“Come on. I’ll walk you out.” She motions toward the hall and guides us outside into the cooling autumn air.
“I’ll see you at the field later?” I ask.
She nods, though we both know just because we’ll see each other, it doesn’t mean we’ll get to spend time together.
We pause outside the door behind the cover of a small maple as a breeze rustles its branches. Most of the leaves have fallen, covering the sidewalk in a living watercolor beneath our feet. Above, the sky is gray and threatening rain, and a cursory glance around us reveals no one is watching. Students pass with their heads down, rushing to class to avoid the inclement weather, and I wonder what we look like to them. If we look like a couple.
My gaze falls to her mouth, but I quickly tear it away again because staring at her lips won’t do me any favors when I promised I’d behave.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Lane reaches out and cups the side of my face with her hand, her thumb brushing over my jaw.
I lean into her touch, pathetic and lovesick, like a stray dog begging for pets.
She worries her lower lip with her teeth, then steps closer, and maybe I’m crazy, but when her blue eyes shift to my mouth, I think maybe she wants to kiss me, too. Instead, she leans into me with a sigh.
Pressing her forehead against mine, she whispers, “Thank you.”
“For what?” I choke out.
“Everything.”
Chapter 27
LANE
Ipush back fromTeagan, blushing as I nudge him in a muscled bicep when what I really want to do is kiss him.
“Later?” he asks and I nod, regret turning my stomach as he walks away.
I stare after him, biting my lip as he goes, knowing I probably look as smitten as I feel. Part of me wishes I could just give in—for once, be reckless—but the other part of me, the one with an iron will, is too scared of what will happen when I do.
God, do you hear yourself, Lane?
When, not if.
It’s like I’m already preparing for the inevitability of us.
Teagan’s made a lot of promises, but I know how easily promises can be broken. His intentions are pure, of that, I’m sure. But intentions don’t matter when the end result is still the same.
With a sigh, I shift and start down the walkway when I jolt to a sudden stop.
Chance steps directly into my path. I have no idea where he came from or how long he’s been standing there when his impenetrable gaze locks on mine.
A rock sinks into my stomach, and I say a quick prayer he didn’t see me talking to Teagan. I can’t imagine how we looked—me cupping his face, my forehead pressed to his.
Swallowing, I clear the bile rising to the back of my throat.
I expect him to say something. To call me out. Anything.
But a moment passes before he breaks eye contact and pivots, walking in the opposite direction like his feet are on fire.
With my heart pounding in my throat, I stare after him as the cold blade of fear slices through me.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
He wouldn’t say anything to my father, would he?
Even if he did, I can handle it. My father already knows Teagan and I are friends, which is the truth.
