I fall into Eli’s passenger seat and inhale the scent of his car. It smells like his cologne, and I smile to myself, knowing it’s going to be on my clothes long after he drops me off at home.
He gets into the driver’s seat and starts it up. “Darkest Hour” by Memory of a Melody plays through the speakers.
A knock comes on his driver’s side window, and it makes me jump. He rolls it down. “What’s up?” he asks.
Cole leans over, poking his head in. He still holds the bottle of vodka he took from me by the bonfire. His cold eyes sweep over my body and then go to Eli. “Leaving so soon?”
“Just going for a ride,” Eli tells him.
“Sure, you are.” He slaps the hood of the car. “So am I.”
I look over at his Porsche Cayenne parked a few cars down and watch a blonde climb into the passenger seat. She pulls down the visor and fixes her lipstick as if Cole gives a fuck if her lips are fresh.
When I look back at Cole, he gives Eli a smirk. “Make it worth it.” Then he pushes off the door and strolls over to his car.
Eli pulls out onto the winding road, and I look down to see I’m still holding my drink. “Will you stop for a second?” I ask.
“Why?” he asks, sliding his eyes over to me for a quick glance.
“So I can pour this drink out.”
He snorts. “It’s fine.”
“What if we get pulled over? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
He just laughs. “Don’t worry about me, D. It’ll be fine.”
Warmth runs up my spine at the way he called me D. I bite my lips to hide my grin and turn to look out the passenger window. “Where are we going?” I ask nervously.
“To my favorite place,” he says.
My knees bounce with nervousness. This is the first time I’ve ever been alone with Eli. Or any boy. I’ve thought about it a hundred times, but none of those compare to him finally showing an interest in me. We talk here and there in the halls of the school, and I’ve caught him staring a few times. All he did was smile, but I was the first to look away.
I take a small sip of the drink. And hiss in a breath.
He laughs. “Is this the first time you’ve ever had a drink?”
Among other things. “No,” I lie and take another one. The lie burns more than the alcohol. It makes me think of Becky. She lies to everyone about everything. I’m nothing like her. “Yes,” I admit and take another.
He stays silent, but I watch a smile spread across his face lit up by the lights on his dash. He looks fucking gorgeous with a strong jawline and dark hair that looks like it needs a trim falling in his eyes and curling at the ends. He wears a black hoodie and ripped jeans with a pair of tennis shoes. His parents died when he was younger, but his sister is quite a bit older than him. They had Eli when they were older. Aimee met a good businessman and married him. They took Eli in to live with them when their parents passed.
I take another sip as my thighs tighten. I’ve wanted to kiss him for so long, and I pray that tonight is the night that happens.
He slows down the car and exits the road onto a gravel drive. I turn and look out the back window but can only see the red glow from the brakes behind us. “Where are we?” I ask.
“You’ll see.” He remains cryptic, and I take another sip.
He brings the car to a stop and turns it off. “Come on.”
I push open the door and do a three-sixty, looking at our surroundings. “Eli, that’s the Lowes house,” I say, pointing over in the general direction of the only lights on at this time of night.
“I know.” He walks around to the back of his car and pops the trunk.
I follow and watch him unzip a black duffel bag. Before I can see what’s in it, he yanks out a flashlight and zips it back up. “Come on.” He shuts his trunk and grabs my hand. My knees threaten to buckle at the contact. Then he begins to walk me up a hill.
We stay silent. The only sound is our shoes crunching on the ground beneath us. The weather hasn’t been as crazy as usual. We haven’t had any rain in a couple of weeks.
I shiver from the cool night air and take another small sip of the vodka. My chest heats from the burning alcohol, and I take another.
We walk in silence, and I turn to look back at the car, but nothing’s there. Just the dark night surrounding us, hiding us. And I take another sip.
We come to the top of the hill, and my legs falter, bringing us both to a stop. “What are we doing here?” I ask, and my voice shakes.
He turns to face me, his light shining down on the ground. “I told you, this is my favorite place.”
Is he joking? He’s got to be fucking with me. “Eli, this is an abandoned cemetery.”
He shrugs. “And?”
I swallow nervously. “It’s creepy.”
An evil smile lights up his face as bright as the flashlight he holds. “I know.” Then he turns and starts to drag my heavy feet through the bodies laid to rest and never thought of again. I watch as names I’ve known for years in this town but never really knew pass by us. But then there’s one I know all too well. Betty Reynolds—Cole’s mother. She was always so nice to me. She’d go out of her way to say hello or check on you.
“Here we are.” Eli gets my attention as he comes up to the cliff that overlooks the ocean. He releases my hand and sits down on the ledge. When I make no move to get any closer, he turns to look up at me. “Come on.” He pats the spot next to him.
“I’m afraid of heights.” I shake my head; my hand tightens on the cup.
His face grows serious, brown eyes looking up at me. “I’d never let anything happen to you, D.” He lifts his hand to mine. “Come on. I wanna show you something.”
I take in a deep breath and then take another drink before I place my hand in his along with all my trust.
CHAPTER TWELVE
DEKE
WE ENTER COLE’S house to find Austin sitting at the kitchen table with a plate of untouched pasta in front of her, the fork in her hand just pushing it around. The moment we enter, she stands, and her green eyes widen. “Oh.” She’s surprised when she looks at Bennett and then Shane.
Did Cole not mention to her that they were coming?
“Hey, Austin.” Bennett is the first one to greet her; he walks over and gives her a hug. She returns it. Shane stays where he is, settling for a nod. She gives him a smile, but it looks forced.
“I’m off to bed,” I state. “I’m fucking tired.”
Bennett slaps me on the back.
“I’m gonna go for a swim,” Cole announces to no one in particular. He turns, exiting the kitchen, and heads up to their room to change into his board shorts.
“If any of you are hungry, there is spaghetti in the fridge.” Austin mumbles, “Excuse me,” and exits the kitchen after Cole.
I, too, make my way up the stairs, not bothering with dinner. I had a late lunch. Closing my door, I hear them talking through the wall.
“Cole, please talk to me,” she begs him.
Silence.
“You can’t keep doing this.”
“Don’t Austin,” he warns.
“Cole … please …”