CHAPTER11
Savannah
Ican’t believe he just said that. And as much as I want to fight it, to tell everyone that he’s lying and making dates up, another part of me just needs air. We’ve played the happy family all afternoon, and I’m drowning in the lie. What’s a little fake date to go with the fake perfect family?
I’m not happy. Our family isn’t happy. Not right now at least. I’m pissed at my parents, and despite a few cursory sad glances over dinner, we’ve just ignored the whole thing in lieu of keeping up appearances.
Faux feelings are exhausting. Smiling when I just want to cry is exhausting. And having anactualperfectly happy family in my space all day has been pretty fucking exhausting too.
I guess you can never tell. Maybe the Ashes have a thousand issues also. But from the outside they look every bit as happy as we look right now.
I need to get out. Even if that means going out with Justin. He’s been kind and considerate all day, and I’d be lying if I say it hasn’t worn down my resolve to hate him on principle, but I’ve been looking forward to putting some distance between us.
Spending the day with someone you’ve almost kissed twice isn’t easy. Especially when you actuallywantto kiss him.
Ugh. My loyalty lies with Molly and chicks before dicks is a gender-wide rule for us. But maybe…just maybe…he’s not actually an ass. And maybe Molly would understand if she’d seen just how tempting and delicious he is. Maybe if she smelled him she’d get it and give me her blessing to kiss the enemy.
I swallow as our moms share a not-so-secret look at Justin’s announcement that he’s taking me out. They’re clearly trying—and failing—to be chill. Mom even squeaks. Good Lord. We need to leave before they start picking out a wedding dress and hiring a carpenter to build us a white picket fence.
Dad comes in to say goodbye to Justin before we leave. And instead of giving him the “You better take care of my daughter”speech, he thanks him for the beer.
“Don’t mention it. I’ve got your list now.” Justin pats his butt pocket. “I’ll see what else I can find for you on my travels.”
Dad beams like all his Christmases have come at once, and his smile only grows when Justin tells him there’ll be tickets at Will Call for him and me for tomorrow night’s game against the Minnesota Snow Pirates.
It seems that no matter how much I try to get away from Justin Not-an-Ass, the more I end up in his sphere. Maybe it’s like getting caught up in a riptide current—you just have to stop flailing and struggling against the pull before you’re too tired and dragged out to sea.
Justin places his hand in the small of my back, sending a shiver up my spine. He turns me toward the door. “We need to leave before they start picking out baby names and Mom crochets tiny baby hockey skates.” His low voice at my ear sends sheets of gooseflesh over my skin, and I snort.
Mom rolls her eyes and mutely scolds me for being so gross and snorting. Sophia saves me from the mom-glare and launches herself at Justin, looping her arms around his waist and smashing her face against his body in a bone-crunching hug. All twelve foot of him crouches down to her level, and he ruffles her hair. My insides melt, dissolving into a pool of goo at the sight of him being so sweet.
He’s inching more and more into perfect book boyfriend territory by the minute: massive dick, impossibly good looking, charming, kind, sensitive, helps the heroine, wins over her family… The list is growing.
And let’s not forget we’re on near-miss-kiss #2.
My body heats. He’s taking me out, but I have no idea where. I don’t think I’m upset about it. Didn’t I want time away from him? Why are my feelings such a contradiction?
“They’re watching through the blinds so I’m going to open your door for you, okay?” he says as we walk toward my parents’ car in the driveway. “My mom would kick my ass if I’m not the perfect gentleman. She raised me better than letting you open your own door.” He winks at me then moves a step ahead.
“You’re driving?”
“I’m driving.”
I’m kind of glad he’s taking charge. I’m falling apart inside, and I know from past experiences that it’s not a good idea to drive while upset. A ripple of guilt hits for the animal I killed a couple months ago when I fled the house after finding my adoption papers.
His hand only leaves the curve of my spine when he gets to the passenger door of the SUV. I hand him the keys while he reaches out and pulls the handle. Door open, he sweeps an arm at the seat inside. “Your chariot awaits, milady.”
I giggle, taking my seat, and since he’s closing the door, I buckle up. As he circles the car, the blinds move again, and his mom gives us a thumbs up out the window.
Justin heads out of the neighborhood without telling me where we’re going or why we’re on this “date” in the first place. I should probably ask, or care, but the more miles we put between me and my childhood home, the more into myself I’ve curled. Shapes pass outside the window in a blur of movement and lights.
After about fifteen minutes, maybe, the car slowing down jolts me back to awareness. I don’t know where we are, but it’s dark, quiet, and there are no streetlights or people to be seen. We’re in an empty parking lot, though I can’t tell where the parking lot might be.
Either he’s brought me here to kill me, or he wants to try the kissing thing again. The. Fucking. Audacity. Of this man. He totally had me fooled that he was some adorable, sweet, kind, and sensitive guy, but really he just wants to find somewhere dark and quiet to have his way with me.
Would that be so bad? Probably not as long as he knows what to do with that lightsaber he has tucked in his pants. But it’s the principle, damn it. The presumption.
I spin in my seat to confront him. He puts the car in park then turns on the interior light over the center console and shakes his head. “I figured you’d want somewhere quiet to sit for a little while. I can go take a walk if you need space, or we can just sit here. I have the Kindle app on my phone.” He waves his phone at me. “I’m good.”
