“Mr. Jenkins called in that he isn’t feeling well, so y’all will have a free period.” People start chatting excitedly before Mrs. Burke even finishes. “I know, I know, y’all have been excited to spend this class working on math, but oh, well, you’ll have to make do.” She puts her hands on her round hips and sweeps the classroom with her sternest look. “Just don’t leave the school premises and don’t do anything that will land you in my office, ‘cause we’ll have a problem then.”
As quickly as she got here, she’s out of the classroom, probably back to dealing with another problem that needs her attention.
Oh well, I guess I can get an early start on my homework.
I stack my books together and shove them into my backpack.
If only Becky were here now, we could have gone to the quad or something, but she has history.
“C’mon.” Emmett throws the strap of his backpack over his shoulder and then grabs mine.
“What are you doing?” I ask, looking at him in confusion.
“We have a free period, right?”
“Um, yeah…”
Didn’t Mrs. Burke just say so?
“Then let’s go.”
“Go where? I figured I’d go to the library and work on some homework,” I say, but he isn’t listening. Most people have already left the classroom, Emmett right behind them. “Emmett!” I hiss, hurrying after him. “Where are you going?”
He turns around, flashing me a grin, but doesn’t stop walking. “Let’s go do something fun.”
“Fun? What fun?”
“Do you trust me, Kitty?”
“That’s not the issue here.” I sigh and glance over my shoulder. “Let’s just go to the library and—”
“Kitty?” Emmett quirks a brow, waiting for me to look at him.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
He stops abruptly, and I crash into his chest. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he steadies me. I lift my head until our eyes meet.
“Do you trust me?” Emmett repeats slowly.
The heat in his dark irises makes me suck in a breath. There’s an intensity in his gaze that is so big and overwhelming, much like him—like a wave that’s going to crash over me and pull me under.
But the thing about Emmett? I don’t want to resist the pull.
I graze my teeth over my bottom lip, letting it pop. “Yeah,” I rasp finally. “I trust you.”
The smile that spreads over Emmett’s lips is blinding. His palm slides down my hand, fingers intertwining with mine. His touch is firm and strong as he pulls me after him. “Let’s go then.”
EMMETT
“Your truck?” Kate whisper-yells, looking around like she expects somebody to jump at us and demand an explanation. Ha, like that’ll happen. “Are you crazy? Mrs. Burke told us, explicitly, not to leave the premises.”
I chuckle at her nervousness. You’d think I was taking her to rob a bank or some shit. “We’re not leaving the premises, Kate. Chill.”
“Then where are we going?”
I lift my brows. “I thought you said you trusted me.”
“I did,” she says, then corrects quickly, “I do.”
“I’m not going to get us in trouble.”
She exhales slowly, relaxing a little. “Okay.”
“C’mon.” I tug her hand, pulling her after me. With my free hand, I grab my keys out of my pocket and unlock the truck.
“You can let go of my hand, you know. I’m not going to run. And even if I did, I don’t think I’d get too far anyway.”
I look down at our joined hands, tightening my grip for a second. It feels nice holding her hand like this. I don’t think I’ve ever done it before, held a girl’s hand just because I wanted to—not even with Becky, and we’ve been friends forever.
“I’m not afraid you’ll run.”
“Then why not let go?”
“Why should I?”
“Guys don’t hold hands.”
“And you know that how, exactly?” I ask slowly, not really knowing if I want to hear her answer.
Was there somebody else? Before? Is that the reason why she’s so reluctant to give me a chance? Give anybody a chance really?
A hot wave of jealousy hits me out of nowhere, and holding her hand is the only thing keeping me sane as my vision turns red.
Chill the fuck out. You don’t even know if there was somebody.
“It’s all the girls talk about,” Kate says, shrugging.
“Oh really?”
“Don’t be like that.”
“Like what?”
She waves her free hand toward me. “That. Whatever that is.”
“Let’s be clear about one thing.” Coming to a stop in front of my truck, I pull her closer to me. “You’re not one of those girls, and I’m not one of those guys.”
Kate tilts her head to the side. “Then what are we?”
“Just Katherine and Emmett. And whatever they say, it doesn’t apply to us.” I nod my head decisively. There.
Kate is quiet for a moment. She nibbles at the inside of her cheek as she thinks. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know. I know me, and I see you, Kitty.”
Inhaling sharply, I take a step back. “Now, let’s have some fun.”
With my free hand, I pull the door to my truck open. My duffle bag is on the floor; I grab it and shut the door.
“You should really let me carry my bag.”
“Not happening.” I shake my head. Locking the truck once more, I pull her away. “Let’s go. Time’s a-wastin’.”
“Why do you always have to be so stubborn?”
“Why do you always have to ask so many questions?” I shoot back instantly.
She groans. “You drive me mad, Emmett Santiago.”
“The feeling’s mutual, baby.”
“I’m not your baby.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I find her glaring at me, her lips pursed. “We’ll see about that.”
Kate harumphs but doesn’t protest any longer as I lead her to the empty football field.
“You sure nobody is going to come here?” Kate asks as I let the bags fall to the ground on the sidelines. Crouching down, I open the duffle and take the football out of it.
“And do what?” I ask as I get back up, throwing the football up in the air and catching it.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs but still looks unsure. “Ask us what we’re doing here?”
“Trust me, Coach is the first who’d have us here all day long if he could do that. We’re good.”
“If you say so.” Kate turns her attention to me. “Shouldn’t you have asked one of the guys to join you if you wanted to play?”
I keep leisurely throwing the ball while giving Kate all my attention. Today her dark hair is loose, falling over her shoulders. She’s dressed in another simple top and a faded pair of jeans that fit her like a second skin.
“I want to play with you.”
“Me?” Her mouth falls open in surprise, making me chuckle. “You want to play with me?”