It was very unsettling to think you knew a person just to have them prove you wrong.
Just as I was a minute down the highway, my van sputtered and died. My heart leapt in my chest as I stared down at the dashboard. Out of gas?
I sighed as I rested my forehead on the steering wheel. How had I missed that? How had I gotten all the way to the diner without noticing that the gauge was on empty?
I reached over to my purse and grabbed out my phone. It was 9:30. I had a half hour before I needed to be home. After I found Home in my contacts, I hit talk.
Ten rings later and the answering machine picked up. Where was everyone? I tried one more time, but no one answered. My parents were old school and still had a landline. They both had cellphones, but, in an effort to reconnect or something, they’d both given them up for the week.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
I found Patricia’s name and called her.
She answered on the second ring. “What do you want?” she asked.
I gritted my teeth. Patricia and I didn’t get along. I tried, but she was just so harsh. It was hard to always be the positive person in the relationship. So I just steered clear of her.
“Hey, I ran out of gas. Where’s Mom and Dad?”
She scoffed. “How should I know. I’m at Brent’s.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. Brent, Patricia’s boyfriend, was the worst. He was total Emo with black hair and black fingernails. I think Mom and Dad felt bad for all the attention they’ve given me, so they allow Patricia to date a guy who looks like he walked out of a Day of the Dead poster.
And he was weird. Like, when he talks, he gives me goosebumps. Not the good ones. The ones that tell you a serial killer is in your attic.
“Well, I tried calling the house, and they didn’t answer.” I kind of wanted Patricia to offer to help me. It felt strange asking her.
“I’m sure a gas station isn’t too far. Just walk.”
I scoffed. Seriously? I was her sister. She couldn’t pull herself away from her boyfriend long enough to come help me? “Fine. I’ll figure something out.”
“I’m sure you will. Bye.”
Before I could respond, she hung up the phone.
Now alone, the only thing that filled the silence was the occasional car that whipped by me. I shoved my phone back into my purse and headed back toward the on ramp. Hopefully there was a gas station not too far down the road.
Fifteen minutes later, I was still walking and hadn’t found any place that sold gas. Curse of living in a small town—there was too much space. Which hadn’t really bothered me until I was forced to walk it. Now, it just seemed ridiculous.
The roaring of a motorcycle filled my ears as it raced past me. I moved closer to the field that lined the road. I did not want to get hit by some idiot who thought they were invincible.
I hesitated as the sound of the motorcycle slowed and then grew louder again. Were they coming back toward me? Why? Darkness had filled the sky, and the only light was from the slivered moon. I reached into my purse as I heard the motorcycle creep up behind me and idle. My fingers felt for my mace.
This was it. This was how I was going to die.
The crunch of gravel sounded behind me as whoever it was climbed off the bike and made their way toward me. I rested my finger on the trigger and counted down.
“Chocolate Milk?”
But before it registered who it was, I had turned and readied my spray. Luckily, I recognized Cade’s surprised eyes before I pressed down on the trigger. He raised his hands in front of his face.
Feeling like an idiot, I lowered the spray. “What’s the matter with you? Creeping up on me like that.” I locked the trigger and slipped the mace back into my purse.
“I thought you knew it was me,” he said, keeping his hands up and peering over at me.
I glanced behind him to see his motorcycle propped up. “Since when did you get a bike?” I asked, nodding toward it.
“This summer. I think it’s my mom’s way of saying she was sorry or something.” He pinched his lips together—he hadn’t meant to say that.
“Sorry? For what?”
He shook his head. “Never mind. Let’s focus on you. Why are you walking down the highway?”
I rubbed my neck. Tension was building up in it. “Shows how much you know about me. This is my favorite activity. I call it walking in the moonlight and trying not to get killed.” I shot him a smirk. “You should try it sometime.”
He rolled his eyes. “Where’s your van?”
I pointed down the road. I couldn’t see it anymore.
He followed my gesture and then turned back to me. “Wanna ride?”
“On that?” I asked, nodding toward his bike.
He nodded. “It’s safe.”
I laughed. “Right. I’d rather walk across the busy highway blindfolded.” He quirked an eyebrow, and I sighed. “Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but I’m not getting on that.”
He looked at me and then shrugged. “Suit yourself,” he said as he turned and threw his keys into the air.
I watched as he walked over and put his helmet back on. For some reason, I was shocked that he was just leaving me here. But that was stupid. I had just told him I didn’t want a ride.
“Hang on,” I said as I walked over to meet him.
He glanced back at me. “Change your mind?”
I eyed the motorcycle. “Do you have a helmet?”
He reached behind the bike and emerged with one in hand. “It’s for all the girls I take out.”
He winked at me, and I knew that I shouldn’t react to it, but I did. Heat pricked my neck. I cleared my throat and shook my head. I was acting crazy. I needed to get home, go to bed, and forget everything that had happened.
His expression softened. “Seriously, though? I have it for saving girls from walking down the highway.”
I rolled my eyes as I took the helmet. “Yeah, you’re a real knight in shining armor. I just need a ride to the gas station and then back to my van. Simple.”
