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He turned the knob, letting cool September humidity sneak into the house, carrying the scent of grass and pollen. Becca inhaled deeply, glad for the fresh air to clear her head.
Then he pulled the door wide.
And there on the porch, his hand poised to knock, stood Chris.
CHAPTER 27
Becca had no idea what to say.
Chris looked surprised for a bare instant—then his blue eyes were walled up and ice cold.
“So,” he said. “Guess you’ve got the ride to school covered.”
She opened her mouth to respond—but he was already turning, stepping off the porch, heading for his car.
His running car. With his brothers inside.
Crap.
And Hunter was going after him. “Hey.”
Chris ignored him.
“Hey.” Now Hunter’s voice carried a thread of anger. “Chris.”
There was no possible way this could go well.
“Stop. Wait.” Becca leapt off the porch, feeling grit from the walkway scrape at her feet. She wasn’t even sure which one of them she was addressing.
Hunter grabbed Chris’s arm. “Hey, man, I’m talking to you—”
Chris rounded on him. “Let go of me.”
Becca felt the air flicker, or move, or something, like the humidity was a mere prelude to a storm. The hairs on her arms stood on end and she shivered.
Hunter must have felt it, too. His stance shifted, as if he was bracing himself. “I want you to leave her alone.”
“News flash: I was leaving. And I really don’t give a shit what you want.” He gave Hunter a solid shove, enough to dislodge the other boy’s grip.
“Yeah?” Hunter shoved him back. “Need some convincing?”
“Hey! Stop.” Her voice was squeaking, so Becca tried again. “Stop it.”
It bought her a moment of hesitation—from Chris anyway. He drew back and gave Hunter a wicked smile—but Becca saw the way his hands curled into fists. He jerked his head her way. “You going to pee on her next? Mark your territory?”
“Nice,” she snapped. “Look, guys, this is stupid—”
Hunter cut her off, his attention focused on Chris. “I don’t know what your problem is—”
“You,” said Chris, heat in his voice. He got up close to Hunter and shoved him again—just a little more roughly. “Right now you’re my problem. You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Hunter shoved him back, harder. “I know enough.”
“Guys.” Her heart pummeled her rib cage. “Stop.”
Hunter didn’t even glance at her. He spoke low, right into Chris’s face, punctuating his words with a shove for every sentence. “I know Becca gets hurt every time she’s near you. I know you put her in danger. And I know you’re too selfish to give a crap what happens to her—”
Chris punched him.
