Page 115 of Their Dangerous Game
“Yes. Caden didn’t want to leave you alone, but Coach wouldn’t let him bring you into the locker room, even with you asleep.” Jack smiles warily.
I nod. That makes sense. “I’m fine. You can go get changed.”
“Not happening.” He shakes his head. “I know about the tire.”
“It’s probably nothing. Just a horsemen groupie who wants me to leave her men alone.” Ha, joke’s on her. They already left me alone. My gaze focuses on the parking lot. Even though the sun is still trying to shine, the parking lot lights have turned on, creating more shadows.
“We don’t like that you’ve been targeted twice now.” Jack’s voice is stilted.
“Me neither, but they probably aren’t related. Friday night at eleven o’clock equals bored kids wandering around trying to not be bored. The tire? Maybe I didn’t notice the damage and a week of not driving on it made it worse.”
I don’t know if I even believe my story, but it sounds good.
I sigh. “Caden wouldn’t let me just go home, so I’m here. He has my keys. I’ll wait until you guys are done if you want to go in.”
His hand covers mine on the bench. Warmth spreads through me from his touch.
“I’m not leaving you alone, Harper.”
I blow out a breath. I want to rail at him about how they left me alone all day today, so obviously I’m not a priority, but now that I’m a damsel in distress they want to swoop in and fix everything?
And they aren’t using their nicknames for me. It’s Harper this and Harper that. So obviously they’ve decided they’ve had enough of me. I don’t bother looking at him as I let the disappointment settle in my chest.
After five minutes of silence, Jack says, “I like this time of day. That space between night and day when you can see both the sun and the moon in the sky. It’s too bright for stars, but the lights come on because it’s almost dark. It’s this time in between where things aren’t quite ready to end and not quite ready to begin.”
“Twilight,” I murmur and notice he’s still holding my hand. I try to pull it away, but he tightens his hold on me. I turn to him to ask him to let go.
“I figure that’s where you are.” Jack squeezes my hand. He stares at the sky in the distance. “Stuck in the twilight. Not quite what you used to be and not quite who you could be. I guess that’s most of us in high school. You don’t have to be afraid of the change.”
He turns his face toward mine, and I focus on his dark blue eyes, so close to the color of the sky at twilight.
“You don’t have to stay the way you were, but I understand if you don’t want to be what we want you to be.” Jack shrugs and looks up at the sky.
“What do you want me to be?” My words are quiet. I’m almost afraid to break this peace between us.
“Free.” His eyes meet mine and I can feel this swelling in my chest.
“Go get changed.” Luke’s voice shatters whatever moment Jack and I were having.
Jack squeezes my hand before releasing it and stands. For a moment, he and Luke just look at each other, as if they’re communicating without words. Finally Jack walks off to the locker room, leaving me with Luke.
I fold my hands in my lap as he sits beside me. His hair is wet and standing all over the place. He’s back in the jeans and t-shirt he wore to school today.
Something sparks inside me just being near him. I take a deep breath and blow it out because I’m not talking to this asshole.
He watches me, but he doesn’t say anything or move. Just sits.
It’s unnerving. I’m almost willing to take my chance with whoever fucked with my car over Luke Foster.
He licks his thumb and rubs it against my cheek.
“What the hell?” I try to move away, but he grips my arm with his other hand.
“You have grease on your cheek.” He moves his thumb back to wipe at it.
“You’re using your spit to clean my face?” I give him an incredulous look. That’s something moms do to toddlers.
He smirks and whips off his shirt with one hand before using the inside to wipe at my cheek. He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Better?”
