes at Cypress College. Basic pre-reqs to beef up my Harvard application, nothing too big, but the pace was faster than I expected. They squeeze an entire semester’s amount of material into a shorter session, and I guess the classes stressed me out more than usual.”
Luckily, it’d been nowhere near as bad as freshman year—no panic attacks, only a disgusting byproduct—which was good, because the side effects of my anti-anxiety meds sucked. So far, Dad was allowing me to stick with just the Prilosec…along with the prescription for ballroom dancing, of course.
Stone fiddled with the radio, turning down the music so I didn’t have to fight with Drake to be heard, and I fidgeted with my school ring. This was where it got sticky. Going with the Band-Aid method, I decided to throw it out there in one big ramble.
“The first time I threw up blood, I didn’t think anything of it. I figured I’d eaten something red and funky, and since I’m addicted to peanut M&M’s, I wrote it off as that. But then I kept getting sick. Dad was traveling when it started, and I didn’t want to call him over nothing…but then he came home, and he found me in the bathroom where I’d thrown up what looked like a bucket of blood. It nearly filled the sink.”
Stone’s hands clenched on the wheel as I cringed at the memory.
“I never saw my dad look like that. Not even with Mom. Looking back, he was probably thinking the same thing I feared at first—that it was cancer. Then I was in the hospital for two days, which brought its own haunted memories.” My chest tightened at those memories now, but I pushed them back down again. “Apparently, I burst capillaries in my duodenum by throwing up so violently, and it was all stress related. The acids in my stomach built up because I wasn’t handling it well, which made me
sick enough to throw up. The doctors said I could’ve caused permanent damage to my GI tract with scarring and a bunch of other scary-sounding stuff…”
Stone inhaled a sharp breath as I trailed off, and I turned my head. The concern in his eyes was so sweet and unexpected, it made me want to comfort him. I reached over and touched his knee. “It wasn’t life threatening,” I assured him with a small smile. “Just scary. They put me on meds, took away my caffeine, and told me I needed to find a hobby, which is how Dad came up with the dancing idea.” I smiled to lighten the mood. “It’s ironic if you think about it. The lessons are his attempt to get me to relax, when really, all they do is stress me out more.”
Stone’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. “Why do they stress you out?”
I rolled my eyes. Was he serious? “Because I suck,” I said, laughing a little. “I’m not used to sucking, or not being the best at something. Books, school, you work hard, study enough, you get the grades. But you can’t make up talent where there isn’t any.”
A low noise, almost like a growl, came from the driver’s side of the truck. “You’ve already gotten better after two lessons,” Stone said, looking at me like he could will me to believe him using only the power of his stare. “You’ve got potential, Lily. I see it. You should, too.”
The mood was suddenly way too serious, and I had to work not to fidget with the way he kept glancing at me. Having Stone Torres’s full attention was intense. It made my chest feel light and my stomach all fluttery. I wasn’t sure anyone would be immune.
Figuring that was enough of that, I discreetly wiped my palms on my shorts and said, “There you go again, telling me what I should do. It’s got to be hard walking around with that giant head of yours weighing you down.”
Eyes on Me Page 11