White trash comments aside, I have a real chance for a different future with the academy and my new life. Coming from that family, it says a lot.
I turn toward the sidewalk leading back to the academy, and I spy my cell phone provider a few stores down from the ice cream place. Perfect. I head straight there, and it doesn’t take long to switch my number. No more calls from Manny.
I fire off a quick text to Momma and Levi, letting them know my new number, and as I emerge from the shop, my eyes collide with Riel’s. He stands on the opposite end of the parking lot near his Jeep, staring right at me.
My stomach does a slow roll of awareness. My God he looks amazing. Tall and tan, his hair doing that perfect natural thing. Faded jeans hanging just so, leather flip-flops, and a white tee. I’ve never seen him in jeans. He wears them quite nicely.
But his face looks tolerant as he holds the passenger door open for Cassidy, the girl from our economics class who sits behind him and whispers in his ear. She climbs into the Jeep, pouting her lips and pushing her boobs against his arm as she slides past. How long did she stand in front of the mirror perfecting that ridiculous ravage me look?
Clicking her seat belt on, she starts griping about something, and he shuts the door right in the middle of her sentence.
I catch my laugh as he leaves the Jeep and jogs toward me, and oh, Lord, he even has a nice jog. All athletic and perfect.
“Need a lift?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m okay.”
He glances around. “You out here alone?”
“I just said bye to Abbie and some others.”
“It’s a safe area, but I wouldn’t advise hanging out in a dark parking lot alone.”
“I’m fine. I can take care of myself.” Hell, I’ve been taking care of myself pretty much my whole life.
He studies me for a second, like he can’t quite figure me out. “Some friendly advice, that’s all.”
A couple of seconds tick by, and awkward silence fills the air between us.
I glance across the lot to his beat-up Jeep. “You’re keeping your girlfriend waiting.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he immediately corrects me, and that makes me happier than it probably should.
“Well, she’s looking over here, and she doesn’t look pleased.” I check my watch. “It’s getting late. I need to head back.” With a little wave, I walk off.
“Sure you don’t want a lift?” he calls.
Without turning around, I give him another wave. “I’m good.”
“Riel!” Cassidy yells out the Jeep’s window. “You coming or what?”
A few seconds later, he passes me on the way out. Even though I don’t look over, in my periphery I see his face turned in my direction, and I’m more than curious of his thoughts. Does he feel this thing, whatever this thing is, between us like I do?
I can’t help thinking about that first time we met in the library with my butt up in the air. We’d been harmlessly flirting until he found out I got his scholarship. Since then it’s been very professional, polite, on the up-and-up. Which is fine. I didn’t come here for anything else.
Yet I can’t help wondering how that first meeting would’ve gone if it hadn’t been derailed by the scholarship I took from him. Guilt perks up its nasty little head. Sure, I omitted personal information on my application and stretched the truth in other areas. Academically, though, I’m the real thing.
People who justify themselves feel guilty about something. My momma said that once, and how right she is. I’m justifying winning the scholarship. If Riel wasn’t such a good guy, I probably wouldn’t be justifying anything, and that makes me feel even guiltier.
But the fact is, when I first set my eyes on the academy’s scholarship it had been academic focused, and I knew I had a solid chance. Only this year did it change to contain a new clause involving citizenship and family values. What was I supposed to do? Give up everything I’d been working for because my “white trash” family has anything but citizenship and family values? Absolutely not.
So okay, I’ll admit it, I lied. I outright lied on my scholarship paperwork. My momma works as a secretary. We go to church. Hell, she even teaches Sunday school. Me and my twin little sisters have the same daddy. He died serving his country. I volunteer at the YMCA in their after-school program.
What was I supposed to say? Momma’s a stripper and she’s been married six times. My older sister’s a meth addict. All of us have different fathers. My daddy’s in prison for dealing drugs. I was raised in public housing . I never volunteered anywhere because I was too busy working and making money to help Momma pay bills. And, yes, I was there that night Manny stole a car, and I didn’t try to stop him. I learned a long time ago that when Manny’s been drinking, you stay out of his way. Granted, I was fifteen and let off with probation, but still.
All of this does nothing to alleviate my guilt.
Riel’s left with no option but to pay for this on his own. But how exactly is he doing it? A loan? I hope not. This place is expensive. But what other option is there?
Perhaps he’s got some family money and there’s no loan involved. I can only hope that’s it. At least then my guilt won’t gnaw at me as much. I won’t feel like I’ve turned his life inside out and back again. Like mine would be if I lost my funding.
Chapter Eleven
The next day comes and goes, and Riel never shows up to classes. I find myself looking for and missing him more than I should.
My last class lets out, and I pack up my things, mentally cataloging my homework for the night.
Peter, the guy I met in the administrative area my first day here, strolls straight into the classroom that now sits empty except for me. We have biochem together, and I’ve caught him staring at me more than once.
He’s cute, no denying it.
“You’re looking exceptionally well today.” Peter gives me yet another bold once-over like he did when I first met him.
I’ve never been a big fan of the bold once-over, especially from a guy who has obviously done it way too many times.
