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Where I belong.
No matter how much I try to stop myself, I look back, only to see Dalton standing there in shock as I ride away with uncontrollable tears racing down my face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Dalton
Fuck!
I stand here in shock as I watch Natalie race away from what was no doubt the most amazing kiss ever.
I know she’s scared. Hell, I am too. I’ve never felt this way about a girl. I don’t understand why she’s fighting this so much.
It’s obvious there’s something between us. That kiss more than proved it.
I know our families have history, but that’s their problem, not ours. There’s no reason why that should stop us from being together.
I turn in frustration, cross the riverbed, and head straight up the hill for my run. If there was ever a day that I needed an ass-kicking, it’s right now.
I run until my legs burn and I can barely catch my breath.
Stopping on top of the hill, I drop to the ground, pain radiating through my entire body. Trying to calm my breath, all I can think about is that kiss, which is making my heart pound for another reason.
The sun begins to set so I drag my ass off the ground and slowly make my way back to my house.
“Have a good run?” Mom asks as I enter the house.
“No,” I bite out.
She stares at me for a beat, then raises her eyebrows, feigning interest in my life, which is rare. “Want to talk about it?”
I grab one of the premade protein drinks out of the fridge and slam it shut. “No. I’m going to go take a shower.”
She doesn’t say anything else, which doesn’t surprise me. She barely asks questions or engages in my life. As her youngest child who’s about to graduate, I sometimes think she has senioritis more than I do.
I step in the shower when it’s still freezing cold, letting what feels like icy shards of water pound on my sore body. Closing my eyes, I relish in the feeling of the water slowly getting warmer, wondering what Natalie is doing right now.
After I finish my shower, I dry off, get dressed, and plop down on my bed with my phone in my hand, ready to figure out what is going on.
Why are you fighting this?
Bubbles instantly appear and disappear a few times, but I don’t send another text. I wait for her reply. I’ve had enough with the games between us.
You know why.
No, I don’t. Tell me.
Our families will never approve.
Fuck our families. This is our lives, not theirs.
Easy for you to say. I care about what my father thinks. Don’t you care what your father thinks?
No. He’s never cared about me a day in his life.
I’m sorry to hear that.
It’s the truth.
