Page 113 of Love Me in the Dark

“Not a soul.” Because if they did, I’d make their life hell.

“I can stay with you.” All of a sudden, she was a timid mouse, and I couldn’t have that. I liked her fire.

“I got it. You go and I’ll be out there in just a minute.

I watched her go from where I stood in line, and when it was my turn to pay sure enough her salad was based on weight. Not that I’d ever tell her that. When I stepped to the door that led out of the cafeteria. I turned to look at everyone and found all their eyes on me. Usually, I sat at the football table and today I’d walked past without saying a word.

“Don’t follow me,” I ordered before I pushed the door open. If any of them dared showed their faces it would be suicide.

I found Harley sitting in the sun with her held tilted back and enjoying the warmth the rays were providing.

As if she could sense my presence she started talking while she leaned back further. Her eyes still closed.

“Why doesn’t everyone eat out here?”

“Not enough room.” I didn’t tell her it was forbidden. If she knew she’d be inside faster than I could blink.

Sitting down beside her, I placed her plate between us. Her eyes popped open, and she started to laugh. “I may have overdone it on the salad.”

“If this is the way you eat all the time, I’d say you need it. I can’t imagine not eating meat.” I wasn’t going to let one that I thought the reason she had a mountain on her plate was because she was starving. Did her mom even feed her dinner? “What’s dinner like at your house?”

“Why?” She shifted her eyes my way.

I popped one shoulder. “I’m just curious. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t eat meat.”

“For me,” started off slow as if she was gauging what she was willing to tell me. “I usually eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Mymomand herboyfriendseem to fancy steak.” Her lips curled up. “I can’t sit there and see the blood on their plates. It’s disgusting. Hence the PB and J’s.”

Did her mom even see how much she was hurting her daughter?

“I could get down with a PB and J.”

Her brows rose and she smirked. “I bet you could. What’s dinner like at your house?”

“Well, I can say there’s always some meat, but there’s also a vegetable, and some salad. We sit around and talk about our days.”

“And who’s we?” Her fork hovered in front of her mouth while she spoke and then promptly shoved the forkful inside.

“Me, my mom, dad, and my little sister, Payton. Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“I wish. Selfishly for myself, but no. It’s just me and my mom now. And Trent for however long he’ll last.

Damn why did I get a feeling there was more than she was letting on? Not that I expected her to spill her entire life story when we’d barely spoken before today. Still, whatever it was I knew it was profound.

“You’re more than welcome to come over to my house and have dinner. You can have a salad and I’ll even whip you up a sandwich.”

“Thanks,” she nodded like she really meant the word. “I might just take you up on it.”

6

HARLEY

Ididn’t want to be here, but Slade had offered, and I was starving. It had been almost a month of lunches in the courtyard with him trying to pry every single detail of my life out of me, but I’d barely given him anything.

At least he left me alone in the halls. Not that it was helping with the females at San Sebastian High. They still hated me, but I didn’t care as long as they left me alone.

I only had one more month of this hell hole and then I was out of here. But only if I didn’t starve to death first. Which wasn’t going to happen because Slade bought me my lunch every day, but this week was spring break. Meaning no school and no lunches. I wasn’t even sure if he was home. I hadn’t been on a run in three days trying to conserve my energy. My mom and Trent were away on a business trip and hadn’t bothered to leave me any money or even hit the grocery store before they left.

My shaky finger lifted and pressed the doorbell. I stood anxiously waiting to see if anyone would answer the door. After a long agonizing moment, the door swung open to reveal a beautiful girl with golden skin, brown hair and green eyes. She was without a doubt the most striking girl I’d ever encountered.Of course, Slade would have a girlfriend and she’d be a knockout.