Shoving the last book in my bag, I head straight toward the door. “In a hurry. See you later.”
Peter ignores my blatant blow off and blocks me.
Nerves flare through me, and I take a step back. What is he doing?
“Just wanted to say hi,” he whispers, grasping my arm and sliding his fingers down to my wrist. He gives it a quick squeeze and walks away, leaving me standing in the doorway, staring after him, completely unsettled and confused.
Guys back home did that crap to me all the time. They think because my momma strips and we live in public housing that I’m easy. I hadn’t expected that treatment here.
Riel steps into my line of sight, and I blink out of my momentary haze.
“I wouldn’t go there if I was you,” he says. “Peter’s not exactly known for being nice to girls.”
“Believe me, I’m not going there.”
Riel looks down the hall where Peter disappeared before turning back to me. “Oh, sorry, it looked like—”
“Well, you’re wrong.” I’m suddenly irritated about Peter squeezing my arm. About Riel misunderstanding. About being states away from home and this still happening.
“Okay,” he simply says.
Then he stands there, and I stand here, and neither one of us moves. It’s like he wants to say something more, but he doesn’t. Maybe he feels bad about assuming.
“Why’d you skip today? Everything okay?”
His expression closes down on me, and I wish I could reel that question right back in. I shouldn’t have asked.
“I didn’t skip.” His voice is tinged with annoyance. “I never skip. If I’m not here, I have a valid reason.”
He’s offended, and now I’m the one who has assumed.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Riel blows out a quick, frustrated breath and glances away, and in this moment he seems so much older tha
n eighteen. I want to reach out and touch him. Tell him whatever it is, it’s going to be okay. But I don’t. I just stare at the side of his face.
“It’s okay,” he quietly says and gives me a small smile I can tell he doesn’t feel. Then he turns and walks off, leaving me puzzling over what just happened.
Chapter Twelve
Saturday rolls around. I signed up for a weekend class at the local community center on the Florida economy. Dr. Carter, my econ instructor, teaches it, and the extracurricular will look good on my records.
I borrow a bike from another girl in the dorm, plug the address into my phone, and set out.
An hour and a sore butt later, I end up arriving late. You’d think in a Florida Key things would be easy to find. Not so much.
Silently cursing my screwy navigation, I jog toward the community center where the class is being held. Maybe I can slip through a back door unnoticed and slide into a desk.
Peering through the window of the auditorium, I estimate fifty people. More than I had expected. I reach for the handle, pull the door open enough to fit through, then turn and ease it closed behind me. Staying to the outside wall, I quietly creep toward an empty desk.
“Viola, come pick up some handouts before you take your seat.”
I glance over my shoulder to see Riel standing at the podium, and my stomach does a little swoop to my knees before settling back into position. Turning, I shuffle to where he is, my flip-flops echoing through the place, fully aware all eyes are focused on me.
“I’m sorry. I got lost,” I whisper.
“It’s okay,” he says. “Sign in.”
I do quickly and as I choose a desk along the outside wall, I notice several students from the academy, probably here for the same reason I am.
“As I was saying,” Riel continues talking. “I’m here today in place of Dr. Carter. He had something come up and asked me to fill in.”
Riel must be highly thought of if teachers ask him to fill in for them.
“So let’s hope I don’t mess this up.” He smiles and everyone chuckles, including me.
The seminar progresses then, and I find myself in awe of him. He has this natural talent for speaking that I envy. I do okay with public speaking, but he has this captivating, charming way about him that makes you want to listen.
After our first break, he divides the attendees into small groups for activities, holds discussion groups for everyone to mingle, and tells amusing stories in between his speaking points.
When the seminar comes to a close, I find myself wishing it wasn’t. I could listen to hours more of his accent, his humor, and I could stare hours more at those dimples that flash when he smiles.
“Everyone have a good evening. I’m here for a bit if you have follow-up questions.” With that, he dismisses us, and people immediately head down to speak with him.
I pack up my things and make my way to the front of the room. As I push open the exit door, I glance over my shoulder to see him switch his attention from the crowd over to me. His gaze flicks down to my white shorts and then just as quickly back up into my eyes. It reminds me of the first time I met him and caught him glancing down my top. Then he had been embarrassed, and I catch a hint of that in his eyes now, but this time I see a sensuality, an interest, a respect that sends a rush of warmth through me.
Someone says something to him, and he drags his eyes away from me and over to the person who is speaking. It takes me a turned-on second to open the door and make my way out.
As I unlock my borrowed bike, I wonder what he’s going to do tonight. Is he going on another date with that Cassidy girl? Maybe it’s just me, but he didn’t even seem to like her. Then again, I could be wrong. She’s not my girlfriend. He did say that. Corrected me actually. Why then were they on a date?
I climb on my bike, and as I peddle from the lot, my thoughts drift from Riel and Cassidy to home, and I make a mental note to check in with Levi tonight. He said he was staying through the weekend.
A horn honks, bringing me from my contemplations. I glance over my shoulder to see a dark SUV pacing behind me.