He nodded and swung his leg over the bike. He pulled the handles straight and flipped the kickstand up. He looked at me expectantly.
Right. I was going to have to climb onto the bike behind him. I really hadn’t thought this through. I didn’t like how close I was going to have to be to him. And the fact that I might have to wrap my arms around him? Yeah, not what I wanted to do.
But I forced out all my doubts and climbed on behind him. The seat was tipped forward, which meant I tipped forward. My hips pressed against his. I swallowed as I kept my hands at my side. There was no way I was putting myself even closer to him.
“You’re going to have to wrap your arms around me, CM,” he called back.
I shook my head and closed my eyes, grateful that he couldn’t see how nervous this made me. “I’m okay,” I called back.
He turned so he could study me and then shrugged. “Suit yourself. You’re going to go flying off.” He started the motorcycle and it roared to life. A few seconds later, we took off down the road, and I screamed.
Terror filled my body as I was whipped back. Desperate to save myself, I wrapped my arms around his chest and closed my eyes. I could feel his laugh rumble in his chest. Great. Just another thing for him to make fun of me about.
I’d graduated from Chocolate Milk to Screamer.
A few minutes into the ride, I began to settle down. I loosened my grip on him from certain death to fearing for your life. With my grasp loosened, I noticed just how good he felt. His chest and back were broad and…muscular?
What was the matter with me? This was my enemy. My sworn nemesis. I wasn’t supposed to be riding behind him on a motorcycle, reveling in the feeling of his abs and pecs. Something seriously weird was happening to me.
But I was too scared to let go, so I forced myself to think of anything but how good Cade’s body felt. I closed my eyes and started reviewing my notes for my Chemistry exam. When the m
otorcycle slowed, I sighed, relieved that this was almost over.
He pulled into the gas station and stopped at a pump. As soon as the kickstand was down, I was off. My legs hurt from riding, but I forced them to carry me a few feet away. I needed space from Cade before I said or did something stupid.
“You’re going to need to buy a can,” he said, nodding toward the convenience store. I tried to ignore the smug smile on his lips. There was no way he’d enjoyed that, was there?
Instead of dissecting his reaction, I nodded and stumbled inside. After finding the can and buying it, I walked back outside. Cade was leaning against his bike with his arms folded. His dark hair was swept across his forehead, and his eyes stared off into the distance.
I allowed myself to think, for a single second, that he was really good looking. I think I never saw it before because I’d been so focused on hating him. But right now, seeing him standing there, I had to admit, he was hot.
And then he looked at me and caught me staring. I dropped my gaze and picked up my pace. I needed to get out of here.
“You okay?” he asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.
I nodded as I set the can down next to the pump and swiped my card. “Yeah. Um-hum,” I said as I pushed in my code and it was approved.
“I’ve just caught you staring a few times,” he said. His voice grew louder as he leaned closer to me.
“You wish.” I snorted and then pursed my lips. Stop talking, Penny. I sighed. “I’m just tired. You know, that dazed look. Nothing to do with you.” I shook my head as I set the nozzle in the can and started to fill it.
“Umm,” he said.
I glanced over at him. He looked as if he weren’t buying what I was saying. But I was too afraid that I might reveal more than I wanted to, so I focused back on the can.
Once it was full, I replaced the nozzle and screwed the cap on tight. Then I straightened and shot him a smile, hoping to remove the awkwardness that surrounded me.
“All done.”
He nodded and climbed onto his motorcycle. “Ready?” he asked.
I replaced the helmet and situated myself behind him. This time, it was more tricky. I held the can with one hand, propping it up on my leg, and wrapped the other arm around his waist. He started the engine and peeled off, more slowly this time.
It felt like an eternity before my van came into view. I was ready to unwrap myself from Cade and go home, where I would take a shower and hope that a good night’s sleep would remove all of these conflicting feelings that had bubbled up.
After my tank was filled and the gas can deposited in the trunk, I turned to see Cade leaning against my van, watching me. There was a look in his eyes that made me blush and feel angry at the same time. Wow. My emotions were out of whack.
I brushed my hands against each other in an exaggerated movement. And then I felt like an idiot. For self-preservation, I needed to get as far away from Cade as I could. At least, until I got a better hold on my crazy emotions.
“Thanks,” I said, pushing the loose strands of hair out of my face and tucking them behind my ear. Why did I suddenly feel so nervous around Cade?
He glanced over at me and smiled. Like, a genuine smile. I was a bit taken back by it. I didn’t know that he could do something like that.
“Of course,” he said, pushing off the van and stepping closer to me.
My heart hammered in my chest. My breathing changed. The thought that I was having a heart attack flitted through my mind. When he met my gaze, he grew serious. “Anything for you”—he leaned toward me—“Chocolate Milk.”
The foggy haze that had clouded my vision parted, and his cocky smile was back. I groaned and pushed past him; the sound of his chuckle filled the air. I pulled open the driver’s door and slammed it. Once the engine was started, I peeled out onto the freeway. When I glanced in the rearview mirror, I saw that he’d climbed onto his motorcycle and was securing his helmet.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and drove home. Whatever I had been feeling before was definitely gone. Cade Kelley was not my friend, and he most certainly was not whatever my hormones were trying to convince me he was.
