Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(49)

Scott takes the dishes from me and I don’t like being      empty-handed. He places them on the counter and crosses his arms over his chest.      “What happened after I left town? My dad was dead and buried. Did my brother      take his place as residing bastard?”

I’m shaking again. It’s either that or we’re having an      earthquake. My head jerks back when the reality of what I let happen smacks me      head-on like a Mack truck. I’m an idiot. He maneuvered expertly around my walls.      “Fuck you.”

I expect Scott to yell at me or reprimand me. Instead, he      chuckles. “You’re still as stubborn as you were at four. Go get your stuff ready      for school. I’ll drive you in today.”

I hate him. “I’ll take the bus.”

Scott turns his back to me and loads the dishwasher. “I’m      making pancakes tomorrow.”

“I won’t eat.”

He laughs again. “Yes, you will. Allison’s making goat      cheese tofu casserole tonight.”





Chapter 27

Ryan

I PULL MY JEEP into the      student lot and park behind Chris’s car. He leans against the bumper while Lacy      stands a good three feet away from him near the hood. She holds her books close      to her chest and snubs me by angling her body toward the school when I shut off      the engine. Not a good sign. I take a deep breath and ready myself. Lacy has a      hell of a temper. My ears rang for two days after the last time I ticked her      off.

Chris greets me when I open the door. “She’s pissed at you,      dawg.”

“I can see that.”

Before I can reach her, Lacy wheels around. “A dare? You      humiliated Beth in gym yesterday over a dare? I’m trying to make friends with      her and you and Chris and Logan have made her the target of a dare?”

Dammit all to hell, Chris. “You      sang like a little girl with her hand caught in the cookie jar, didn’t you?”

“Sorry,” he says, repentant. “Her tactics are brutal. The      Marines could employ her.”

Lacy rushes between us, her hand waving in the air. “Don’t you      laugh this off. You don’t know Beth. You don’t know what life was like for her.      You don’t know what type of friend she was to me. You are ruining      everything!”

I stare at her, shocked. Tears swim in her eyes. She’s not just      angry. She’s upset. “It’s only a dare, Lace. I asked her out. She has the choice      to say yes or no. I’m not hurting anyone.”

“Yes, you are.” She glances away. “You’re hurting me.” The girl      I consider one of my best friends bolts into school.

“I gotta go after her,” Chris says.

“I know.” I want him to.

“She’s wrong about this. Don’t worry though, I think she’s      PMS-ing.”

Yeah. Lacy is emotional at times, but a nagging in my gut tells      me that she could be right.

“Ryan?”

Chris and I both turn to see Beth. My heart stops. It’s her.      Skater Girl from Taco Bell. Gone are the trendy clothes. Back is her own style.      Skin-hugging black shirt, jeans with holes. All knee-dropping curves. She looks      every bit as sexy as she did the first night I met her.

“Can we talk for a second?” Sweet and seductive, her voice      purrs over my skin and I’m absolutely hypnotized. The girl must be a      magician.

“Sure.” I wait for Chris to remember that he needs to go after      his own girl, but he’s too busy admiring Beth’s ass to notice that Beth and I      want him to leave. I give the blatant reminder. “Lacy needs you.”

“Yeah,” says Chris like he’s waking from a dream. “Lacy. See      you later, dawg. You too, Beth.”

She drums her fingers against her thigh as a dismissal. Chris      wanders into the building while I try to understand Beth’s attitude switch.      Yesterday, the girl would have been the main suspect in my murder. This morning,      she’s hot and friendly. Talk about mood swings.

Guilt becomes a whisper in my brain. I humiliated her at      school. Time to make amends. “Yesterday, in gym—”

“Whatever.” Beth cuts me off. “I was thinking that you’re      right. I should make friends and I’d really like you to be the one to help      me.”

Can.