I chuckle and nod. “Yea, you could say that. I’ll see her Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.”
“Sounds good, just don’t let this get in the way of your grades. You have to keep them up as well, or you won’t play.”
“I won't let you down.”
“I’m expecting great things from you, Brice.”
“Yes, sir,” I say as I see myself out.
It’s almost four forty-five by the time I climb into my truck. Pulling out of the parking lot I notice Presley still sitting on a bench in front of the school. I pull my truck up in front of her, roll down my window, and offer her a greeting, “Hey, need a lift?”
“No, thanks. My mom will be here soon, thanks, though.”
I lean across the center console to hear her better, “Where’s your car?”
Brushing loose strands of hair behind her ear, she answers, “I don’t have one.”
Part of me feels like crap leaving her outside alone, so I offer her a ride again, “Come on. I don’t bite. Text your mom and let her know you got a ride home.”
She shakes her head no, “Really, it’s okay.”
I blow out a breath in frustration, looking out at the road and then back at her, “Presley, quit being hard-headed and get in the truck.”
“Or what?” Alright, tiny vixen wants to play.
“Or I’ll pick you up and put you in myself.”
She smirks, calling me out on my bluff, “You. Wouldn’t. Dare.” Each word enunciated with precision. She’s about to learn how serious I am.
“Don’t tempt me, Princess.”
“Princess?” she squawks.
Three
Two
She’s still not moving
One
I kick my door open, jogging around the front of the truck and sprint towards her. Her infectious giggle bubbles out as she puts her arms out in front of her, a feeble attempt to keep me back. Her knees lift into her chest, as she unknowingly helps me get a hold on her, scooping her up and throwing her over my shoulders. She hammers punch after punch into my back, laughing as she struggles to get out of my grasp. Heading back over to the truck, I have one arm wrapped tightly around her knees, her ass perfectly rounded over my shoulder, while a small patch of skin shows on her side. I want to bite it just to feel how smooth she is.
I settle for a swat to her backside, plopping her down in the passenger seat, and close the door, making my way back over to my side, smiling as I climb in and look over at her.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Motioning to her phone, “Text your mom and let her know I’m bringing you home. I’ll also bring you home every night we meet for tutoring, so you don’t need to worry about a ride.”
She stares at me, and I sternly motion towards her phone. “Yes sir,” she says while giving a little salute and rolling her eyes, trying to hide her smile.
The woman was lighter than I thought she would be. “Now, where do you live?”
“On the ranch. We live with my grandparents.”
*****
The ride home was pleasant. The occasional chit chat here and there, keeping things light and comfortable. I’m leaving in a year and don’t want a relationship right now. He’s just a friend, he’s just a friend, is repeated in my mind as I try to talk my heart out of racing towards the guy sitting next to me.
“So, no car?” he breaks the silence after a few minutes.
“Nope. I’m probably the only senior riding the bus, but I don’t mind.”
“And you said your dad was deployed, right?”
“Yea.”
“Where?”
“Overseas somewhere. He’s Special Ops, so we’re not quite sure. Security procedures and all.”
He nods his head. “What about your mom?”
“She’s a teacher. What about your parents?” I ask. He’s making an effort to get to know me, so it only seems right I should make the same attempt.
“Mom works in town, and I haven’t seen my dad since…” he trails off and goes silent. A stoic expression replaces the relaxed smile he’d been wearing. I feel gutted while offering a whispered apology.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
The rest of the drive is spent in silence minus the country station he has playing low; I look out the passenger window getting lost in the sea of rolling meadows and vast mountains, admiring the way they paint the open spaces.
The rusted Circle K Ranch sign welcomes us as Brice turns off the main road and drives down the long gravel driveway, stopping in front of the main house. He doesn’t put the truck in park. He holds the break down and stares out the front window.
“Well, this is me. Thanks again for the ride.” I open the door and slide out, looking back into the truck at him, “I guess I’ll see you around.”
