Page 9 of Riding the High

“I’ll be there in ten,” he huffs out before I hear the phone click. He’s pissed. He just started dating Lindsay Billings, who probably won’t like that he’s leaving to pick up his little sister’s friend at two a.m., but I don’t have anyone else to call. CeCe is God knows where. She and Olivia left with two football players an hour ago when I told them I was staying with Silas, and I would’ve walked the three miles home before calling my dad.

I don’t go back in to tell Silas I’m leaving. He took some kind of psychedelic with two of his football buddies an hour ago. They’re in their offseason now and taking full advantage.

I’m practicing in my mind how I’m going to end things with Silas tomorrow when the headlights of Cole’s pickup truck round the corner of Second and Williams Street.

I wave a hand so he sees me.

“I’m starting a job at Jennings Décor tomorrow for the summer,” I say as I get in and grab my seatbelt. “I told him I didn’t want to stay late, but he never listens.”

Cole looks at me with a stern face, which I hate. He’s only a couple years older than me but he thinks he’s so much more mature. He just got his own cabin at his family’s ranch too, which doesn’t help. He really has his life together. We weren’t surprised when he chose something other than ranching as a career. CeCe said he’s never really liked ranching much, and that he wants to make a difference in the community instead. He’s attending the Police Foundations program at our local technical college which he’s almost finished. As if he needed a boost in the hotness meter, becoming a cop definitely does it for me. Something about a uniform and him being ready to protect and serve makes him even sexier than before.

I sigh and look out the window. I’m used to being attracted toCole, I just don’t usually let the thoughts roll through my mind. But what can I say. Four vodka coolers later and here we are.

“You can’t be surprised he didn’t listen to you. In case you haven’t noticed, guy’s a dick,” Cole grunts.

“Thanks, Captain Obvious.”

“Look, I’m leaving for Grosvenor in a couple of days to help out there for the summer, and CeCe is moving to Seattle in six weeks. You won’t be able to call me for a ride. And besides, it’s going to get weird if I’m leaving to pick you up like this when my sister doesn’t even live here anymore. Lindsay was pissed tonight.” He mentions his latest fling.

“Can’t you just tell her I’m like your sister? It’s very brotherly of you to come get me.” I grin at him, but he doesn’t return my smile.

“I don’t think she’d buy that. This is the second time since I started dating her that you’ve called me after midnight. Last time she accused me of screwing you on the side.”

I make a weird scoffing noise. Lindsay is jealous? Of me? She looks like a Victoria’s Secret model. Long legs; thin, silky straight hair. I am the polar opposite of that. Shorter, curvy, and my hair is wild and out-of-control curly. Unless he’s looking for how far he can stray outside his type …

“Well, obviously that’s not happening. As if you’d ever try to hook up with me. She’s drop-dead gorgeous.” I laugh at how ridiculous it sounds.

Cole’s jaw sets, and he’s wearing that annoyed look again.

“And you know, you don’t have to answer when I call,” I continue, because it’s true, he doesn’t. But he always does. “One day you’ll be asking me for help.”

He laughs in disbelief. “I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’m not going to have you walk home. What kind of almost-cop would I be?” His annoyance melts into a soft grin and my heart flutters in my chest.

God he’s gorgeous. He was always solid from playing sports and working with Wade at the ranch, but since he started training to be a cop, he’s filled out even more. I heard him say once that he works out two hours a day now. I sigh and look out the window at the dark sky as we drive.

“Well, thank you, Cole.”

“Y’owe me. What’s that now? Eight? Ten favors?” He playfully pushes at my shoulder.

He turns onto my street, Royal Oak Drive. We live in the part of town that’s been dubbed Pill Hill, because most of the people that live here are doctors, shrinks or lawyers. It’s a large spread of traditional Cape Cods and colonials on perfectly manicured tree-lined streets. You’d think I would love it, but the truth is I can’t wait to have my own place. Something small, off the beaten path, maybe boho chic, messy and a little chaotic.

“Eleven actually,” I tell him, keeping my gaze out the window.

“When it’s my turn to cash in, I’m gonna collect big-time,” Cole says as he pulls up to my house. It might be the only one on the street that still has its front lights on. My dad is up, and probably waiting to berate me for my life choices—tell me how everything I do affects him and our family. Same old, same old.

I grimace as I look up at our six-bedroom colonial, one of the biggest on the street. My dad is a wealthy man. He was a successful lawyer before becoming a local alderman last spring. Now he has congress aspirations. He’s running for the third district. Small business affairs, and he also owns commercial properties in downtown Laurel Creek. He didn’t become this successful from missing details. Edward Danforth never misses anything that could affect his reputation, especially not the fact his only daughter is two hours past her curfew. But my feelings, or what’s going on in my life? If it doesn’t fit into his plan for me, he doesn’t mind missing that.

“Well, looks like this night’s just about to get even better,” I say sarcastically.

“He still on you about college?” Cole asks, putting the truck in park. The muscles in his forearms ripple as he does so, and I do my best not to stare.

I fail as always.

“Yeah, says horticulture isn’t a career.” I’ve always wanted to be a florist, maybe own my own shop someday. “Wants me to do something noble and serving. Like teaching or law. Funny thing is, I would never want to be a lawyer.”

“Do you want to teach?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I love kids, I’ve had some good teachers. I have the grades to do it. But sometimes I feel like no matter what I do, it will disappoint him just a little.”

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