I went out the door before she could say anything else and as I did I saw the guy. He turned a corner before I could say anything and my plan to follow him was thwarted by the teacher standing at the door.
“Planning to join us today, Hope?” He asked and I nodded, ducking around him into the classroom. I’d have to find out who my mystery football player was another time.
I bided my time until the pep rally since I figured the football players would be lined up in their jerseys again and this time I’d at least make sure to get his last name or number. That would be enough for Amber to make a positive identification.
I planted myself by the gym door, ready to find the guy and reassure myself that his death was safely in the far future.
“What are you doing?” Amber glared at me suspiciously. “You’re not out here waiting for Houston are you?”
I rolled my eyes at her newfound hatred.
“No, I’m trying to spot the football player I told you about,” I answered her truthfully.
“He’s not here,” she told me. “The football players already left for the game since it’s a three hour drive. I’m leaving with the other cheerleaders right after the pep rally.” I frowned in irritation, wishing I’d gone after him earlier. She nudged me. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. There’s only so many football players. I can come over this weekend with the yearbook and we can find him,” she said cheerfully.
I shook my head instantly. No way was I letting her in my house, into my life.
“This weekend won’t work. My dad has a big father daughter bonding thing planned.”
She frowned, but nodded as if she’d expected some sort of excuse from me. There had been a time when she pushed for me to come to her house but after numerous refusals she’d stopped asking. It was a relief and a disappointment. Sometimes, I wondered who I would be if I didn’t know I was going to die soon.
“Come on, you can come sit with us.” She dragged me across the court to where the other cheerleaders were waiting and I got a few curious glances but no one said anything when she plopped me down on the front row. I folded my hands in my lap, glancing around from my new vantage point. I was used to being up in the bleachers with a nosebleed view. It was definitely different sitting courtside. The microphone screeched and I put my hand up to my ear. Louder, for sure.
The pep rally went off without a hitch, everyone pumped up even without the football players present. Amber bounced up to me afterwards, apologizing.
“Hey, I’m not going back to homeroom, we have to get on the bus. I’ll see you Monday, okay? Text me!”
I waved at her as she followed the other cheerleaders out and joined the mass of students exiting the gym. Houston was already in his seat when I made my way to Martin’s classroom and he gave a slow grin when he spotted me.
I tucked my leg under me as I slid into my seat and he turned to face me.
“Not nearly as exciting as yesterday,” he mentioned casually and I shook my head.
“I think I can live without that kind of excitement in my life, thank you.”
“Everything okay today?” He asked, watching me carefully. I was surprised he hadn’t asked more questions, but figured it was only a matter of time.
“Other than you getting called to the office, yes.”
“It was going to happen eventually,” he said with a shrug.
“Yeah, but it shouldn’t have been over something that was my fault,” I retorted, lowering my voice as Martin glanced over at us.
“Doesn’t matter, I’d do it again.” His expression was serious and I knew he would, but I really hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.
“What about your parents? I’m sure they weren’t happy about coming down here.” I was impressed both of his parents had showed up. There was no way I’d get my dad down here to defend me. Not that he wouldn’t care, but he wouldn’t have a way of coming.
“They have faith in me. I’ll tell them the truth this weekend and they’ll punish me, but honesty is important to them. I messed up a lot. I don’t want to do that here.”
“It was my fault though,” I hissed, leaning closer to him. “You shouldn’t get punished for that.”
“They won’t see it that way,” he informed me with a smile. “I did it knowing full well the consequences.”
That was the thing though, he hadn’t known the consequences or that his actions had resulted in saving the lives of seven people.
I sat back, contemplating what I was about to say.
“If you have to tell them the truth, I want to be there. I want to take responsibility for my part.”
He was shaking his head as I spoke, but I was adamant. I didn’t want him to get in trouble for doing something good. Right now it seemed like a dangerous prank and no doubt his parents would question everything he did if he told them. The least I could do was mitigate some of it, even if I couldn’t tell them the complete truth.
“If you’re sure,” he finally said, and I nodded. I was positive I wanted to do this small thing at least.
The bell rang and within seconds everyone was out the door. It was Friday a few of the students would make the drive to watch our team play the first game of the season. The rest of us were just glad for the weekend.
We walked silently to his truck, a few students eyeing us since we were clearly walking together, and I knew it wouldn’t take long to get back to Amber. I’d be lucky if she didn’t blow up my phone this weekend.
He didn’t break our silence until we were in the long line to get out of the parking lot.
“So, what did you hear?” He finally asked, glancing at me. I gave him my best blank stare and he grunted. “About my past.”
“You have a past?” I took pity on him as he banged his hand on the steering wheel. “I’ve heard plenty,” I drawled to his discomfort. “You were in jail, you’re on parole, and you were in a gang. But the one I’m most curious about is the one where they said you’re covered in gang tattoos.” I eyed him suggestively and he choked back a laugh. “I have to say most high school students aren’t that creative.”
“None of those are true,” he assured me and I pouted.
