Page 24 of Drive Me Wilde

I shake my head. "You can stay. I'll walk home. I need the exercise to clear my head."

"It's three miles," she reminds me unnecessarily.

"I'll be fine. I've got my cap. See you later." I take off before she can try to talk me out of leaving. I spot Jameson standingin the doorway of the shed. Our cold gazes clash and take hold of each other for a moment, then I pick up my pace. Jameson Wilde, he is one of the reasons I dreaded coming back home. Should have listened to my gut instinct.

ten

. . .

Jameson

Even angry as I feel, I can't pull my gaze away from Indi as she walks past the shed and down the long gravel drive to the road. It seems there is no way for us to be civil to each other. We are both constantly on defense. Too much shit has passed between us, and she still hates me—as much as ever. And that thought makes me feel like pure shit. There were times when we were teens that I stupidly thought I might have a chance with Indi, that if I could get her to see me in a different light, she'd see that we belonged together, but I was delusional back then and it seems I haven't grown up much in that respect.

I walk back to the old dirt bike. It's still missing a chunk of the front fender from that day, another one of those notorious Wilde family episodes that made the community turn against us even more. But they didn't know the whole story, and of course, they never asked to hear it. Everyone was always quick to judge us. If there was trouble, we caused it, and for no good reason—just to ruin everyone's fun—as Indi seemed to see it. And in some ways, they weren't wrong. My dad's lifestyle and shady connections brought plenty of trouble to Rockhurst, and that day was no different. That day could have been much worse.Even though that day ended in total catastrophe, it could have been so much worse.

Then

Ronan and Colin are throwing cereal at each other as I step into the kitchen. My bare feet crunch the thrown pieces into dust.

"Fuck. You pigs." I pick up one foot, wipe it off, then step clear of the mess and wipe clean the other foot. I pick up the box of cereal on the counter and give it a shake. "Did you throw all of it on the floor, assholes?"

Ronan and Colin point at each other. They're twins, but they look nothing alike, and they're different in every way except they're both idiots. I grab a piece of bread out of the bag and shove it in the toaster.

Nate walks in next and follows the same cereal trail as me. "What the fuck?"

This time it's my turn to point—at the twins.

"Assholes," Nate mumbles and reaches for the cereal box.

"Don't bother," I say.

"Well, shit."

Ronan laughs. "Maybe you can sweep up the crumbs and put them in a bowl."

Zander walks in next. He's only wearing a pair of jeans, and he hasn't bothered to button them up. His hair is standing up in spikes. He yawns and scratches his stomach.

"Rough night, Z?" Colin asks.

A pretty face peers around his naked shoulder. "Morning." It's Roxi, a girl he's been seeing off and on, mostly off. They startthings up, then she gets "too clingy" according to my big brother and then he gives her the brush off. It seems they're back on now.

"Hey, Roxi, hope you weren't expecting any cereal," Ronan says and points to the floor. "Colin and I had a little disagreement this morning on who got the prize ring in the box." Ronan lifts his hand. A green plastic dragon ring is jammed on his finger. "As usual, I won."

Colin rolls his eyes and gets up from the table. "Who's up for a little motocross out on the track? I'm feeling pretty fucking unbeatable this morning."

"I'm up for it," I say and pull the toast out of the toaster.

Roxi sits at the table while Zander gets her a glass of orange juice. "I hear the cheer squad will be doing cheers on top of a float. You guys going to watch the parade?"

"Told you, babe, no interest in that stupid fucking parade." Zander sets the juice in front of her.

Roxi squirms on the chair and sits taller. "Well, you don't have to be such a grump about it. Anyway, I was asking Jameson. His friends, Weston and Zach, will be on the football float." She looks hopefully my direction.

I shake my head. "Not really into parades."

Dad always manages to make his footsteps sound like thunder, only this morning it's fast and furious thunder. He steps into the kitchen wearing an expression that causes all the conversation and movement in the room to stop. His uptight gaze falls on Roxi.

"Zander, I need you to give Roxi a ride back to town." His tone sends a chill through the room.

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