Page 65 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Catherine stiffened, and her arm froze inside her locker. Slowly, she turned to face him, looking up to stare him in the eyes. “Cross.”

A pretty pink colored up her cheeks, and she smelled like sweetened cherries. He was surprised how much a little over a year could change someone, and that time had been especially good to Catherine. She was beautiful before, sure, but now he was much more aware of just how much. From the long waves of her hair, to her long legs, trim frame, and perfect curves, she was exceptional. Clear skin, bright green eyes, and lips that set into a natural pout even when she was smiling.

“My jacket,” he said again.

Catherine swallowed hard, and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Yeah, I stayed at my cousin’s last night. Forgot my school uniform. My brother ran over a change of clothes this morning. I told him to grab a jacket out of my closet, and this is what he grabbed, so.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Not sure what you mean.”

“Your brother ran you over a change of clothes but not your uniform?” Cross asked.

Catherine chewed on her inner cheek before saying, “So, I forgot to mention the uniform.”

She was lying.

Cross didn’t have any reason to point out her lies, but he did. “Are you sure you weren’t supposed to already be at your cousin’s or something, and you didn’t mention the uniform because you were already supposed to have one?”

“What does it matter?”

“It’s a matter of my curiosity.”

“Well, mind your business.”

“You know they’re going to pull you out of class and make you change into a uniform in the office, right?” Cross asked.

Catherine shrugged, and turned back to close her locker. “As long as they don’t call my parents, I don’t give a shit what they make me do.”

“Did you plan on going home in those clothes if they didn’t make you change?”

“They won’t be home until after supper—already got that covered, thanks.”

A sly girl.

That’s what she was.

Catherine hadn’t changed a bit. Cross realized in that moment. To everyone else, she was the good girl. As long as they didn’t look at her for too long or too hard.

“I have to get going,” Catherine said, “so, excuse me.”

Cross didn’t move, instead keeping Catherine firmly against the lockers as he brushed one of her stray waves of hair back over her shoulder. She didn’t tense at his touch, and instead, smiled. He didn’t miss it. “In a sec. Question.”

“What?”

“Is your number still the same as it used to be?”

Stupid, dumbass, the rational part of his brain taunted. She’s going to bury her claws in you again and tear you the hell apart with them.

Another part of him whispered, don’t fucking move.

He liked that a lot better.

Catherine blinked up at him, and her tongue peeked out to wet her bottom lip. “Why?”

“Curious.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend, Cross?”