He doesn’t even look at me. Fear of upsetting him settles in the pit of my stomach; it shouldn’t matter to me. He shouldn’t matter to me, but it’s as if something is pulling us together, and I want us to be okay.
“Yeah. Night, Presley.” He offers the smallest of smiles, but his eyes remain unaffected. He peels out of the driveway as soon as I close the door leaving me in a cloud of dust and confusion.
“Hey there, peanut. Was that Brice I saw dropping you off?” Gramps makes his way up to the house from the horse stalls and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“Yea. He’s my algebra tutor and offered to give me a ride home afterward.”
“Well, next time he does, make sure you invite him over for dinner. We haven’t seen him in ages, and I know Gram would love to see him. Besides, you could do a lot worse than him. He’s one of the good ones.”
I roll my eyes and look up at him. “No boys, Gramps. None. But I’ll ask him to dinner, but only for Gram, not because you’re trying to set me up and marry me off at the ripe old age of eighteen.”
He chuckles. I love my grandparents. Gramps doesn’t know the first thing about being subtle and is always sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong, but I love him, nonetheless.
I go inside to finish up my homework and start making dinner with Gram before Mom gets home. I’m about to fill her in on my day when Mom walks into the kitchen.
“Hey, Mom. How was school?”
“Oh, you know, fifth graders will be fifth graders. How was your first tutoring session?”
“Not bad. I’m beginning to understand it now if that’s even possible.”
“Well, I’ll be. This boy must be some kind of a God if he was able to get you to understand math. Your father will be so proud.”
I discreetly roll my eyes while stirring the spaghetti sauce.
“Is this the same boy that gave you a ride home?” Her voice has a hint of worry behind it. My parents have always trusted me, its everyone else whom they distrust.
“Yes, Mom. And before you ask, he was a perfect gentleman.”
Chapter Five
Could it really be her? It’s been ten years since we left Tennessee in the middle of the night to go into hiding.
I shouldn’t be so afraid of someone from our past finding us. It’s been a couple of years since my sperm donor of a father died. I know the threat is gone, but we lived in witness protection for so long, taking all these extra security measures, it’s hard to adjust back to normalcy.
Mom had an easier time transitioning back, but I kept my new identity. I didn’t want to move again or explain to my friends, Brice wasn’t my real name. I didn’t want to deal with the questions that would follow a name change, so I stayed Brice Harte.
“Hey, sweetie, how was school?” My mom went back to her actual name, Diane West, after my father was buried; shockingly, no one ever questioned the difference in our last names.
“Hey, Mom. It was alright.”
“How was tutoring?”
“Fine.” I sit on the couch, legs outstretched with my head resting against the back, eyes closed as I try to wrap my mind around what’s happening.
�
��What’s wrong, sweetie?” She sits down next to me, “You seem troubled.”
“Mom, do you remember a girl about my age, Presley Donovan?”
She takes a minute to search her inner thoughts before recognition crosses her face.
“Oh my! I haven’t heard that name in years. You two were the cutest little things playing together. Her mom and I use to joke one day the two of you would end up married, and we would be family. What makes you bring her up?” Talk about being shocked.
“Mom, she’s here. Her grandparents own Circle K, and she lives there with them and her mom.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. She said her dad was deployed somewhere classified, Special Ops and all. I had this feeling she looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure until she talked about her dad.
Letting go of a deep-seated sigh, I concentrate on a black smudge on the wall, wishing the tightness in my chest away.
“Mom, I don’t want to start over again. I’m so close to being done with school, and scouts are looking at me. Soon I’ll be at Ole Miss, and I don’t want to give everything up.”
“Robert, there’s nothing to worry about anymore. He’s gone. I know how hard things were for you growing up, always having to be on the lookout, never getting close to anyone, but we’re safe now. We’re not going anywhere. This is home.”
