AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How’d your test go?” he asks, handing the barista his money.
“What test?”
“The one you needed cookie dough for.”
“Oh. Technically it was a quiz.” I shake my head.Not the point, Kate.“It was fine,” I tell him.
I hike my bookbag a little higher onto my shoulder, unsure if I should stick around and finish this conversation like an adult or book it out of here, thanks to the dream I had––again––starring the man in front of me.
Seriously, I’ve gotta stop running into this guy. It’s messing with my head. I don’t even like him. And after our little car ride from the grocery store? I’m afraid we’re crossing into dangerous territory.Friendlyterritory. And I’m not sure I can be friends with him. Not when my subconscious is already attached. Which is wrong and inappropriate on so many levels.
You’re sexually frustrated and nothing more,I remind myself. It’s normal. Completely. Totally. Normal.
“You gonna visit your family this next weekend?” he prods.
“Huh?” I shake my head and look up at him, attempting to focus on his question instead of an escape plan.
“Blake mentioned you usually visit family on the weekends but stayed home to study yesterday.”
“Oh. Uh, yeah. I did. I have another test I need to prepare for, so…”
It’s partially true. Idohave a test coming up in Litwak’s class, and I studied for a solid hour before turning on the television and watching a documentary on orcas. It was crazy. Sometimes, they hunt great white sharks and like to coordinate their hunting tactics with other members of their pod. They’re also hella smart and mourn the loss of their loved ones. How insane is that? But it was nice having the place to myself. Kind of lonely, but it is what it is, and I’m not naive enough to think it’s anyone else’s fault but my own.
As the barista hands Mack his boring black coffee, I take a sip of my latte, practically burning the shit out of my tongue. I hiss, my nose scrunching as he looks at me again and prods, “So, are you going next weekend?”
“To visit my family?”
“Yeah.”
“I, uh, I haven’t decided yet,” I lie, blotting the dribble of hot coffee from my bottom lip and wiping it on my jeans. “Probably not.”
“If you want me to drive you––”
“I’m fine.” I head outside without a backward glance, the cool wind ruffling my hair as I cradle my cup of molten hot deliciousness to my chest.
I need to get out of here.
Because there’s something about him. The way he saw through my lie so easily, getting straight to the point and recognizing the truth. I can’t go see my parents until I have my license back, especially when they aren’t even aware of the seizure leading to having my license revoked in the first place.
And even though my friends bought the lie about my test and my reason for deciding to stay home yesterday, Macklin didn’t. Because he’s as observant as shit.
And it’s unnerving.
Not only does the way he watches me get under my skin, but he also makes me curious. I shouldn’t be. I’ll only wind up disappointed when he grows bored of our conversations and finds someone else to annoy––and intrigue. And I’m tired of being disappointed. But I can’t help it. He isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met. And the way he picks up on the tiniest of details? It’s…dangerous. Especially for a girl like me who likes to keep herself closed off from the world. It’s safer.
It’s what I should be doing. Keeping my distance. Both physically and emotionally. And after our little chat at the grocery store? I’m afraid I’ve been failing on both accounts when it comes to Macklin Taylor.
I keep my head down and hurry along the asphalt path toward my next class, determined to put some much-needed distance between me and the guy with his boring cup of coffee who started popping up left and right as soon as he saw me at my most vulnerable.
Heavy footsteps echo behind me as Mack races to catch up, refusing to leave me alone. “Are you off to your next class?”
I stop short and face him fully. “Are you following me?”
“No?”
“Why are you on campus?”
“Theo left his laptop at my mom’s house yesterday, so I dropped it off at his class and wanted to grab a cup of coffee before work. That a problem?” he challenges.
