Page 148 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

“That’s true.” His eyes rolled up and I could see the wheels in his brain rolling through all the sick ways he could crush Sutton’s happy spirit. Atlee didn’t just hate that girl, he loathed her very existence.

I did not pity Sutton Barlow, nor did I want to know what Atlee was going to do to her. The twisted fate she wound up in, she could thank her father and Carissa for.

“Come on,” I motioned for Atlee to follow me back to where Nova was sitting. “Let’s get this shit over with.”

Surprisingly the game wasn’t that bad. Chuck was a great player. He owned that court and everyone else was just a spectator. He also really fucking hated me. On more than one occasion, he shot me a dirty look when he ran by. I would give him props though. Not once did he lose focus on the game. Even when I taunted him by kissing Nova while he was watching.

Chuck wasn’t stupid, he knew Nova sold herself to save her brother. He had no problem calling us out on that shit. But hedidn’t push it. He respected her decision while making sure I knew he was there, more than willing to step in and risk his life if needed. And that earned him my respect.

So much so that I didn’t argue when Nova suggested that we all go out for something to eat after the game. I could handle an hour or two with her friends. Besides, I liked watching her eat. No one enjoyed food more than Novalee Ford.

As I walked through the halls of St. Agatha’s with my girl, her friends and Atlee, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Happy.

I should’ve known it was too good to be true.

Stepping outside should’ve been my first sign of that.

When we first arrived there was a light drizzle of rain. The storm was in full force now. Pouring down fat drops in heavy sheets. People ran to their vehicles holding newspapers and other various things over their heads, hoping to remain dry, while the wind howled all around us.

Nova huffed out a sigh. “I should’ve brought a coat.”

Yes she should’ve. She was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Deciding to be chivalrous, I said, “wait here, I’ll go get the car.”

I could brave the weather. Getting wet didn’t bother me.

Wet was an understatement. Two steps out into the parking lot my clothes were soaked. Mother nature dumped her fury down at me, causing fabric to stick to my skin, and plaster my hair on my forehead while the wind whipped viciously past me.

The storm was so thick that the street lights fought to cut through it. I tromped through the parking lot trying to see past the rain when a cold chill shot up my spine.

Somewhere in the distance, a voice called out, “Nova!”

I whipped my head around to see Simon walking down the middle of the parking lot with a rifle in his hand, and it was aimed directly at Nova.

My heart stopped as the world slowed down and my eyes swung over to the front doors where Nova stood. I could see every drop of rain falling through the air as she looked up and her brows knit.

Simon was closer to her, than I was to him. I’d never make it in time, but I had to try.

My heart hammered in my chest as my feet slammed down on the pavement splashing rain up around my shoes. One after the other I slammed my feet down, forcing my legs to move as fast as they could…

Bang!

NOVALEE

Screaming and panic erupted out of nowhere.

I couldn’t see it past the blackness clouding my vision, but I could hear it. It was all around. In the hurried footsteps echoing in the distance, and in the frantic tones calling out things I couldn’t quite understand. Something bad happened. I could feel it in the chill spreading though my body.

Why did the back of my head hurt so much? It was throbbing so hard I could hear my pulse in my ears. Was I dying? It felt like I was dying. It was so cold that the world around me faded into muffled sounds lost in the darkness.

Someone was calling my name.

At least I thought it was my name? I couldn’t tell for sure.

There was a cloudy face above me. I wanted to reach out for them, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe past the searing ache shooting up my spine. My entire body hurt, like I’d been shoved onto the pavement.

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