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His gaze stays pinned to mine, searching it as I sit astride his lap. I have no idea what he sees within my eyes.
The truth?
My tongue peeks out to dampen my lips as I rack my brain for something to say.
He beats me to the punch.
“You should probably go.”
There’s a gruffness to his voice that wasn’t there before. Whatever openness had been in his expression has vanished. For a second or two, I consider pleading my case but decide against it.
What would be the point?
It’s the same conversation we’ve had half a dozen times. He doesn’t believe me. And nothing will change that.
For Austin, this is a game of revenge.
That’s all it’ll ever be.
That’s allI’llever be.
DELILAH
As I step inside the house, Austin’s Mercedes peels away from the curb with a roar of the engine that echoes in my ears before fading into the distance. With a huff, I lean against the door and squeeze my eyes tightly closed.
I’m overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. I’ve never felt so conflicted in my life. As much as I want to hold myself back so these feelings won’t continue to flourish, that’s no longer an option. The moment he looks at me, all my good intentions are thrown out the window. He makes me want things that aren’t possible. Things he can’t give me.
Or maybe I should say—won’t give me.
“Where’ve you been for the past two hours?”
Startled, my eyelids fly open, and I find Mom sitting in the armchair facing the door. Her face is drawn and there are lines of tension bracketing her mouth.
I clear my throat. “I stayed at school to watch practice.”
She jerks a brow as her voice drops. “Football practice?”
“Yes.”
“Since when are you interested in that? You certainly weren’t when you were with Jasper.”
The lie shoots out of my mouth before I can stop it. “Everly asked me to hang out with her.”
I can almost see the wheels in Mom’s brain turning. “Everly Donahue?”
When I jerk my head into a nod, her eyes narrow. “The new girl who’s friends with Summer Hawthorne?”
I wince, not expecting her to know who Everly is, much less who she hangs out with. “Yes.”
“Is she the one who drove you home afterward?”
Shit.
I consider lying again but quickly discard the idea. Mom has already proven that she’s paying more attention than previously.
“No. Austin drove me home.”
The edges of her lips wilt. “I thought I made myself perfectly clear this morning when I said I didn’t want you hanging around or getting involved with that boy. Whether you want to see it or not, he’s trouble. He’ll only bring you down.”
