Page 22

Dallas

“Dallas. ”

“Huh?” I whip around as Colson’s voice jars me out of my trance.

He rolls his eyes and the Civic begins to slow down. It’s the last week of school. I should be excited about summer break—something new to take my mind off of the hellscape of the last few weeks. Saturday night did that, if only for a few hours. But I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience, wondering if I imagined it all. But I know I didn’t. No one hallucinates that much, no one feels something like that if it doesn’t happen.

I want it to happen again.

I hope Colson doesn’t bring it up; how he saw me at the top of the stairs and then tackled Alex. But Alex texted me yesterday that Colson wasn’t mad and everything was fine, whatever that means.

He brings the Civic to a halt on the side of the road, still a couple of miles from school.

“You want to drive?” Colson asks.

“ What? ”

He speaks slower this time. “Do. You. Want. To. Drive?”

He can’t be serious. Colson barely lets anyone touch his car, much less drive it. Why would he let me?

“I don’t know how to drive a stick,” I sneer.

He motions to his legs. “Sit in my lap.”

“What?”

“You’re a shrimp, it’ll be fine,” he says dismissively.

“Screw you—” I start to admonish him, but he cuts me off.

“You want to drive or not?”

I do.

Adjusting the seat, he helps me over the console and into his lap. I can’t reach the pedals, but as soon as I rest my hands on the steering wheel, every shred of apprehension I have goes out the window.

“All you have to do is steer,” he shifts and lets off the clutch, “just don’t drive us into a ditch. Or the creek.”

Gripping the wheel with white knuckles, I keep the Civic in the middle of the right lane as Colson slowly speeds up. At least we’re past most of the windy roads along the creek. Now, we just have to make it the rest of the way to school, which is on a relatively straight road.

“Watch out for deer,” Colson taps the brake, making me flinch.

“Stop that!” I snap.

If he slams on the brakes, my face will end up a bloody stamp on the windshield. But when I feel Colson snickering behind me, I can’t help but smile. He feels like him again. He gives the car more gas and I start to feel slightly more comfortable, keeping the wheel steady as we get closer to school.

“Do you think Mom or Scott would teach me to drive this way?” I snort.

“No,” Colson chuckles behind me. “Dad, maybe.”

He’s right. If we still lived in Colorado with our dad, we would’ve been driving every vehicle and every piece of equipment on that ranch by the end of elementary school.

“But mom will probably make me teach you anyway. Might as well start now.”

Soon, the school appears in the distance. Fortunately, traffic isn’t too bad and there’s a clear path to the senior lot. I take the turn slowly and drift in, heading for the back row like usual.

“You’re going to park, too, so make sure you don’t take off Aiden’s bumper.”

“ Aiden? ” My eyes dart around until I spy his shiny black Lexus parked next to an empty spot.

He’ll murder me over a broken headlight and Colson will probably just stand there and laugh over my corpse. With this in mind, I focus on the width of the space and carefully turn the wheel. Colson reaches up beneath my hand and gently corrects until the Civic straightens out.

Suddenly, a body flies across the windshield and lands on the glass with a thud. I let out a shrill scream as the figure rolls off the windshield and down the hood. At the same time, Colson clamps his hands over mine on the steering wheel and starts screaming, holding me between him and the steering column so I can’t move.

My eyes dart around in panic before I catch sight of Mason standing at the front bumper, laughing hysterically. I also realize that Colson’s screams have turned to laughter. I collapse back against his chest, trying to steady my nerves.

I should be angry, furious at them both. But I’m not. Before I know it, I’m laughing so hard that I can barely breathe. Mason approaches the driver’s side door and jerks it open.

“Ma’am, step out of the car, please,” he barks with a sharp nod.

I tumble out of Colson’s lap and stagger away from the Civic.

“Sweet moves, Dally.” Aiden pops over my shoulder. “I knew you were into that gangster shit.”

Then Mason grabs my face and tips my head back like he’s examining me. “Have you been drinking?”

