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How Slade broke through all of my defenses, I had no idea, but he had. After that night, he was waiting with a breakfast burrito in hand each morning and forcing me over to his house for dinner every night. It was awkward the first time I met his parents, but they treated me like a long-lost friend. To say I was grateful was an understatement. For the first time in almost a year, I was getting three meals a day. And when Slade’s parents found out I was a vegetarian, they made sure to have not to put the meatballs in the spaghetti and other little things like that.
They were making my decision to leave in a few weeks difficult.
Then there was Slade. My dark knight who watched me from the shadows as I ran each night. I wasn’t running so much to forget now but to enjoy the freedom the beach and ocean provided. And I liked having Slade sit beside me as we silently stared out at the ocean instead of all the prying and glaring eyes that were focused on us while at school. I still tried to keep our time at school to a minimum. We sat by each other during our one class and ate lunch together. No walking through the halls to make the girls hate me more than they already did.
“What are you thinking about?” His deep voice was little more than a whisper on the wind.
I didn’t bother to look at him as I spoke. I wasn’t sure if I’d have the nerve if I was looking into those murky green eyes of his.
“That I think I like you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him reel back and then circle his arms over his one bent knee. I could feel him drilling a hole in the side of my face before he ever spoke. “Well, I know I like you.”
As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t stop my lips from tipping up at the corners. “I mean, it’s obvious from the way you stalk me.”
He chuckled with a slight shake of his head. “No, really, what were you thinking about?”
Wanting him to know I meant the words I was about to speak but unable to look at him, I shuffled closer and rested my head against his shoulder. “That I’m thankful that you and your family took me in, and I’m going to miss you when I leave.”
“You do know you don’t have to leave. The school year is almost over. Why not finish up? Have you even decided where you’ll go once you leave?”
“No,” I mumbled. All I knew was I wanted out from under my mom. Once I turned eighteen, I’d have the money to go to school or live wherever I wanted. The only problem with that was I’d be alone wherever I went.
“Stay,” he sighed. His hot breath fanned the hairs around my face. “It’s not like I’ll stop feeding you once you turn eighteen.”
He didn’t even know how much my life could or would change. I would want for nothing except to have my father back.
“I won’t need money or for you to feed me.” I leaned further into him.
“You won’t?” Why did he sound sad at the prospect that one day soon, I wouldn’t need him?
“We used to have money. Well, my parents did. I grew up in a house bigger than both of our houses combined and drove a Porsche to school every day.” I didn’t want to continue, but Slade deserved to know the truth about my life before coming here. Tears pricked my eyes. I hated to think of before. My toes flexed in the sand, ready to take off running at any moment.
Slipping his arm from under me, he wrapped it around my waist and laid his head on top of mine. “You don’t have to tell me, but I would like to know.”
“After my dad died and left my mom with very little, she sold the house and my car since they weren’t in my name. Well, she didn’t sell the house right away. Not until Trent.”
“Why move here if your house was bigger?”
“I can’t say for certain. It’s not like she was talking to me about her decisions.” I took a deep breath and spoke words that had never escaped my mouth before. “I think my mom and Trent were having an affair before my dad died, and that’s why he left her only a small amount to live off. It was enough for me to reach my next birthday if she didn’t spend it all on a new wardrobe and vacations with her boyfriend.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Harley.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me in the last year.”
His hand on my hip tightened. “Can I ask you how your dad…?”
“Died,” I supplied for him. “He was sick with cancer. He knew his time was coming sooner than he wanted. That’s why he had everything prepared. Or at least he thought he did. I’m sure he never thought my mom would go to the lengths she has.” Since I’d opened up to him more than I ever thought I would, it was time for me to ask him the question that had been nagging at me for some time now. “Why are you so hard on yourself? Something happened before I ever got here, and you’ve been punishing yourself for it. You don’t hang out with your friends, and you never go out.”
I felt the deep breath he took in and then slowly let out. It was a good sign his body stayed relaxed.
“I was hoping to get a football scholarship to pay for college, but my team played like shit this year. Now I don’t know how I’m going to pay for college.”
Swiveling in his hold, I faced Slade. His eyes were downcast as he tried to bore a hole through the sand. “You’re smart, Slade. How have you not received an academic scholarship?”
“I’ve been offered a few, but none cover the room and board. The only option is to attend college here and live at home.” The corner of his mouth curled up.
“What’s wrong with staying here? Your parents and sister are great.”
