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Brandon cuts to me for a second and refocuses on the road as we come to a stop at traffic lights. “Are you terrified of me, especially after how I reacted to Heath?”
I rest my head against the seat and close my eyes. “Not in the least. Your dark guise is a cover. I’ve seen your sweet side, Brandon.”
He doesn’t respond.
The car starts moving again.
When we reach my home, Brandon tells me, “You’re painting in my guest house tomorrow. You’ll be there until night.”
“Ask me nicely,” I retort, unbuckling my seatbelt. “I’ll help you start. Say, ‘Kayla, will you please come by—”
“We’re going there straight from school,” he adds. “So bring a change of clothes.”
My mouth falls open in dismay. “Brandon, you know I don’t have to do anything, right? I could just ignore your demanding ass.”
He looks at me with a dark expression. “Madison’s father owns a car dealership. Instead of lighting hers on fire, it’d be more cinematic to burn his building down, don’t you think?”
I flinch from his threat. “You wouldn’t do something like that.”
Brandon sniffs. “Are you sure? Think you have me figured out, little artist? I’m capable of the extreme just to prove a point.” He dips his head and adds, “Dare me.”
Heat paints my skin in teasing strokes the longer he holds me captive with that sinister gaze.
Oddly, I’m thrilled by his intensity. Something must be wrong with me.
“Fine,” I murmur, then quickly clarify, “I mean, I’ll hang out with you. I’m not daring you to go commit arson.”
His features relax. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He motions to the package on the backseat with the new uniforms. “Don’t forget those.”
I snatch it up, clench my backpack, and exit the car, slamming the door shut.
Brandon only chortles and drives off.
Ugh! He’s such an alpha. But why is there an inferno inside my body?
Later, when I’m sitting in bed, I pause sketching and call Natalie, wanting to talk about Brandon and catch up about her week as well.
“Sup, girl,” she chirps. “What you doing?”
“The usual, sketching.” It sounds noisy in her background. “You have company over?”
“Yeah, my momma’s out. So I invited Janelle, Misha, and a few guys.”
“Oh.” I feel envious. Deciding not to mention Brandon, I bring up our plans instead. “Um, want to meet at the bakery first on Saturday? I told Sam. She might join us.”
“About that.” She falls quiet, letting the music and faint chatter fill the line for a moment. “Listen, Kay. I know we planned on hanging out, but Janelle and Misha are going to Wilmington on Saturday, and they invited me.”
So invite me along, I tell her in my head. Or cancel because you already made plans with me.
“That’s cool,” I say instead, frowning. “Seems you’re hanging with them a lot.”
“Yeah, they’re great girls,” she says, happily. “So, we’ll catch up another time?” Wow. She’s chasing me off the phone. That’s a first.
It feels like she’s starting to push me to the backburner.
“Yeah. Another time.” I pick at my sheets, having the strong inkling that I’m losing my best friend. “Call me.”
“I will. Later, girl.”
“Bye.” I flop back on the pillow and expel a deep exhale. Bye, indeed.
My eyes flick to Brandon’s tee hanging on my chair. I reach for it, pulling the fabric to my nose and inhaling. His invigorating scent suppresses the sad feeling.
I shut my eyes and imagine it’s him I’m holding close. My body yearns for the possibility of that happening for real.
Giving in to the fire, I send him a quick text and turn off the light.
I’ll leave the window unlocked for you.