“Get off!” I smack his hands away and turn to get my bag from the passenger side.

“Better be careful,” he calls after me, “being underage and all.”

I can’t tell from Mason’s tone whether it’s just a joke or if there’s a different meaning behind it, so I brush it off like I do the rest of his commentary. One thing I know about Colson and his friends is that they don’t tell anybody anything, but I don’t know if that should provide me any comfort or not.

Once inside, I head for the stairs as the first bell rings. But before I can even set foot in the stairwell, a figure bumps right into me. I nearly stumble backward, but they wrap their arm around my shoulders, spin me around, and whisk me back the way I came.

“You look like you could use a day off.”

I look up and, to my relief, I see Alex. “Are you skipping?” I ask with intrigue.

“Yeah, want to come?”

“ Duh. ”

I’ve had enough of school, and freshman year wasn’t even that bad until this month. Plus, my group project for Web Design isn’t until tomorrow and I don’t have my first final until Wednesday. So, being anywhere else—especially if it’s with Alex—sounds way better than being here.

But the closer we get to the parking lot, the more nervous I get that we’ll run straight into Colson, Mason, and Aiden. But instead, we head to the end of the hallway and exit the side door to circle back to the lot.

Alex pauses as we arrive at his white Lexus SUV. “If you want to learn to drive, I can teach you how to drive.”

My eyes round. “You saw that?”

“I pulled in right behind you all,” he laughs.

“No,” I shake my head and open the passenger door, “I think that’s enough for one day.”

I’ve never even seen the inside of Alex’s car. There’s an assortment of water bottles, both metal and disposable plastic ones, scattered here and there in the cupholders and on the passenger floorboards. A dash cam is mounted above the aftermarket stereo and I’m surprised that the beige leather seats are in such good shape for an older vehicle.

“Where are we going?” I ask, fastening my seatbelt.

He turns the key in the ignition and the engine roars to life. “The creek?”

“To do what?”

“Paddle boarding?”

“I don’t have one.”

Alex looks me up and down and shifts into reverse. “You’re small, it’ll be fine.”

It’s better than being referred to as a shrimp, I guess.

By the time we get to the creek and Alex has his paddle board inflated, it’s clear that one paddle board is sufficient. I’ve never been on one, though. My experience on this water is limited to kayaking and flying off a rope swing. Some people even jump off the overpass in town, but I’ve never been brave enough to do that.

Alex pulls off his t-shirt and tosses it through the window of the car. “Come on.” He picks up the board under one arm and the paddle in the other and starts heading down the hill.

Meanwhile, I take stock of what I’m wearing; cutoff denim shorts and a racerback tank under a hoodie.

“I don’t have any extra clothes!” I call after him.

Alex stops and looks over his shoulder. “Just leave them here.”

I stare back at him. “I’m not floating down the creek in my underwear!”

“Did you forget? I’ve already seen you in your underwear. And who else is going to be here at nine in the morning?”

He has a point. I toss my hoodie back through the window and start unbuttoning my shorts. I’ll split the difference and keep my tank top on. I can always just wear my hoodie if my shirt gets wet. Then I pause and then feel my temple for my glasses. Slowly, I pull them off and drop them onto the seat with my hoodie. At least I’m not totally blind without them.

By the time I get down to the water, Alex is already wading in.

“Climb on the front here where it’s shallow,” he instructs, holding the board steady.

The water is freezing, but I do what he says and swing one leg over the end of the board and sit down, scooting further back until my feet don’t touch the silt anymore. Then Alex pulls the board away from the bank and turns it around so he can do the same. He makes it look so easy, and in a matter of seconds, he’s standing behind me, paddling us out toward the middle of the creek.

“The water’s not so bad anymore,” I say over my shoulder.

“I knew you’d like it after you got used to it.”

I spend the next little while listening to the morning sounds that I never stop to hear, accented by the water dripping off the paddle each time Alex lifts it from the water. Soon, the bird songs and insect chirps give way to questions that have been simmering over the past week.

