Page 58

that they didn’t see her. The stupid twig she randomly stepped on from the

line of trees a few feet away from the bleachers had other ideas. It snapped

like a firecracker going off in the dead of night. Arabella froze as June and

Sarah broke apart. June scrambled away while Sarah grabbed for

something, anything, to shield them. She came up with her jacket and thrust

it over her head. As if that was going to hide anything.

June’s dark eyes locked with Arabella’s. June stared fearlessly, her lips

swollen from Sarah’s kisses, her pupils still dilated. She was still breathing

hard too. And then, as Arabella just stood there, June lifted one shoulder in

challenge, as if to say that she didn’t care if Arabella would tell the whole

school. She did glance worriedly in Sarah’s direction though, and it was

clear Sarah did care. That she didn’t want people to know. It was probably

why they were hiding out under the privacy of the bleachers.

Arabella felt something in her stomach that she’d never felt before. No,

she’d felt it, but she’d never really admitted to herself what it was. Staring

at June, with her mussed hair and huge pupils and heaving chest, Arabella

felt desire. It wasn’t the first time she’d been turned on by a woman, but it

was the first time she’d felt that prickling awareness when it came to June.

Arabella knew all about herself. She knew she wasn’t truly into guys.

That was the real reason why she didn’t want to do anything else with Joe.

And she’d called enough girls sluts before that she didn’t want to be one

herself. She always made it seem like her parents had a curfew for dates.

That they were strict. In fact, they didn’t care who she dated or where she

went. They did, but not anywhere near the extent she made people believe.

She’d known for a few years that she was probably never going to be into

guys, but that wasn’t something she could risk anyone else finding out. Joe

was a good cover, even if he was annoying. She just wanted to make it

through the hell that was high school, graduate, and leave Cincinnati

behind, and then, she promised herself, she’d be brave enough to admit the

truth to herself and her family.