I scoot further over in the biking lane and wave it on, but it doesn’t pass me. I try to see who is driving but can only make out a shadow. Speeding up a little, I hop the curb onto the sidewalk, glance over my shoulder, and the SUV still cruises behind me, seemingly following me.
Anxiety punches through me, and I peddle a little harder, trying not to show my jump in nerves. I cut off down the next road, and I glance over my shoulder to see it cruise on by in the same direction it’d been going.
I blow out a breath and tell myself my imagination just got the best of me.
Yes, I tell myself this, but my gut says otherwise.
Chapter Thirteen
Stalker
I’m making her nervous.
God, that feels good. The power.
Look at her peddling faster, like she thinks she can get away.
I’ll let her.
This time.
Chapter Fourteen
Sunday afternoon, Abbie invites me to brunch at the Ritz Carlton, and I turn her down. I can’t afford that luxury.
“Oh, come on. I’ll pay,” she begs.
“No, you can’t do that.”
“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You should see my weekly allowance.”
It probably equals more than I made working at KFC in a month.
“Pleeease,” she begs.
“You sure?”
“Yes. Besides, everybody else is gone for the day.”
So I’m her last resort. That thought pops into my brain and almost has me saying no, but in the end I decide to go, mainly because I’ve never been to a Ritz, and I’m curious. Plus, I am caught up on all of my school work.
To my surprise, brunch goes fine until Abbie says, “You know my dad funded this year’s scholarship pick, right?”
I swallow my crème brûlée as I fall back in place beneath her. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“He said it was a tax write-off,” she goes on. “Suppose that’s stuff I’ll let my accountant worry about some day.”
“I suppose.” I look around for our waiter and the check. A check I wish I could pay.
“So don’t piss me off or anything,” she jokes.
Though I’m in no way amused, my lips quiver into a smile.
“He told me I have to maintain a three-point-five or he’s not letting me holiday in Greece with my aunt.” She scoffs. “Three-point-five. Can you believe it?”
I inhale a patient breath, the reality of our differences so in my face I can barely focus. Does she not realize I can’t relate? Greece? The only place I’ve ever been outside of Tennessee is here, of course, and North Carolina. I’ve never even been on a plane. I took a bus here to the Keys. But traveling is definitely something I want to do once I graduate MIT, start a job, and actually have real money for a change.
Thankfully, the waiter comes, and Abbie flips down a credit card that I’m sure her dad pays for.
I really want to go back to the dorm, but Abbie insists on cruising the coastal highway. So with music blaring and the top down on her BMW, I close my eyes, soak in the sun, and try to forget her words from brunch. So don’t piss me off or anything.
Abbie turns the radio down. “That’s Riel’s Jeep.” She nods ahead of us and speeds up. “Let’s say hi.”
My body hums in all kinds of interesting ways as we pull up beside him, both coming to a stop at a red light. I glance over to his beat-up Wrangler. The top and doors are off, giving me a front row seat to his tan legs and muscled arms that stretch the sleeves of his gray tee. He’s wearing mirrored aviator glasses, and I watch as his dark hair rustles in the breeze.
Leaning over me, Abbie waves. “Hey, Riel.”
Riel glances over and smiles a little.
Abbie grins. “What’re you up to?”
He shrugs. “This and that. You?”
Abbie tosses her hair. “Just two gir
ls out having fun.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
A face peeks out and around from the passenger side of the Jeep. It’s the little girl I saw him with the day he was late to economics.
“Hi,” she says.
I give a little wave. “Hi.”
“This is my sister, Mar,” he introduces.
He points at us. “You know Abbie, and that’s Viola.”
The light turns green, and Riel puts his Jeep in gear. “See you two tomorrow,” he says, and I watch as they pull away.
“Word is,” Abbie informs me, “he’s raising her by himself.”
I glance over in surprise.
“Don’t know all the details, but there it is.” She sighs. “Doesn’t that make him even hotter?”
A million questions immediately flood my mind. Where’s their mom? Is she dead? Did she leave? Where’s their dad? Why would Riel be raising Mar on his own? And how long, exactly, has he been doing so?
Chapter Fifteen
Since meeting Mar yesterday, I’ve done nothing but think about Riel. He’s taking care of his little sister. That is just unbelievably amazing. If Abbie’s right about him raising Mar, he probably does it all: homework help, taking care of her when she’s sick, grocery shopping, chores, errands. I wonder how long he’s been managing the parent role.
A role I know all too well.
Our momma, for all her mistakes, never up and left us, though. Never completely put me in charge of my sisters for days, weeks, or months on end.
I did, and still do, whatever I can to keep my family together. Riel’s doing the same. I totally relate to this side of him, and now I need to know even more how he’s paying for school after losing the scholarship. I need peace of mind I haven’t totally screwed him.
In my periphery, I see someone move and glance up. “Mar?” I look around the empty library. “What are you doing here?”
She smiles shyly. “Riel brings me here after school sometimes.”
“Oh.” I motion for her to sit. “Join me?”
Hesitantly, she slides a chair out and sits. Neither one of us says anything for a few seconds, and just when I’m about to break the silence, she quietly says, “You’re pretty.”
Watching You Page 4