“When you leave, how long will you be gone?”

I know he’s joining the Marines, and I’ve done the math. Whether he meant for it to be or not, his countdown is now seared into my brain like an ominous deadline.

“They have me for at least four years.”

I don’t ask when he’ll be back— if he’ll be back. And I’m not sure I want to know the answer.

“You haven’t told me what you’re doing this summer,” he says with a lighter tone.

“Working at the pool with Shelby,” I sigh. “I want to take the lifeguard test, but I can’t yet.” I shoot him a look over my shoulder. “Apparently, you have to be 16 for that, too.”

Alex lets out a laugh. “Nice, Dal. Just twist the knife in.”

“Are you ever coming back?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Because of your brother?”

The silence is brief, but no less heavy.

“Which brother?”

“Sodapop.”

I know his real name, because of Alex and also because I heard Colson and Mason talking about him once last summer while they were playing basketball in our driveway.

“If I were Alex, I would’ve tried to kill him, too. Luca’s lucky Adrian was there. Goddamn prick.”

Alex doesn’t ask what I know or how I know it. “That’s part of it,” he replies.

He gazes across the water at the creekbank, blinking rapidly. But a few moments later he sets his jaw and turns back to me, looking like himself again.

“I’ll tell you about it one day. I promise. But I just want to be here right now…with you.”

Butterflies rush through my stomach, and I can’t help but smile back at him. “I thought you were going to say he destroyed you in Dark Souls and that’s why you have to flee the country.”

“You wish,” he scoffs. “You still haven’t played me for real.”

“How can I if you’re at some super-secret military installation? It’s probably just an excuse anyway,” I mutter, turning back around.

Suddenly, the board jerks to the left and I’m launched off as it flips. I don’t even have time to scream before I hit the frigid water and it swallows me whole. My feet hit the creek bed and then I push off, bursting out of the water with a gasp.

“Alex!” I shout.

The creek is so deep from all the spring rain that I can’t stand up, and the shock of the cold water doesn’t help, either.

“Some lifeguard!” Alex’s voice taunts from somewhere behind me.

I spin around, treading water. I can’t see him anywhere, only the paddle board floating nearby. Suddenly, something clamps around my ankle, sending a jolt up my leg. I let out a blood-curdling scream and start thrashing around, trying to break free while keeping my head above water.

This is what I get for skipping school to sneak off with my brother’s best friend—drowned in the Hellbranch.

Finally, I wriggle free and a moment later, I’m hit with a splash as something bursts out of the water. When I can finally see again, I come face to face with Alex, grinning at me with his shiny white teeth that pop against his tan skin and black hair glistening with creek water. Unlike me, he can stand up here.

“You have a lot of work to do before next summer, Angelína. ”

I reel back and slap my hand across the water. He turns away from the splash and then reaches out to grab my arm. Before I can do it again, he pulls me close and lifts me to his waist. At least I can rest and catch my breath, as if it’s so terrible clinging to Alex Barrera in the middle of the creek with my legs around his waist.

Shelby would die. Should I tell her? Oddly enough, I haven’t thought about it until now.

“That was dirty,” I chide him.

“I hate to break it to you, Dal, but you knew what this was.”

“Yeah, one quarter of a brain,” I sneer, getting in his face.

Before I can say any more, Alex grabs the back of my head and presses my lips to his, rendering me silent. I wrap my arms around his neck, drinking him in and wishing I didn’t have to leave this frigid creek after all.

“Is anyone at your house?” he murmurs.

“My mom might be. What about your house?” I dip down to kiss his neck. “I haven’t seen your room.”

It’s a few seconds before I realize that Alex hasn’t moved. He’s gone still, looking to the side and staring off across the water.

I pull back. “What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing, I don’t know who’s at my house, either,” he smiles, tilting my head to kiss me again. “But you’ll see it…one day.”