Without skipping a beat, Mom’s eyes light up, rocketing off the couch. “Oh, I can’t wait to see Tina! I’m going to invite them to dinner one night.”
“No, Mom! Please don’t. Not yet, anyway.”
“Son, I haven’t seen or heard from my best friend in over a decade; you better believe I’ll invite them over for dinner, young man.”
I know better than to argue with her and nod my head in acceptance. I was so close to going to school, starting over; now, it’s only a matter of time before I have to come clean with my past.
*****
The next morning, I awaken to a fluttering of lightning across the sky and the violent rumble of thunder, which only comes from a storm left to churn across the vacant plains of the Montana countryside. The house is quiet, a sharp realization that any chance I had at getting a ride into school this morning has long passed. “Mom?” I walk into the kitchen to find a note on the table.
Hey sweetie. Had to go in early today.
Take your umbrella. Looks like rain.
Love you.
I mumble under my breath and head back to my room to get dressed and head out the door. Luckily there is a reprieve from the storm, and I’m able to stay dry enough in my Hunter rain boots, hoodie, and ball cap. Weather—it’s the only downside to riding the bus. As I head towards the main road to wait for the bus, a familiar black jacked up Z71 with black rims and mud tires slowly creeps its way up the drive towards me.
“Get in,” Brice calls out from the open window.
“I like the rain.” After yesterday I have no intention of spending more time with him than necessary.
“Quit being stubborn and get in the truck, Princess.”
I stop in my tracks and glare at him.
“Is this about yesterday? Look, I’m sorry I was closed off, it’s—I was dealing with some stuff.”
I continue my walk towards the bus stop while Brice throws the truck in reverse and follows me.
“Presley, get in the truck. You’re gonna get soaked.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a couple of sprinkles.” I keep my eyes forward, refusing to give him any attention. No sooner do the words leave my mouth, the skies open up, catching me in a torrential downpour.
Brice starts to laugh as he pushes the passenger door open for me. “Come on, Princess.”
I reach for the door handle and climb inside.
“Don’t. Even. Say. It.” I mutter in between clenched teeth.
It’s warm inside the confines of his truck, the air lighter than it was yesterday as we ride together in deliberate silence. The thought of him shutting down on me two days in a row terrifies me, so I keep my distance in hopes of keeping whatever bothered him yesterday, away.
The rest of the school day passes, and I catch the bus home. I don’t bother looking for Brice, it’s not a tutoring day, and I don’t want to become a burden. Mom’s home by the time I walk through the front door, excitement seeping from every pore on her body.
“Guess who I saw today in town?”
“You know someone here besides Grams and Gramps?” I say sarcastically, my excitement practically in the negatives on a scale of one to ten. I can tell she’s disappointed my excitement level is nowhere near hers, but I’ve never really been one for guessing games.
“Laugh all you want, but do you remember my friend Diane West from Tennessee?”
“Are you seriously asking me if I remember someone from when I was eight? I hardly remember what I wore to school yesterday.”
“Hush up, smart aleck. Her son Robert and you used to play together. Your dad and her husband were in the same unit.”
I stop to think for a moment and shake my head no. “Can’t say I do.”
“Well, she and Robert live here now. They have for quite some time actually. Keep your eyes out, maybe you’ll see him in school. Can you imagine the reunion?” She beams with pride and saunters off to the kitchen, leaving me to follow along behind her.
“I’ll ask my friends if they know him.”
“It’s not a big deal, dear. You’ll see him soon enough; I’ve invited them over for dinner Friday night. Who would have thought after all this time we would find each other, and here of all places!”
The grin and wink she levels at me can only mean one thing, and I’m almost positive she is up to no good. It’s times like these when I miss my dad; it seems like he’s the only one to manage her crazy.
Chapter Six
Friday afternoon, we’re sitting around the cafeteria table talking about plans for this weekend, and Heather’s trying to rally everyone into coming and watching her cheer at tonight’s home football game. Olivia and Trey are going to watch Marcus, but I’m concentrating so hard, I don’t hear what Brice says he’s doing.