Chapter Five
I dropped my lunchbox on the table beside Crista the next day. I had successfully avoided Cade all morning. Even though he was in my Ceramics and Calculus classes, I had kept my gaze down and focused on my schoolwork. Thankfully, Cade didn’t seem eager to chat with me either.
I pulled out my chair, and its legs scraped on the cement floor. Crista glanced over at me and pulled her earbuds out.
“You okay?” she asked.
I shook my head and rested it on my arm. “I’m exhausted,” I mumbled.
After I got home last night, I realized that I’d completely forgotten to write a paper for Economics. So I’d stayed up until five finishing it. One hour of sleep made for a barely functioning Penny.
“You gotta stop partying so late,” she teased.
I raised my head to glare at her. “I wasn’t partying. Nothing about an Econ paper is a party.” I straightened and grabbed my lunch. All I’d had time to pack was a semi-squishy apple and a roll. Well, now that I think about it, that was pretty much all there was to grab. When was the last time Mom went grocery shopping?
As I stared at the pathetic excuse for a meal, I decided that school lunch was better than this.
“I need different food,” I said, pushing out my chair and walking over to the line. “Watch my stuff,” I called over my shoulder.
Crista nodded.
Once in line, I allowed my thoughts to wander. First, they were about Chemistry, which I had next hour. But then they slowly morphed into Cade and what had happened last night. When I saw him this morning, he’d been hanging with Tiffanii, which helped kill some of the butterflies that had decided to fill my stomach at the sight of him.
But, even though I wanted to deny it, there was something there. And that scared me.
“You okay?” a voice asked from behind me.
I turned to see Jordan, the school’s quarterback, studying me. My jaw dropped. Had Jordan really said something to me. Had he heard my in-distress groan and come to my rescue?
I forced a smile and nodded. “Yes. Thanks for asking.”
He raised an eyebrow and then motioned behind me. “The line moved.”
Red-hot embarrassment shot through me when I glanced around to see that there was a good five feet between me and the girl in front of me. I turned and mumbled something to him and then closed the gap. As I grabbed a not-soggy apple in front of me, an arm appeared next to mine.
“That had to be real embarrassing.”
I turned to see Cade with a smile on his lips, grabbing an apple and biting down on it. He winked and headed to the register. I stood there, like an idiot, watching as he was scolded by the cashier for eating something he hadn’t paid for yet. He feigned a humble expression and paid.
Whenever I was in an embarrassing situation, why did the heavens feel like it would be a perfect time for Cade to show up?
“Are you okay?” Jordan asked me again.
I snapped my attention away from Cade, who had disappeared around the corner, and turned to glare at Jordan. He was standing next to me as if he expected me to move. “Geez, can’t you just go around me?” I grabbed a granola bar and a yogurt and stomped over to the cashier.
Once I was back at the lunch table, I slumped down on the chair and bit into my apple. Crista turned to study me.
“Man, you look terrible,” she said as she stabbed some of her salad.
I groaned and rubbed my temples. “Cade,” I whispered.
She laughed. “What did the king of nicknames say to you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” And that was the truth. What was I supposed to tell my best friend? That I had driven to his work last night to chew him out and then ended up having a very confusing interaction with him? That, when he wasn’t around his friends, he was act
ually a nice guy and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that?
Crista shrugged and turned back to her salad. I opened my yogurt and ate it. A full stomach definitely helped me feel better. I settled back in my chair.
I felt bad for snapping at my best friend, so I leaned toward her and bumped her shoulder. “Sorry. Hangry Penny reared her ugly head.”
Crista shrugged. “Eh, I’m used to it.”
Even though I knew that was probably true, it didn’t excuse my behavior. “Still, I’m sorry.” I sighed as I unwrapped my granola bar and took a bite. “I went to see Cade last night. You know, at Tony’s Diner.”
She glanced over at me. “Really? Why?”
“I was suspicious that he was just setting me up to fail. You know, the judge writes a recommendation if I do well—what is he going to do if I don’t?” I took another bite.
Crista shook her head. “That’s crazy talking. I’m sure the judge isn’t going to base your recommendation on if you change Cade or not.” She took a drink of her water and then chuckled as she set the bottle down on the table.
Embarrassment raced through me. That made sense. I should have talked to her yesterday before I irrationally decided to drive over and confront Cade. I pulled the rest of the granola bar from the wrapper. “That’s it. You are going to make all my decisions for me,” I said through the chocolate and oats.
Crista studied me. “Why? What happened when you talked to him?”
I pinched my lips shut and shook my head. “Nothing,” I said when she elbowed me.
“Really?”
I tucked some hair behind my ear and sighed. “Okay. Some things happened. Like, he rescued me from the side of the road ‘cause Patricia didn’t bother to tell me that the van was on empty.”
Crista raised an eyebrow. “Wow. That’s…unexpected.”
I nodded. “Right? Totally weird.”
“Anything else happen?”
Rule #2: You Can't Crush on Your Sworn Enemy (The Rules of Love) Page 3