“None of them? That’s disappointing.” His eyes flashed to mine and I smiled. “I really wanted to see those tattoos.”
“Okay, that one has some truth,” he admitted and I twisted around to face him.
“Ohhh, so you are a bad boy.”
“Not even close. No prison tats for me. But I did get into some trouble. It’s why my family moved here.”
That admission did raise my eyebrows. Admittedly, I came from a town where people stayed their entire lives without moving away, but to move your entire family senior year of high school?
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” he rushed to add, seeing my expression. “My sister is autistic.” I was surprised to hear that not having known he had a sister. “She’s really my adopted sister. There’s a school near here that helps them learn to live in the real world, I guess you could say?” I nodded so he’d continue and he flipped his blinker on as we got closer to the exit. “We knew she wanted to go there. It’s one of the best schools in the country for someone on the autism spectrum. But the plan was to wait till after I graduated.”
“But,” I prompted.
“But, I got into a shitload of trouble my junior year and this past summer. Stupid shit really. Hanging with the wrong crowd, not coming home, graffiti, and maybe a joyride in a car that didn’t belong to me.”
He said the last part in a rush, surprising a laugh out of me and I saw him grin ruefully as he finally made it to the road.
“And your dad still lets you drive?”
“Yeah, I know. Honestly, my sister is the one who saved me.” My glance was curious as I wondered if he’d explain. “She doesn’t talk much. Can’t stand to be touched. But when I got into trouble she suggested we move here and start over. My parents were so happy at her participating in family decisions, they kind of le
t a lot of what I did slide.”
“I’m betting today was a bad flashback for them.”
He didn’t look at me when he said, “Yeah.”
His response solidified my already determined plan to take responsibility for the fire alarm incident.
“So, when are we going to tell them?”
He chuckled and at my questioning look, explained. “I’m just picturing my parents’ faces when I show up with you to explain.”
I still didn’t get and he told me, “They’ll have the wrong idea about us.”
“And what wrong idea would that be?” I asked archly.
“That we’re a couple. Because let’s face it. Most guys wouldn’t do something like that for a girl they just met. Not without a reason.”
“You had a reason,” I responded, even as I tried to figure out why he had done it. Knowing what I knew now, it had been a huge risk on his part.
“Yeah, you looked panicked and scared,” he glanced over at me. “I don’t think they’ll buy that as a good enough reason.”
“So, you’re saying there has to be more to it?”
“Yeah,” he drawled slowly. “There does.”
“It’s not enough that you helped someone in need?”
“No,” he replied, glancing at me. “Because their next question will be why me?”
My forehead wrinkled and he gave me a contemplative stare. “There were hundreds of students in the gym. Why did you ask me? Why did I see your fear and no one else?”
“I…” Couldn’t answer his question because it was true. I could have went to a teacher and made something up, the same way I’d make something up to his parents. They could have ordered everyone from the gym. But it was his second question that made my heart beat faster. “Why did you see me?”
“Because I was looking for you,” he answered candidly and my eyes shot to his. He shook his head ruefully at the admittance and I realized we were in my driveway. “I can’t seem to stop myself. That first day in class, you stared at me like you’d never seen someone like me before and I’ve been curious ever since.”
I flushed at his observation, knowing it was true.
“And the thing is,” he continued, drawing my attention back to him. “Everything that’s happened has only made me more curious. You’re an enigma.”
“Gonna ace those SATs,” I deflected since any explanation I provided would probably involve a psych evaluation.
“Plan to, but my studying has taken a hit since I met you.”
“You should probably work on that,” I replied, playing with a loose strand on my shirt. “Your parents don’t need any more reason to hate me.”
“They won’t hate you,” he answered confidently, his finger brushing along my hand, stilling it. “They know there’s more to life than studying.”
“You shouldn’t waste your time thinking about me,” I cautioned him, the words cutting painfully as I spoke. “You should forget me.”
“Too late,” he informed me, his hand gliding over my arm as he spoke. “I committed a felony for you and then you kissed me. There’s no going back now.”
His words thrilled me even as fear pressed in on me. He was getting too close. Amber was right. He was dangerous. Just for completely different reasons than she might have expected.
“Tell me to stop if you don’t want this,” he whispered, his lips hovering a millimeter above mine. Our breaths mingled as I contemplated pulling away, of ending us before we ever had a chance.
“It wasn’t technically a felony,” I whispered before pressing my lips against his. Again, the spark was instantaneous, an inferno that threatened to devour me, and part of me wanted exactly that.
His fingers tangled in my hair as my mouth opened underneath his, the quick flicker of his tongue making me greedy. I felt the swollen area of his lip and paused to suck it, causing him to groan. His hands slipped up my sides as we moved together and I wanted them higher.
“Yes,” I moaned against his mouth as his thumbs brushed the sides of my breasts. I wanted to feel, needed to forget, and his touch gave me both.
A bang on the driver’s side window had us scrambling apart only to see my dad walking up the porch steps.