I keep reviewing my flashcards, getting ready for my algebra test when Brice leans over and whispers in my ear, “You’ve got this. There’s no need for luck. Just relax.”
Relax. Easy for him to say, his GPA isn’t riding on every test and quiz in this class. I shoot him a hesitant smile and look back down at my cards. Shaking my head to help regain my focus, apparently, his breath against my sensitive skin causes me to forget everything I just thought I knew.
“By the way, you look beautiful today.”
I feel myself blush as a genuine smile eases over my face, only to quickly be removed as Heather wraps her arm around Brice and leans in, giving him a forced kiss on the mouth. Her eyes directly on me until their lips meet and then once again as he pushes her away.
“Mmm. You always taste so good, Bricee.”
Blagh. I think I threw up in my mouth a little. It’s clear she’s telling me to back off; Brice is hers, but he told me they were just friends. Anyone with eyes could tell the kiss was as uncomfortable for him as it was for the rest of us to witness. Besides, she can have him. He’s just a friend. He’s just a friend. Nothing more. Lies, all lies if the butterflies in my stomach are anything to take note of.
Quickly I change the subject to avoid the giant elephant in the room, Heather and Brice’s kiss. “Hey, do you guys know a Robert West?”
Brice chokes on his water, and everyone else looks at each other.
“Never heard of him,” Trey answers while shrugging his shoulders.
Marcus, being the ever popular one, mentions how he knows everyone, and he’s never heard the name before.
“Wait, isn’t he the creepy kid in chemistry?” Heather offers up, and sweet Olivia jokes, it’s Trey. The table laughs except Trey.
“Real funny Olivia. I forgot you were the funny one in the group.”
The bell rings, dismissing us from lu
nch, each of us heading off in opposite directions towards our next class, when a firm hand wraps around my arm, startling me.
“Let me take you home tonight,” Brice offers.
“It’s okay. I’m sure Heather would lose her mind if she saw us together. I’ll grab the bus.”
“You don’t need to be worried about Heather. I told you there was nothing there; we’re just friends. Please, Presley.”
There’s something behind his eyes I can't quite make out, almost as if he’s pleading with me, begging me to allow him to take me home.
“Okay. Meet me at the choir hall.”
He smiles, thanks me, then leaning in he places a soft kiss on my cheek, fire radiates from where his lips brush against my skin and goosebumps cover every inch of my body.
“Good luck on your test. You’re gonna do great.” He smiles at me before he turns to leave.
I’m stunned and overwhelmed, Brice Harte just kissed me. No. No. No.
*****
I have to tell her.
We’re having dinner tonight with them. She’s gonna find out anyway. She doesn’t deserve to be blindsided by the fact we have pretty much known each other since birth; if she remembers me is another thing entirely. I can't bear to see the disappointment in her eyes if she finds out I knew beforehand.
I see her waiting outside the choir room, talking to Olivia. I make my way over to her, wrapping my arm around her waist, gently pulling her to me. The way her body fits beside mine is as if we were made for one another. Her smile is sincere and utterly genuine.
“Hey, you.” I place a light kiss on her cheek while she subtly leans into it. “You ready to go?”
She says goodbye to Liv while sliding her hand into mine. Olivia’s questioning glances don’t go unnoticed by either of us.
“Don’t start, Liv.” I warn. She simply smiles at the two of us, shrugs her shoulders, and practically skips down the hall.
We make our way out to the truck, and I open the door for her, watching as she climbs inside. The drive is quiet, but an unspoken excitement buzzes through the air, stealing the oxygen from inside the cab. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this happy, and though I’m a bundle of nerves, I can't wait for what’s about to happen. I turn off the main road, and instead of following the driveway to the main house, I take the cut off leading to the stables.
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