Why not now? But I don’t ask him. I’m too busy being bombarded by dopamine to care about his house or who may or may not be inside it. A few minutes later, we’re both back on the paddle board, having decided to continue the journey down the creek until we can see the overpass heading into town and then do an about-face so there’s no chance anyone could see us.

By the time we reach Alex’s SUV, my hair only feels slightly damp. Maybe nobody will ask why I’m returning home from school drenched in creek water after all. My shirt, however, is a different story.

The sun is much higher in the sky now, so I grab the bottom of my tank top and peel it off over my head. I drape it over the edge of the tailgate and go to retrieve my shorts from the front seat. My pink bra will just have to stay damp.

After pulling them on and returning to the back bumper, I find Alex stretched out in the cargo area. He’s changed into black joggers, reclining against the deflated, rolled-up paddle board with his arm slung over his face. As soon as I climb up and arrive at his side, he lifts his arm, inviting me to come closer. But instead of curling into his side, I swing my leg over his body and settle onto his waist, planting my hands on either side of his chest.

“Why can’t I see your house?”

“You have seen my house,” he smiles.

“Only the outside.”

“Three dudes live there, what’s to see?”

“You’ve seen my room, and slept in my bed,” I point out.

Alex gently pulls me down to his chest and runs his hand up my back. His skin feels electric against mine and the thought of leaving here sounds more dreadful by the second. He reaches up and gently weaves his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp.

“That feels good,” I mumble against his chest.

“Later, when you’re allowed to tell me yes, I’ll do a lot of other things that’ll feel good.”

Goosebumps skitter down my back and end in a rush of heat at the bottom of my stomach. All I can hear is his heartbeat against my temple as my eyes start to roll and my breathing slows down.

I don’t remember falling asleep, but when I wake up, I feel Alex’s hands cupping my face as he tilts my head to look at him.

“Hey, Mama.”

I’m still shirtless, draped over his body in the back of his SUV, down by the creek when I’m supposed to be in school. My eyes dart over his face as he caresses my cheeks and neck. For some reason, I thought he would disappear as soon as I woke up.

“Yeah, fine,” I mumble. “I think I fell asleep.”

“You were out for a couple hours.”

“ Hours? ”

“Yeah, it was really nice,” he says softly, but then glances to the side like he’s thinking really hard about something. “Um, do you want to stop by my house with me?”

“ Yes, ” I say it like he should already know.

I push off of Alex’s chest and climb out of the back, grabbing my shirt on my way to the front seat. It feels like it’s nearly dry, having baked in the sun for a couple hours. Alex gets into the driver’s seat, pulls his t-shirt back on, and a few seconds later, we’re back out on the country road.

I glance at the clock on the dash. “I should text Colson and say I’m getting a ride with Shelby so he doesn’t wait.”

“You might like my setup so much, you’ll decide to stay. Adrian’s a douche, but a hell of a cook.”

I recognize the exterior of the house, but it’s vastly more beautiful this time. The last time I was here, the fading sunlight hid the rock garden landscaping and floor-to-ceiling windows with a view straight through the house to the lawn leading down to the creek.

I follow Alex up the front walkway and inside, immediately taken aback by the custom hardwood floors, exposed beams, and stacked stone fireplace. There’s even a tree growing out of a bed of pebbles strategically placed next to one of the wood columns. A freaking tree.

“This is where you live, huh?” It’s all I can say while I gaze around like an idiot.

“This is where I live,” he echoes as he walks into the kitchen and opens the door next to the refrigerator. I hear a faint rumble, indicating he’s opened the garage door. “Be right back, I’m going to unload my car.”

It’s fine, I’ll just stand here in the middle of the room and gawk at this house some more. Once he’s gone, I’m cast into silence, trying to take in my surroundings. But it doesn’t last.

“Who are you?”

Startled by a voice behind me, I spin around to see a guy standing at the entrance of the hallway, studying me with curiosity. He has buzzed black hair, a five o’clock shadow, and the same jawline and vibrant brown eyes as Alex. This has to be one of his brothers.

