I lean my hip against the railing and wait.

Max’s text is on my phone, burning a hole through my pocket.

After the awesome day we had on Saturday, I thought things had changed.

But maybe not.

Can’t come. Driving to school with my sisters.

That’s all she replied when I asked her what time we should meet up for guitar lessons this morning.

Dammit.

I wish she’d just tell the truth already.

It’d make life so much easier.

It’s not fair…all this baseball bullshit. She should be able to stand her ground and say that she wants to make room for guitar in her life. She wants to make room for me.

Crossing my arms, I stare into the parking lot. I don’t even know what I’m waiting for, really. I guess I just want to catch her eye and check in, make sure I haven’t lost what we gained on Saturday.

“Dirty Little Secret” catches my ear and I turn towards the sound, smiling as the Barlow sisters pull into school. The music is blaring from their car as they all sing and laugh together.

I hold my breath, waiting for Max to get out. I keep my eyes on her, hoping she’ll sense my gaze.

She does and her eyes pop to mine before quickly darting away again. She closes the car door and acts like I’m not standing here staring at her.

I frown, clenching my teeth against the disappointment.

So much for being “starving.” She looks like she couldn’t care less right now.

Holding in my annoyance, I stay put, my frustration only increasing when Maddie wraps her slender arms around Holden’s neck and gives him a good-morning kiss.

Looks like they’re allowed to go public.

I try to catch Max’s eye when she walks right past me but she keeps facing Chloe, chatting away like I’m the invisible man.

Talk about being booted off cloud nine.

I stalk into the school, finding Velocity in our usual hangout spot. I try to act interested while Austin dishes out the gossip on Luke and how he’s the school thief. I’m kind of surprised—I didn’t see that one coming—but I also don’t really care.

All I want right now is to be sitting in a music room with Max, jamming on the guitar and having a good time. I want to hold her hand and walk her to class.

I want to kiss her again.

The bell rings and we go our separate ways. I spot Vincent in the hallway. He’s scowling at people, silently warning them not to make him part of their gossip. He leaves a trail of nervous expressions in his wake.

I catch his eye and give him a closed-mouth smile the way I always do. I figure there’s no harm staying on the good side of Vincent Mancini. Even though he never smiles back or acknowledges me, at least I know he can’t hold anything against me.

I’m kind of glad he’s been cleared. It sucks that Luke set him up. I don’t get why guys like that have to blame it on somebody else. Why can’t people just own up to the truth already? We’re humans. We’re not perfect. There’s always a reason behind people’s behavior.

My shoulders slump as I apply that theory to Max.

There’s a reason she doesn’t want to tell her dad about guitar…or me. She’s trying to protect it. Protect him.

She doesn’t want to hurt anybody, but in the process she’s hurting herself. Denying herself something she really wants.

I have to make her see that it’s okay to tell the truth.

* * *

I don’t get my moment until school’s over for the day.

Racing down the hallway, I manage to bump into her just as she’s leaving class. I’m puffing and no doubt look like an idiot as I gently drag her away from the crowd and into a nook around the corner.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, checking to make sure the coast is clear.

I box her in with my arms, hoping she won’t find it intimidating.

Who am I kidding?

It’s Max.

She could kick my ass.

I grin, loving what a contradiction she is. For all her nervous angst and secrecy, she’s a wildcat that could unleash hell if she had to. She’s as strong and athletic as most of the Pitbulls, and I’d bet money on her to win any physical fight.

It’s the emotional fights that seem to scare her the most.

“I need to talk to you.”

Her face flickers with guilt and she looks to the floor between our feet. “I’m sorry about this morning, okay? I’m just trying to figure out when I can fit guitar in. My sisters really need me right now. After everything that’s happened, I can’t be sneaking off to see you.”

“What about your free period tomorrow? I don’t mind ditching class to meet up with you.”

“You can’t ditch class.”

“I’ll fake a headache or something.”

Her blue eyes spark with amusement. “Now who’s the liar?”

“Come on.” I brush my fingers down her face, remembering the song she gave me in the car on Saturday. Man, that was a triumphant moment. I haven’t been able to get “Starving” out of my head since. “You can’t give up on guitar…or us. You’re too good. We’re too good.”

Her expression softens with a dreamy smile before she shakes her head with a wince. “It’s getting too hard to hide it. I can’t keep lying to my family.”

“Then tell them the truth.”

She opens her mouth to argue but I plant my lips on hers before she can speak. She tastes so sweet and intoxicating, so I deepen the kiss, loving the way her fingers skim down my torso and curl into my shirt.

Pulling back as swiftly as I started, I brush my lips on the tip of her nose and walk away.

If I leave her wanting a little more, maybe that will be motivation enough for her to tell people what she really cares about, and ultimately set herself free.