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“He left my mom for another woman. If you couldn’t tell at the game the other night, we’re not exactly on the best of terms right now.”
That was a nice way of saying it.
Collin shook his head and swore. “If I’d known that, I would’ve punched him in the nose for you.”
I tried to suppress my smile. The idea of some guy my dad didn’t even know popping him in the face was strangely satisfying, even if I didn’t condone violence. “Probably not the best idea. He’s a lawyer. He’d sue you for all you’re worth.”
“Then he can have the clothes off my back. That’s about all I own,” Collin said, running a hand through his hair. “That, and the trash bag social services gave me to pack my stuff in when my mom died.”
His gaze flicked to mine and the half-hearted smile on his face dissolved into an expression filled with hurt. I wasn’t sure how to respond. Honestly, finding out Collin Preston had a wider range of emotions than jerk and super jerk was kind of unsettling. We stared at each other for a long moment, until he snorted and looked back down at the guitar, his cheeks reddening.
“Listen, if we’re going to write this song together, I think you’re going to need to relax the reins a bit.” He strummed a few chords and then abruptly set the guitar back in its stand. “You’re too stiff. Too structured. You’ve got to learn to loosen up.”
The connection I’d felt building between us just moments ago snapped and I leaned back, resentment coloring my voice. “Excuse me, but Mrs. Banks likes how I write my songs. She says I’m one of her best students.”
He laid down on my pillow, putting his arms behind his head and grinning up at my Taylor Swift poster. “Whatever you say, raccoon girl. But Mrs. Banks paired me with you for a reason. Think about that for a second, and just maybe, you’ll agree that I could be good for you.”
Collin’s words made my cheeks burn hot. I turned toward the window to hide my reaction.
My head was telling me that maybe Collin was right and my music could use a little loosening up. My girl hormones were telling me that Collin might just be good for me in other ways, too. Ways that made warmth explode in my gut and left me with weird tingly feelings all over. Dangerous territory.
“Fine, I’ll work on loosening up.” I stood and crossed the room, standing pointedly by the window. “But you’d better go before my mom finds out you’re here. I can’t practice with you if I’m grounded for life.”
He gave me a cheeky grin from my pillow, causing yet another flare of warmth in my gut, and then kicked his lanky legs off the bed and walked toward me.
“Meet me outside your apartment building at 8:00 tomorrow night,” he said, leaning against the window sill. “I’ve got an idea on how I can help. Leave the guitar at home.”
Tomorrow night was a school night, but if it was for my performance, I was sure Mom would okay whatever it was. Too ready to get him out of my room to ask him any questions about his methods, I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Fine. Good night, Collin.”
Leaning down to look me in the eyes, he reached out a hand and softly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. A bolt of electricity shot across my skin. The sudden reaction made me squeak a little. His brown eyes darted back and forth across my face, his lips curling into that lopsided grin.
“Night, Audrey. Try not to dream about me in your bed tonight.”
And once again, I was immediately reminded of the size of Collin’s ego. He wished. If anything, I’d be repeating my favorite dream about performing on the road with my bestie, T-Swift.
My mouth formed a smirk and I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed as he swung one leg out the window and then the next. With a last look at me, he jumped down to a lower branch and then dropped gracefully to the ground. I watched him go, trying desperately to erase the image he’d just conjured in my mind.
Snuggling up to Collin in bed wasn’t exactly my worst nightmare. In fact, my pulse leapt at the idea of it. It was yet another reminder that bad boys like him knew exactly how to manipulate go
od girls like me. I needed to keep my head on straight.
Or risk losing sight of the goal.
Chapter Eleven
“What do we even know about this boy?”
Mom gestured with her egg roll and narrowed her eyes at me from across the table. I avoided her gaze and shoveled in another bite of Lo Mein. Thursdays were Chinese take-out nights at the Black household. Collin was supposed to be here in approximately five minutes and I had yet to convince Mom to let me go. It hadn’t been as easy as I thought it would be.
“He’s the starting quarterback,” Lexi piped up next to me, her excitement evident in the bouncing of her curls as she waved her chopsticks about. “Came to Rock Valley three years ago to live with his foster family. He’s got dreamy brown eyes and all the girls at school want him.”
“All the girls?” I could feel Mom’s questioning gaze on my face. “Is that true, Audrey?”
I shifted uncomfortably. Lexi’s statements might have been a little farfetched, but the way Collin’s cologne had lingered on my pillow last night had certainly not helped my case. “I told you, he’s just my partner for the centennial performance. Mrs. Banks paired us. Our song assignment is due next week.”
“Hmmm.” I glanced up to see Mom chewing a bite of the egg roll slowly. Very slowly. She pursed her lips. “Is he a good kid?”
