I snarled.
“Thank you, Heaven. I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.”
I stuck him with my middle finger. “Glad I could oblige.”Jerk face.
I really was leaving. but before I did, I remembered a reason that I’d shown up. “I came to tell you that the principal of Woodcreek High has been trying to get ahold of you.”
He lost his smile. In fact, he paled. “Why tell you?”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
His eyes immediately went to my breasts.
“I was there on Friday to give a talk to the government class on my father’s behalf. Mr. Bridges mentioned it to me.”
“Do you always do your father’s dirty work?”
“We’re not talking about my father.” My tone took on a mean streak. “Just call the principal.” I inched closer to him, almost flattening my chest against his, hoping I could affect him like he was affecting me. “Oh, and stay away from me.”
He knitted his thick eyebrows as he glanced down. “You offered an ear if I ever wanted to talk.” His tone was even.
I captured my bottom lip in between my teeth. “That was before I knew you were using me to get to my father.” I stepped back then pivoted on my heel. “I don’t need the hassle.”
He belted out a laugh. “You’re a piece of work, Haven Hale.”
“Just wanted to make sure I pleased you.”What? Where did that line come from?
He laughed again. “Mark my words, Haven. I will be taking you to heaven. And in case you need clarification, I mean you will be in my bed, between my sheets, with me between your legs.”
I tossed an eye roll over my shoulder. “Not in this century.” I slammed the door on my way out.
Then I shivered at the thought as the humid air hit my face. He might be right, but I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
15
Ryker
The air conditioner blew on me as I sat in my car and stared at the brick facade of Woodcreek High.
Three days had passed since the party at my parents’ house—three days of drinking, sleeping, and wallowing in sorrow. I’d thought about what the guys had said. I didn’t want to keep disappointing them. They wanted that championship season. Ajax and Erik were sophomores, and Lucas and I were juniors. So all of us had another year at least to win some games. But I was their quarterback. They needed me. I wasn’t certain I was ready, or if I could throw a football, or if it were too late to get my head in the game, or if Coach would even play me.
I rested my head against the seat.
If football doesn’t work out, you can always take the year off.My parents would be so disappointed in me if I did.
Maybe coming to the high school wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe it was too soon to pick up Leigh’s belongings.
Go inside, man. Get this over with.
Principal Holland had left a few messages on my voice mail, which I hadn’t listened to until Haven had brought up the principal.
Haven. That damn green-eyed redhead had a way of getting inside me. She had gotten me fired up in the pool house, or rather she’d gotten my body singing a tune I hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe she was also one reason I wasn’t wallowing in my sorrow. When I was around her, I was finding that I didn’t feel like someone had stuck a dagger in my heart. She somehow took away the darkness, which was perplexing since she was related to a man I hated.
Her father’s the dick. She isn’t. She at least has empathy for what I’m going through.
On top of that, she wasn’t the type of girl to roll over for me like all the other ladies I’d taken to bed. She was the first girl to speak her mind and not beg for something from me. Maybe the liquor was eating at my brain. Maybe I was crazy to think that one person could affect me the way she had so far.
But I liked trading barbs with her. I liked that she didn’t run from something crass like what I’d said that day in the pool house. I enjoyed a good chase, which had been nonexistent when it came to women, and I had no doubt Haven was about to give me a run for my money.