“I’m Dallas,” I reply with a small wave.

I know what Adrian looks like, but this guy wasn’t at Evie’s funeral and I’ve never seen him before. It has to be Luca.

“Wait,” he drawls with a faint smile, “you’re Colson’s sister, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” I smile back.

“Luca,” he introduces himself, strolling across the room. Then he gives me a once-over, regarding my small stature like most people do. “How old are you?”

“15.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school then?”

Luca’s not my parents—or Adrian—so I don’t feel the need to lie. “We skipped and went to the creek instead,” I say with a sheepish grin.

“Yeah, I did that a lot, too,” he chuckles, “but aren’t you kind of young to be hanging around Alex?”

I have to suppress an eyeroll. “We play video games together, we’re friends.” And, currently, no one has to know otherwise.

“I guess he’s kind of known for that,” Luca replies.

“For what?”

Luca gives a shrug. “A girl follows him home, doesn’t leave, he gets his dick wet on the reg, and then he cuts them loose when they get too clingy. That’s how it was last time, anyway.”

Last time?

“But maybe you’re different,” he says with a tilt of his head. “You’re too young to have any bad habits to break…”

Before I can respond, another voice splits the air like a lightning bolt.

“ Dallas. ”

I whip around to see Alex standing in the doorway to the garage. Even though he said my name, he’s staring past me at Luca with utter contempt. He jerks the door shut with a slam and slowly saunters across the kitchen.

“What’s this?” Luca asks Alex, not taking his eyes off me. “You bring me another one?”

Another one?

His tone and the unsettling way he’s looking at me makes me take a step back.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Alex says in a voice not like his.

“Why? This is my house.” Luca sounds unconcerned, and slightly amused. “Anything inside’s fair game.”

“No.” Alex steps in front of me, blocking Luca’s view. “You don’t speak to her, you don’t even look at her. You have nothing to say to her.”

Alex and Luca stare at one another for what seems like an hour as the tension gets thicker and heavier.

“Fine,” Luca finally responds with a bored look. “Keep your little cum dumpster. Selfish prick.”

Like the crack of a whip, Alex shoots his arm out and gives Luca a rough shove in the chest. I startle as he stumbles back with a snicker and then turns over his shoulder, disappearing back down the dark hallway.

Alex turns and grabs my hand, whisking me across the room to the front door. We flee the house with a slam of the door and as soon as we get to his SUV, he swings me around and envelopes me in a tight embrace. He backs me up against the car, holding my body firmly against his. He doesn’t say anything, just holds me like he’s afraid to let go.

I do the same, squeezing the back of his t-shirt in my fists. “What’s wrong?” I ask. “What was that?”

“I shouldn’t have brought you here. I just wanted to…” I feel Alex let out a deep breath as he trails off.

“Wanted to what?” I mumble into his shirt.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Except it does, and I want him to tell me.

But then I also remember that I was supposed to text Colson that I won’t need a ride home. I yank my phone out of my back pocket as Alex loosens his hold around me. I mutter a curse under my breath when I see that it’s 2:50, then freeze when I see a text from my mom.

MOM (2:14PM): Don’t worry, Scott went to Canaan to get Colson. I’ll be there to pick you up from school. Love you!

“What the—” I don’t know what her text means, but the last part sends me into a panic. “My mom! She’s on her way to pick me up from school!”

As soon as I say it, Alex’s phone starts buzzing non-stop in his jeans.

“God, what? ” he groans with exasperation as he digs into his pocket for his phone. He squints at the screen and straightens up. “Oh, shit… ” he murmurs.

“What?” I ask, craning my neck to look at his phone.

“We have to go.” He shoves his phone back into his pocket and starts guiding me to the SUV. “I’ll take you back to school.”

“ Why? ” I ask, my adrenaline spiking at the seriousness of his voice.

“Because,” Alex jerks open the passenger side door, “Col’s just been arrested.