Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(27)

He keeps looking at those damn needles. A few years ago, I      told Isaiah the same lie I gave everyone else regarding my father. Isaiah was so      moved that he told me something he’d never told anyone else: that his mother had      no idea who his father was. The lie I told Isaiah bonded him to me for life. By      the time I figured out what cemented our relationship, that he believed we both      had huge question marks on the paternal side, it was too late to tell him the      truth.

“You know how people are.” I hate the desperation in my      voice. “They love gossip and if there’s a story, they’ll dig, and I never wanted      to think about the bastard again. When I told you I never knew who my father      was, I had no idea that was your reality. I didn’t know that was the story that      would make us friends.”

His eyes shut at the word friends and his jaw jumps as if I said something to      hurt him. But we are friends. He’s my best friend. My only friend.

“Isaiah...” I have to give him something. Something that      will let him know what he means to me. “What happened with my dad...” It hurts      to breathe. “When I was in third grade...” Say it already!

Isaiah’s gray eyes meet mine. The kindness in them fades as      they turn a little wild. “Is your dad around?” In the predatory movement of a      panther, he takes several steps toward me. “Are you in danger?”

I shake my head. “No. He’s gone. Uncle Scott and Dad hated      each other. Scott didn’t even know Dad left.”

“Your uncle?”

“He’s a dick, but he’d never lay a hand on me. I swear.”

He blinks and the wildness fades, but his muscles still      ripple with anger. “I trusted you.” His three simple words gut me.

“I know.” I can give him honesty now. “I wish I could go      with you.”

“Then do it.”

“She’s my mom. I expected you to understand.” It’s a low      blow. I stay silent, unmoving, waiting for him to swallow his demons.

“I get it,” he says in a hard voice, “but it doesn’t mean I      agree.”

Good. He’s forgiven me. Guilt still eats at me, but at least      my stomach muscles relax while the guilt feasts.

“Nice shirt,” he says, and I smile at his playful tone.

“Fuck you.”

“There’s my girl. I was wondering if they sucked out your      personality in first period.”

“You’re not far off.” Time is running short. I’ve lost so      much already. I can’t lose him. “What do we do?”

“What are your uncle’s terms?”

“No running away and no more seeing you or Noah.” Scott said      he wanted me to completely forget my old life. That the only way I’d have a      fresh start was to make a clean break and if I wouldn’t willingly amputate the      past, then he’d do it for me.

Isaiah grimaces. “And?”

“No ditching school. No being disrespectful to his wife or      teachers or people.”

“You’re screwed.”

“Fuck you again.”

“Love you too, Sunshine.”

I ignore him. “Good grades. No smoking. No drugs. No      drinking. And...no contact with Mom.”

“Hmm. I agree with the last one. Can you make it happen this      time?”

I glare at him. He flips me off. God, he’s aggravating. “No      more cursing. Keep curfew.”

His head pops up. “He’s letting you out?”

“Probably with a GPS stitched under my forehead. I have to      clear every second of every outing through him. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking you’re a bright girl who could manipulate the      devil for a passage out of hell. You get out of that house and I’ll come get      you. Any day. Any time. And I’ll have you safely home by curfew.”

Hope fills me, yet it’s not enough. I need more than Isaiah.      I need something else. I fiddle with the ends of my shirttail. “Will you take me      to see my mom?”

He sighs. “No. She’s no good for you.”

“He’ll kill her.”

“Let him. She made her choices.”

I stumble back as if he punched me. “How can you say      that?”

The anger returns to his eyes. “How? A few months ago, she      let you bleed in front of her. How could she go back to that bastard? How could      she let you take the fall for her? Don’t play the sympathy card on me. No one      f*cks with you. Do you understand me?”