Houston swallowed hard even as he shifted, adjusting his jeans. “Pretty sure he hates me,” he said, staring after my dad. I rubbed my swollen lips as my breathing slowed.
“Actually, I don’t think he does,” I finally replied, thinking about my dad’s reaction the day before and again today. “If he didn’t like you, he would have dragged you out of the truck and beat you.”
Houston’s head jerked toward me and I gave him a smile.
“You’re joking,” he said uncertainly. I shook my head and reached for my backpack.
“No,” I answered. “When are you going to talk to your parents?” My hand rested on the door handle as I waited for his reply.
“Tomorrow morning. I can come pick you up.” He glanced from me to the front door. “Are you sure you want to do this? I have no problem taking responsibility. It was my idea to pull the alarm. You didn’t do anything.”
“Would you have done it if I hadn’t asked for your help?” My stare was pointed as he glanced away. “Thought so. Pick me up at ten.”
I hopped out then, eager to get away from the bubble that seemed to form when we were together. The one that made the rest of the world fade away, along with the reality of my life.
I felt his eyes on me as I jogged up the steps, the front door left open for me intentionally. I was nervous about meeting his parents, about letting him into my life even further, but I also wouldn’t let him take the fall for my actions. We kept getting pulled together and it wasn’t just my curiosity over his lack of an expiration date either. This felt bigger than that and the thought filled me with fear.
I wasn’t ready for this feeling, not now, not when I only had 3 weeks, 6 days, 3 hours, 22 minutes and 15 seconds to live.
Chapter Eight
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.” His dry words didn’t stop my pacing as I waited for the sound of Houston’s truck in the drive. “What are you so nervous for? It’s not like you haven’t already stuck your tongue down his throat.”
“Dad!” I spun around to see him smile and shook my head. “That’s not funny.”
“I can’t say I like that my girl is growing up, but it’s good to see you with someone. Anyone. You stay cooped up in this house too much.”
I lifted my hand in a classic ‘Are you kidding me?’ pose and he had the grace to look abashed.
“I’m only going over there to explain a misunderstanding to his parents. That’s all.” I tried to say convincingly, wondering who I was trying to convince.
“It’s okay if it’s more than that,” he told me, the crack of his beer can opening easing some of my tension in a weird reversal. He eased back in his recliner, the indentation of his body permanently marked in the fabric. “You deserve a life, Hope. Your mom would have wanted this. She’d be so excited. She used to talk about the day you’d bring a boy home. Didn’t like it when I said I’d meet him with a shotgun.”
His words pulled a reluctant smile from me as I imagined Houston’s reaction. He would probably say he deserved it. For being a ‘bad boy,’ it sure felt like I was the one corrupting him at times.
“Don’t go getting your hopes up, Dad.” My eyes went back to the door as I thought about my own countdown. “It’s high school. You don’t find forever in high school.”
My words were meant to discourage him, but wound up having the opposite effect as he guffawed, spewing beer on his shirt.
“Dad!”
I hurried over with a napkin as he continued to laugh, wondering what was so amusing about my words.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know the story of your mom and me?” He asked, but just then I heard Houston’s truck in the drive. I shook my head as my eyes darted between my dad and the door before I finally asked.
“Do yo
u want to meet him?” I couldn’t decide if it was a good idea or not, and part of me wanted to slam out of the house without an answer. A fact he read easily.
“Yep,” he answered stoutly, lumbering up from his chair, beer can in his hand along with a damp stain on his shirt.
I went to the door only to find Houston standing there about to knock. His initial smile eased some of my worry, but as his smile faded, I glanced back over my shoulder to see Dad giving him a hard stare. I elbowed him and he grunted.
“What? You hid the shotgun.”
Houston blanched and even I couldn’t prevent my snort of laughter.
“He’s joking,” I assured him. “I have no idea where the shotgun is.”
“Houston, this is my dad, Frank Lancaster.” I turned to my dad. “Dad, this is Houston.”
“Your boyfriend,” Dad stated grimly and causing my cheeks to heat.
“Mr. Lancaster,” Houston started before he was interrupted.
“You can call me sir.”
“Sir,” Houston echoed, swallowing. I propped myself on the door, staring hard at my dad, who only shrugged.
“Sir, I really like your daughter and would never disrespect her.”
Dad snorted and I bit back a smile as Houston struggled.
“He’s not my boyfriend, Dad. You know this. We discussed it.” I gave him my best warning glare which he tried to ignore and failed. “I’m going over to talk to his parents and will be home shortly. Try not to get into trouble.”
I took Houston’s hand since he seemed incapable of moving and tugged him toward the stairs.
Dad gave one last parting shot as we reached the bottom.
“Boy,” he called and Houston turned automatically. “You better wrap it up every time. I’m too young to be a grandpa.”
Houston nodded frantically as I felt my cheeks turn beet red.
“His name is HOUSTON,” I shouted as my dad turned toward the house.
“What kind of damn name is Houston anyway? Last time I checked it was a city in Texas.” We heard him grumble as we stood there in stunned silence.
Expiration Date Page 6
