Chapter Forty
Jared
I’m so attuned to her that I can spot her without even trying. I saw her hunched over gasping for air I thought immediately fifty different terrible thoughts in less than a second. Without a moment more of hesitation, I pulled over and parked then ran to her.
She didn’t turn around until I shouted her name and her skin looked paler than usual. It might be because my truck’s lights were directly on her. Still, I was worried. When she wouldn’t budge I went all caveman and picked her up.
As I place her in the passenger seat I hear a faint grumble. “Don’t,” I say.
“I am sorry were you being chivalrous just then hauling me over your shoulder like a sack of dog food? My bad. Thank you graciously for reminding me that walking is overrated.”
“Sarcasm really?” I can’t believe her snippy lip service still has my heart pounding a billion times a second. Any sensible person would have walked away licking their wounds. “You’re the most infuriating person I’ve ever met. You’re so unbelievably stubborn. Can’t you just say thank you?”
“Thank you.”
I roll my eyes. I know she’s being a smartass right now. “You’re welcome,” I mock.
“Where are we going?”
“Surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
I chuckle. “Yes, you do.”
She elevates a brow. “Do I?”
Her expression and her voice are making me question myself. “Y-yes?”
She huffs. “Oh, I can’t do this anymore. Yes, you’re right I like surprises. Most of the time.”
“See. I told you. Why were you running without bright clothes on?” Juliet doesn’t strike me as the irresponsible type.
She groans. “It’s nothing that concerns you.”
“Why do you do this? I’m trying to be your friend and all you do is snap at me. You don’t treat Chase and Addy like this.”
I glance over at her and notice her wince. I return my attention to the road and pretend that I didn’t see it.
“They’re not talking to me right now. So apparently, I am a horrible friend. You should count your blessings that we’re just acquaintances.”
“I hate to break it to you Juliet, but we’re a little more than that. I don’t kiss random people I barely know.”
She snorts. “Fantastic. You know what you can drop me off here. I can make it to my house safely.”
“You could, but I told you I was taking you somewhere first.”
“Why are you doing this Jared? I told you I won’t be a side piece. I won’t date someone my teammate dated. I have rules.”
I pull over and say, “We’re here.”
I get out and walk over and help her out of my truck. I take her hand and don’t let go. She doesn’t jerk away. That makes me smile. I grab a flashlight that is in my glove box and shut my door. I click on the flashlight and guide her into the wooded area. We continue toward a path that leads to clearing with a creek running through and a few giant boulders resting along it.
“Where are we?” she asks.
“When I can’t envision the future my dad’s mapped out for me, I come here. No one tells me what colleges I need to be looking at. No one tells me what meals I need to eat. No one tells me what training I need to focus on. Out here it’s just this creek running steady, leading to wherever, these trees growing as high as they can, and these rocks.”
She closes her eyes then looks up at me. “It’s nice.”
“It’s freeing.”
She nods. “Do you know why I tend to have panic attacks?”
“Because you put pressure on yourself.”
She shakes her head. “I’m the smart one. I know my mom doesn’t mean to label Layla and me, but she does. Layla is so good with people and cheerleading. Everyone is drawn to her light. Me though, oh, wow. At family functions like reunions or dinners, they would sneer at me and say, ‘There she goes again. Stuffing her nose in a book.’ My dad didn’t mind. He said I was feeding my brain.” She kicks a pebble. “He never judged us. That’s why I miss him so much. He didn’t think I was weird because I’d rather read then be thrown into others drama fest. He didn’t force me to be things I wasn’t. My mom. God. My mom is constantly harping on me to join clubs, and be more like Layla. Going off to parties instead of hanging in my room.”
Tears slip down her cheeks and I can’t help it anymore. I pull her to me and kiss her. She doesn’t jerk away from me. Her mouth fuses with mine and it’s freaking amazing! I part from her fantastic lips and breathe, “You’re wonderful the way you are.” Then I draw her face back to mine.
We remain like this for I don’t know how long but my cell rings. I break from kissing her and pull it from my back pocket. “Shit!” I grumble. “It’s my dad.”
She nods then she says, “Oh my God is that the time?”
I grin and nod. “Hi, Dad.”
“Where the hell are you? Do you know what time it is? You broke curfew boy!”
“I know. I’ll be home in a little bit.”
“Your ass better be walking through this door in the next five minutes or you can consider yourself grounded and riding to and from school with me.”
Juliet remains quiet even though I know she can hear every bit of this conversation.
“Okay.” I hang up and smile at her.
“You’re in trouble again.” She frowns.
I shake my head. “It’s fine I know how to get out of it. Let’s get you home.”
“I can’t believe it’s ten-thirty. My mom is going to freak out,” she whispers.
“Do you want me to talk to her?”
She reaches up and kisses my mouth. “I can do it. Thanks for offering.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
When we reach my truck, she seems to shy away from me. “What is it?” I ask.
“You really haven’t been sending me any gifts?”
Why does she want to know if it’s me? Is that why she let me kiss her?
“What do you think?” I ask avoiding the answer.
She hops into the truck. I wait for her answer, but she says, “I want to know.”