“I don’t care. They aren’t his cousin.Youare. And you… Do you realize how horrible you’ve made him feel?”
“He’ll live.”
“Ya know, I always thought you were a nosy, stuck-up, self-centered jerk. But I never pegged you for heartless.”
Rett stormed away before Tiffany could say another word, but the damage was already done. Tiffany could now figure out how Rett felt about Calum. But Tiffany knew what she was doing when she opened her mouth. She was well aware of the fact Calum wasn’t accustomed to the way small towns worked, that gossip flowed as easily as water. She hadn’t cared how it would affect him.
Another day passed with no conversation with Calum, and Rett hated it. All she wanted was for what they’d had, those few stolen moments in the Robertsons’ pool and the ones in his bed. They hadn’t done anything but kiss and get high. The whole town acted as if Calum stole her innocence.
She hated Calum for letting the townspeople get to him.
It was only because of the restlessness, the sleepless haze in her mind, that she saw Calum hurrying down the street. She frowned when she realized he wasn’t wearing anything more than his jeans and a T-shirt. Grabbing up her hoodie, Rett slipped as silently as possible through the house.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Dang it.What could she say? Her mother had to know Rett was sneaking out. Eliza flipped the switch to the lamp on the end table, and the living room lit up. Auburn hair in curlers, face set in a mask of disappointment. Rett swallowed as she stared at her mom. Instead of answering the question, she muttered out a ‘Sorry, Mama’ before shoving her feet into a pair of sneakers. Eliza called after her daughter, but Rett bolted out the front door without turning around. Without hesitation. She was certain she knew where Calum was headed—the place she shared with him but he avoided since she ran from his house. She’d never slept as well as she had that night, and she would be damned if it was the last time.
He stood on the riverbank when she finally reached their tree. The weak moonlight drenched his raven hair with silver, and even through the distance, she could see the clear soil-dark brown of his eyes. They were dimmer somehow, no longer so bright. She couldn’t read them anymore.
“You’re an idiot.”
He shivered as she stepped from the shadows. He didn’t move as she approached, but her heart thundered in her chest. Blood roared in her ears. Her hands were clammy in her pockets, and she struggled to keep her breathing even. What if he said he didn’t want her any longer? What if the town was too much?
Amusement flickered to life beneath her breast when he said everyone hated him. Of course they did. The older generation was stuck in their ways, and even small towns like Oak Creek had their cliques. New people didn’t fit in until they proved themselves worthy. Calum had earned himself a point against him, and it was Rett’s fault.
The argument lasted all of two minutes, then she was pushing him against the tree. Kissing him with everything she had. He had to know that no one could change her mind about him. He made her feel things no other boy had before. She had fantasiesbefore he came to town, but they were short-lived daydreams of what it would be like to not have known her classmates since infancy.
All she wanted was to know what it could be like to be happy with Calum. She was going to find that happiness, hold onto it as long as she could.
No one would ever be able to stop her. Not her parents, not her friends.
She tugged him to sit on the riverbank, bare toes in the freezing water, and rested her head on his shoulder. “Don’t make me hunt you down again.”
“I won’t,” he promised, kissing her hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Wanna swim?” she asked, a sly smile on her lips.
“Hell no. I’m already cold.”
“Shoulda worn a jacket.”
Unfortunately, Calum was right: The bitter wind was too much. They shivered as they tugged their shoes back on, and she watched him light up a cigarette. It was a disgusting habit—if her parents found out he smoked, it would be a disaster. But with him, Rett couldn’t find it in her to care.
Trekking through the woods was less of a hassle with Calum by her side. His fingers stayed laced with hers, his shoulder brushing against her every few steps. Rett fought to breathe steadily, but the tightening of her gut made it impossible. Her blood buzzed in her veins. She knew then she was too far gone for this boy.
He left her at her door with another kiss on her lips and her head spinning.
People stared and whispered as Rett and Calum walked hand-in-hand toward the bus stop the next morning. Miss Claudia had been so thrilled to see Rett without Calum at her side—“That boy’s trouble, Loretta. Mark my words, you’re better without him.” What did the old bat know? She certainly didn’t know whohe truly was. If she did, she would know Calum was good for Rett.
He taught her what it was to have someone stir up the sleepy town and bring fresh air to her life. He taught her what it was to find adventures in a place she knew so well. What it was to fall in love for the first time.
She and Calum hadn’t talked about the kisses or what they meant. All she knew was she hoped he wasn’t planning on kissing anyone else. She didn’t want to taste another girl on his lips.
Kellie Marie spent approximately two class periods not talking to Rett, but then gossip came up. Their friendship remained intact, and Rett listened while Kellie Marie told her all about Sofia and Greg being caught kissing behind the arcade. Sofia was unrepentant; she only shrugged and said Greg was a good kisser. In her world, that was all that mattered. Rett was beginning to understand.
Things went awry three days later: A crowd gathered in the hallway between the Psychology and Government classrooms. Rett frowned as she pushed her way through the students. Even with how the others had avoided her, they didn’t part like she expected. They’d given her a wide berth since she made up with Calum. Since they caught the pair holding hands as they made their way through the halls, from class to class, and sneaking kisses during lunch. He had finally joined her at the table with her friends. Despite their dislike, no one moved.
She shoved past people, not even apologizing to Pete for trodding on his toes, and came to an abrupt stop at the front. Her brows rose, and heat flooded her blood. What she saw wasn’t something she expected.
