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She touched her finger to the stones, and new awareness was bringing heat to her cheeks. She felt like a freak. It was probably a miracle he was still standing in front of her.
Then again, he was the one tying on rock bracelets. She glanced up at him from under her lashes. “Don’t tell me. You read Tarot cards, too?”
“Mock all you want. You feel better, right?”
She did. Standing in the hallway in this house full of people, with R&B music so loud it seemed part of her body, he somehow made her feel like they stood alone in the middle of a field. At night, under a silent moon.
Becca had to take a deep breath.
“I didn’t realize coming here would upset you,” he said.
She shrugged and looked down into the cup of water. “It’s all right.”
“My father used to tell me something, when people would screw with me,” he said. His voice got kind of quiet, and she had to lean in to hear him.
People used to screw with him? He seemed so ... untouchable. Above it.
She didn’t want to hear some sentimental pep talk, either. But his father had died, and whatever the words were, they were important to Hunter.
“What?” she said.
“Fuck ’em.”
Her head shot up. The edge of a smile played on his lips, but she could read the emotion in his eyes.
“It helps,” he said.
Fuck ’em. She smiled. It did help.
She looked up at him, standing so close. Her pulse picked up. She licked her lips. “I think I’m going to go ... ah ... straighten up.”
He took a step back and grinned. “You all right to walk?”
Becca straightened and pushed off the wall. Her head still swam, but her legs felt steady. Mostly.
“Yeah.” She took a step into the hallway. Then another. The water in her cup didn’t even slosh.
reached over and turned off the ignition, then put the keys in her pocket. “I’m taking your keys.”
Becca snapped to. “What? Quinn—I never drink—”
“I don’t give a crap if you drink. I don’t want you bolting without consulting me.” She smiled and it looked a little vicious. “Now get your ass out of the car.”
When they started walking toward Drew’s house, Becca focused on the narrow strip of asphalt in front of her until it started to feel like a gangplank.
One wrong step and she’d fall.
What the hell am I doing here?
“You came.”
The voice spoke out of the shadows to her left. Becca jumped and swore and almost took her friend down.
Quinn grabbed her arm to steady her. “Damn it, Bex! God, I should have snuck you one of Mom’s valiums. It’s only New Kid.”
“Hunter,” he said, but his voice was amused. He was leaning against a late model Jeep Wrangler with the top off, partially cloaked by the shadow of a cherry tree. He’d worn cargo pants and a charcoal long-sleeved tee, and his thumbs were hooked in his pockets.
Casper’s head hung over his shoulder, his tongue hanging out.
