Page 19 of Furious
Heather’s tone is laced with bitterness. “Yeah, but you had a million rules. Strict curfews, not hanging out if there were no adults in the house, separate rooms if we went on a trip together.”
“That’s normal. You were a minor. It was our job as parents to protect you.” Diane turns to look at me. “Didn’t Kelly have a curfew and similar rules for you, Zara?”
I’m caught between a rock and a hard place, but there would be no point in lying. “She did.”
“Zara!” Heather groans. “Whose side are you on?”
“Babe,” I apologize. “My mom was super strict.”
Mrs. Pullin’s tone is triumphant. “See? Regardless, Heather. Going back to our original conversation, you’re nineteen. Don’t let your college years pass you by grieving a relationship that’s gone forever. As your mother, I’m worried that I haven’t seen you date anyone since Atlas. I want you to promise me that you won’t close your heart if someone good comes along. You’re going to the Gamma party tonight, right? It’s tradition to party at the Gamma house after the first home game of the season.”
“Yeah, Zara and I are going. But it’s gonna be a rager, mom. People aren’t looking for love or a relationship on a night like tonight. A hookup maybe, but that’s happens when everyone is wasted.”
That doesn’t go down well with Mrs. Pullin. “Wasted? Do I have to remind you girls that you’re still underage? What would people think if the sheriff’s daughter was drinking illegally?”
Yeah. When it comes to illegal stuff, I think a little booze should be the least of the sheriff’s worries.
The race the Gamma president and my ex-boyfriend have planned for one a.m. is not only totally illegal because of the motorcycle ban; money is going to be exchanged, speed limits are going to be ignored and someone could get hurt.
The butterflies in the pit of my stomach feel like they’re made of lead as they flutter the wings at my plan to sneak out of the party and go to the race.
Chance and Lev don’t know that I know. I have no idea how they’re going to sneak out with a house full of people, but I’m going to keep my eyes peeled on them.
“The line at the concession stand is endless.” The Sheriff comes back with popcorn and sodas for all of us. “I’m glad I didn’t miss puck drop.”
“Kirk,” his wife accepts a bucket of popcorn from him and passes it to me. “You could have pulled rank and skip to the front of the line.”
The Sheriff shakes his head. “I’m not here on duty, Diane. Power is a privilege, not something to be used to get ahead.”
His wife’s reply is covered by the music announcing the teams coming out of the tunnel.
I immediately spot Lev and Chance looking handsome in their blue and silver Cove Knights jerseys.
“Don’t the guys look much taller on skates?” Heather says.
“They do,” I chuckle. “Not that they aren’t already a foot taller than me, even without. Anyway, I thought you wouldn’t be sitting here with us tonight. Aren’t there any cheerleaders here?”
Heather sighs. “I wish. Very few of us know how to ice skate. The only other way would be to have a raised platform on the ice for the cheerleaders, like some of the NHL teams do. But it would be so cool if the cheer team recruited a special squad of ice skaters. I would love to perform here.”
“You ice skate?”
She rolls her eyes. “Duh. Scott always took us here to skate off season. I learned at the same time as the boys.”
“I’ve never tried, but it looks fun. Maybe you could teach me?”
“Or maybe you could ask your boyfriend to teach you.” Diane Pullin says. “It would make for some really romantic dates.”
Heather snorts at her mom’s dreamy expression. “You watch too many rom-coms, Mom. Learning how to ice skate isn’t very romantic. There’s a lot of falling, and a lot of bruises.”
She twists her lips, less than enthused by the sound of that. “Maybe then Zara is right. You don’t want to look uncoordinated in front of your boyfriend. And look, Heather.” She points at a blond guy on the ice who’s skating alongside Chance. “There are so many handsome guys on the team.”
Heather pinches the bridge of her nose, unable to hide her frustration. “Mom, that’s Corey Collins. He’s dating Candace, my sorority president. You don’t want me to try to steal her boyfriend, right?”
Mrs. Pullin’s eyes widen. “Of course not, sweetie. Sisters before misters, especially when it’s your sorority sisters. That was just an example. You don’t have to take everything I say so literally.”
That seems to finally appease Heather. “Like I said, I’m not looking for a boyfriend. But if I was, I guess the new Gamma president is kind of cute.” She says, pointing out Dave Fox on the ice.
“Ooh,” her mother coos. “You’re right. Dark and handsome. Do we know where his family is from and what they do?”
