I tear my eyes from him. I back out and drive away, not looking back at him.
Luce was right. I’m back and he won’t let it go. I had my doubts, sure, but now I know he won’t.
It was the predatory gleam in his eye, the promise and a threat. It was the desperate way he kissed me, like I’m the air he needs to breathe. It was the deflation in his body when I walked away.
I don’t know if I can fight it if he does chase me. I don’t know if I want to fight it. I don’t know anything where he’s concerned.
My uncertainty is evident in the rolling of my stomach as I drive away from him, back toward the house. My lips still tingle where he touched me and my blood is still thrumming through my veins. It would be so easy to turn this car back around and drive back to him.
It would be too easy.
I pull up outside my house and see all the lights are off. I text Luce to tell her I left and I’ll call tomorrow, and get out of the car. The door is unlocked when I reach it. That only means one thing… Momma’s home.
I poke my head around the front room door, and she’s lying spread-eagle on the sofa, her head hanging back. My eyes close for a second, and I’m fighting back the sting of tears. I cross the room and gently shake her awake. She mumbles something in her sleep.
“Momma come on,” I say softly. “We gotta get you up to bed.”
“Bed?” she slurs. “I’m in bed.”
“No, Momma, you’re not. You’re on the sofa. Come on, I’ll help you.” I hook my arm under hers and with her feeble help, I pull her into a standing position. “The stairs are in a second, so watch your feet, okay?”
“Gotcha,” she mumbles. Slowly, we make our way up the stairs. She stumbles a few times, and I catch her, and when we make it into her room she falls into bed. I tug her covers from under her and put them over her instead, tucking them under her chin as if the blankets alone can drown out the overwhelming stench of vodka and cigarette smoke. She snores once, loudly, and I back out from her room.
I shut my bedroom door behind me, kick off my shoes, and climb into bed fully clothed. My head sinks into the pillow, and I tuck the quilt under my chin, curling my legs into my chest. I squeeze my eyes shut, wondering how my life in the city and my life here could be so different.
CHAPTER 3
My phone rings, breaking the silence and pulling me from my pointless perusal of eBay’s finest. Reese’s name is on screen, and my finger hovers over the accept button for a second before hitting it.
“Yeah?” I answer tentatively, unsure if I really want to talk to him after last night.
“Look out of your window.”
“Huh?”
“Look out your window,” he repeats.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“Just do it.”
I sigh and push up off my bed, crossing to my window. My fingers slip between the curtains, sliding them open, and my jaw drops.
“What the hell?” I shriek, shoving open my window. “Why are you in my tree?!”
He shrugs and grins boyishly. “I was bored. Are you busy today?”
A thousand thoughts and excuses run through my mind – I’m seeing Luce. I have summer schoolwork to do. I have to clean. Organize my closet. Wash my hair…
“No,” my traitorous mouth says. “I’m not busy.”
“Want some company?”
“Doing what? And why are we still talking on the phone?”
“No idea.” He laughs, and the line clicks off. “I thought we could go chill somewhere, y’know, catch up and that.”
“Won’t your girlfriend’s friends have their beady little eyes on you?” I raise an eyebrow.
“She’s not my girlfriend.” He smirks. “And I see Luce has been talking to you.”
I can’t help but grin. “How did you know?”
“Apart from the fact I saw her leave as I got here, she’s the only person with enough balls to speak out about Hana.”
“I sense a story there.” A story I want to know… “Give me ten minutes?” I finally meet and hold his gaze, hoping I don’t look as wary as I feel. A whole day with Reese?
I think I’m asking for trouble.
“Five,” he barters.
“Ten!”
He sighs. “Seven and a half?”
“Fine,” I acquiesce. “But I’m not counting.”
“Don’t worry.” He grins. “I am. One, two, three…”
“Ass!” I laugh and pull the window shut, drawing the curtains after me. My eyes scan the half-empty suitcase in the middle of the room, still packed with my clothes, and I pick out some shorts and a tank top. Reese texts a five minute reminder as I brush some mascara across my eyelashes and slip my shoes on. I grab a hairband and pull my hair on top of my head, grabbing my sunglasses as an afterthought, and head downstairs.
“Close call,” he shouts down as I open the back door.
“Are you really still in that tree?” I call back, lowering my glasses slightly to look at him over the top of them.
He puts his arms out and looks around. “Looks like it.”
“Are you coming down anytime soon?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Will it be worth it?” He grins wolfishly.
I whip my glasses off, put my hand on my hip, and glare at him. “You’re an ass, Reese Pembleton!”
“Yet you’ll still spend the day with me.” He scales down the tree, crosses my yard, and looks up at me on the porch. “Won’t you, Kia?”
“For some reason.” I jump off the porch onto the grass next to him and walk toward the truck. I can feel his eyes on me as I walk, and I bet it’s not because I have a tag poking out of my shirt. “Reese?” I cough out his name and pause. His eyes flick up to mine, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Yeah?”
“Are you coming?”
“Just enjoying the view.”
I roll my eyes and start walking again. Reese’s feet pad against the ground as he jogs to catch me up and he beats me to the truck door. He opens it and puts his hands on my waist, hoisting me up into it. Shivers snake across my skin under his touch, and I bite the inside of my lip.
“Thanks,” I say softly.
“Anytime.” He shuts the door behind me and walks around, jumping in next to me. I avoid looking at him as he starts the truck up, instead watching the Grove go by.
“Where are we going?”