AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her words are getting to me. “Wait, up.” I snatch her arm to pause her fast walking. Trees around us sway, and I wait for a couple of girls to pass us, their gazes on us, before I continue. “So, I fucked up at that party a few months ago, and now I’m the devil in your eyes? So, I have to do your bidding to make up for it? Is this the game we’re playing?”
“Pretty much.” She has a firm expression on her face, as if I’ve played right into her game. “You catch on quickly. Here I thought you didn’t remember me last night.”
“Why don’t you just come clean with your dad about your band, Broken Gears? Then you’re free to come and go as you please without me.” It’s not what I’d intended to say, but the words rushed out.
She exhales, staring down at her hands, a moment of vulnerability coming over her.
“My dad doesn’t approve of me singing. He says I’m wasting my time and threatens that if I pursue it, I have to move out.” Her shoulders drop. “It’s not like I’m made of money.”
I study her as a breeze flutters through her hair and billows her dress around her thighs.
“Singing must be really important to you to risk so much.”
Blinking up at me from her crystal eyes, she straightens her posture.
“Yeah, something like that. Anyway, I gotta go.”
She turns and rushes toward the library building, but I march after her, grabbing her wrist to stop her from running from me. Her touch is electric, jolts sparking up my arm, her skin warm to the touch, soft too, just as I remember her.
“I can’t let you go alone,” I say.
Whirling around to face me, she yanks her arm free from my grasp.
“And why the hell not?”
“You forgot there are assholes out there and someone chased you when you were alone?” I shouldn’t have to use this as leverage, but she’s making it impossible. “Let me drive you where you’re going.”
“No, I don’t need your ride.” She strides off again, and I exhale loudly, catching up to her once more.
“I’m not taking that as a no. So, either come with me to get the car, or this deal is off.”
Her eyes are narrowing on me. “You wouldn’t?”
“Try me, pretty girl.”
Her eyes widen and something soft, something painful, travels across her face.
“Don’t call me that.”
“What will you do if I don’t?” I tease, pushing her as much as she’s been driving me bonkers with her standoffish demeanor.
Emily’s gaze hardens with her obvious frustration.
“You lost the privilege of calling me that the night you ran out on me,” she answers sharply, the pain in her eyes deep.
My gut hurts at seeing her ache, and I want to scoop her into my arms, to do anything to prove to her I fucked up.
“Where’s your car?” she says, finally breaking the silence.
“This way.”
We head away from the library, and the silence between us grows heavier. My chest tightens.
“Listen,” I begin. “I’m sorry for what I did, it’s just–”
“Don’t,” she cuts me off firmly. “That’s ancient history now. You made it clear what I meant to you, so let’s forget it. If you really want to make it up to me, you’ll agree to help me with getting to band practice and gigs by pretending to date me.”
Her words are a cold slap, shutting me down, except I’m not one to give up.
