Page 35 of Unforgettable
I popped my head back against the seat. “Fire and ice don’t match.”
“I believe Haven Hale will thaw you out.”
Lucas Allen wasn’t wrong about much.
12
Haven
The last week had been nothing but classes and studying. Vicki had tried to get me to go back to the sorority house with her one night for their recruitment dinner. I’d declined once again. I had done my roomie duty of attending with her the first time, but she didn’t need me to hold her hand. And no amount of coaxing would change my mind about joining a sorority, regardless of the deal I had with my father.
The halls of Woodcreek High School were quiet as I headed to Mr. Bridges’s government class. I was there to speak on my father’s behalf liked he’d asked me to. I had almost reached the classroom when my phone rang.Speak of the devil.
“Father, are you checking up on me?”
“I just want to make sure you haven’t forgotten about Mr. Bridges.”
I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. The week had been quiet, without him checking on me. After the funeral service for Ryker’s family, my father and I had exchanged some not-so-nice words. He’d had a fit that I would subject myself to be auctioned off to the highest bidder but only because it would bring bad publicity to his reelection campaign.
I stopped two doors down from the government classroom. “I’m about to go in.”
“Have you told the James boy you’re not participating in the auction?”
I puffed out my cheeks, staving off the anger that always welled up when I spoke to my father. We’d never had a conversation that didn’t end in an argument. In fact, we’d never really talked like a normal father and daughter. If he needed to speak to me, it was mostly to tell me not to do something.
“I’m not going to answer you.”
“Haven.” His tone was commanding.
“Father.”
I hadn’t seen Ryker since that day in church. I didn’t expect to see him either. I was a freshman, and he was a junior. So we didn’t have any classes together. Plus, the campus was big. Vicki had heard that Beverly had tried to contact Ryker with no luck. I chalked that up to Ryker not wanting anything to do with Beverly. She had been at the funeral service. Actually, I thought the entire university had been there, as well as the whole town of Lakemont.
“Let me know how it goes with Mr. Bridges,” my father said before the line went dead.
Bastard.
I had the urge to throw my phone at the locker across from me, the locker that I was just noticing had flowers in front of it with pictures and cards taped to it.
I crossed the hall. The first card I laid eyes on was handmade with glitter and the words,Leigh, you always made us laugh.We love you and miss you.The card was peppered with signatures, hearts, and smiley faces.
The next card was similar, as were all the others taped to the locker.
“Ms. Hale,” a male voice said as shoes scuffed along the floor.
I tore my gaze away from the locker to find Mr. Bridges walking toward me. He was dressed in his signature bow tie and short-sleeved, button-up shirt. “Sad, isn’t it? She was a vibrant and happy young woman.”
“I didn’t know Leigh James went to Woodcreek High,” I said.
“She was a junior and president of her class.” Mr. Bridges’s bald head shone beneath the fluorescent lights above. “Do you know her older brother, Ryker? He goes to Lakemont University.”
“I’ve met him.” If I were being honest, I’d been thinking about him nonstop all week. In particular, I’d been analyzing the question he’d asked about why I was in his life. I certainly didn’t know the answer to that one. “Did you go to the funeral?” I didn’t recall seeing Mr. Bridges there.
“I couldn’t make it. If you happen to run into Ryker, tell him the principal has been trying to get ahold of him.”
I nodded even though I wouldn’t have any reason to see Ryker. Sure, my father wanted me to tell him I wasn’t participating in the fundraiser. But I didn’t need to. I’d already told Ryker that, and he’d also told me to forget about it. So that was settled. But I’d failed to mention to my father the words I’d exchanged with Ryker at the church, only because I didn’t want to talk about Ryker anymore with him.
I was at the point where I was ready to throw caution to the wind and do something about my sexual needs despite the consequences I could face if my father found out.
