“Y-yeah?”
“We’re going to need you to come with us.” The burly one spoke again. The other one looked younger, but it was hard to tell with his sunglasses and hat.
“W-why?”
“We’ll tell you when we get there.” They both stepped forward and grabbed a hold of her arms.
“W-wait.” Her heart lodged in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. “Don’t you have to call my parents or something?” She let them lead her, but her feet dragged behind her.
“No ma’am. You’re eighteen.”
Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.No one was coming to save her.
Familiar faces followed her out of the school, and a crowd of eager teenagers wielding cell phones had formed near the cop car.
She buried her face in the shoulder of the younger man, and his muscles twitched beneath her cheek.
Her head shot up. Did he just laugh?This is so not funny.
“Please, I don’t know what you think I did, but I promise it wasn’t me.” Maizie could barely keep the tremor out of her voice. She was a good person. Except for that one time she and Lindsay had put cheese on their ex’s cars. How were they supposed to know hardened cheese could take paint off a car?
They reached the car, and the younger one let go and retrieved handcuffs from his belt.
Oh, please no.Maizie closed her eyes. She could only imagine the pictures and rumors that were going to be floating around about her now. She couldn’t end up in prison days away from graduation. What were her parents going to think of her?
“You have the right to remain silent.” The younger one said, holding onto one wrist. “But I’m sure you can’t,” he said under his breath.
Something was off. That voice was familiar. And that’s not how the Miranda rights went.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, so I don’t know why I need to be quiet. Do you know who my uncle is? He’s the Sheriff. This must be a misunderstanding.” Perspiration pricked her brow.
“Just keep your mouth shut before you implicate yourself further.” His voice, which had previously been deeper, let up at the end.
Maizie whirled around on thepolice officer. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t get your name.” She looked right into his dark glasses.
He cleared his throat. “Slade.”
Slade? That wasn’t a familiar name. So why did that jawline look so familiar? And attractive.
Leave it to me to fall for my arresting officer. Get it together girl!
“Tell you what, miss, you sign your name on this paper, agreeing to the terms of your probation, and we’ll let you go free.” His lips quirked at the end, and the motion was so familiar it sent the hair on the back of her neck on end.
“Sure. I’ll sign it.” Anything to get out of this terrible situation.
The other officer produced a paper that had loads of legal script on it. Maizie didn’t care to read it. She wouldn’t be able to focus on anything right now. Her hands shook as she took the clipboard.
She managed a somewhat legible signature, and the burly guy took it from her.
“If you break the terms, you will be fined and taken to court.”
“What?” Maybe she should have read the document. But before she could ask for it back, the young officer took his glasses off to reveal the most irritating set of blue eyes she’d ever seen.
Her jaw hit the pavement.
“What the heck?” She didn’t hesitate before slamming her fist into his shoulder.
“Ow,” Christian grunted, rubbing his shoulder.
