Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(92)

“Fuck, Beth.” From behind me, Isaiah spits out the      words.

I whirl around and barely catch sight of him bolting out the      back gate into the alley. Noah falls out of the hammock and heads after him. I      need to go after Isaiah, not Noah. I take several steps, but laughter from the      house stops me. I can’t leave Ryan. “Noah!”

“Go home, Beth,” he says as he strides toward the alley.      “Back to Groveton and don’t come back.”

That’s the deal we made. When we hugged and apologized to      each other, Noah promised to let me stay and enjoy my evening if, when it was      over, I left and never looked back. It wasn’t a hard promise to make. In a few      weeks, I’ll be gone for good. “I can’t leave knowing he’s upset.” Because after      tonight, I may never see him again.

“Just go,” says Noah.

“No!” I grab Noah and fling myself in front of him. “He’s      mad at me. I know he gets upset when I make out with guys, but Ryan isn’t some      random guy. I have to explain that to him.” I have to explain to Isaiah that he      is not in love with me. “But I can’t go after Isaiah and leave Ryan here. You      know what will happen if some of Rico’s friends see Ryan without you or me.”

Noah rubs his eyes. Yes, he does know. Ryan isn’t a part of      our circle and is fair game for a good beating. Noah gestures for me to go after      Isaiah. “Fifteen minutes, Beth. I mean it. You need to go back to Groveton and      finish out your life there.”

I turn and flinch to find Ryan standing close with his hands      shoved into his pockets. Hurt wounds the brown eyes that glowed with promise      moments before.

“Ryan,” I stutter out. “He’s my best friend and he’s upset      and...”

“Go after him.” Ryan crosses his arms over his chest. “But      don’t string me along if it’s him you want.”

“What?” I shake my head. Ryan misunderstands. “Isaiah and      I...we’re not like that.”

But I’m not going to waste time standing here arguing with      Ryan over stupid jealousy issues when my best friend is upset. I push past Noah      and run into the alley. A few steps into the darkness, strong hands grab my      arms.

I suck in air to scream and I’m silenced by a familiar deep      voice. “You’ve changed.” As if to prove his point, Isaiah shoves my wrist in      front of my face and shows me Ryan’s pink ribbon.

“So have you. The Isaiah I knew would have run away with me      and Mom when I asked. You left my mom with Trent and he broke her wrist! It’s      like I don’t even know you anymore. You used to take care of me!” My pulse thuds      in my ears as I shove away from Isaiah.

The streetlamp attached to an aging utility pole flickers on      and off. With each flash of light, a mix of anger and sadness crosses Isaiah’s      face. “You used to let me take care of you. Now you’ve got some * jock      doing your bidding.”

White-hot anger flashes through me. “Leave Ryan out of this.      You’re the one PMS-ing like a girl. First you want to run away with me. Then you      don’t want anything to do with me. Then you want to run away with me after      graduation. Then you keep telling me to live my life in Groveton. Then you go      and tell me that you love me when we both know you don’t.”

My heart jumps out of my chest when he punches his curled      fists into the chain-link fence behind him. The metal of the fence vibrates.      “Dammit, Beth.”

Isaiah clutches the fence and he bends over as if he’s ready      to vomit. Not once in four years have I seen him this emotional. My hands shake      with adrenaline. “I don’t understand.”

Isaiah swears softly under his breath. “I am in love with      you.”

Ice freezes my muscles. He said it—again. “No, you      aren’t.”

Isaiah spins and cups my face with his hands. I don’t feel      warmth. I only feel cold. Cold and confused. He lowers his head so that his face      is close to mine. “I’ve been in love with you since I was fifteen. I wasn’t man      enough to tell you, so Luke swooped in. You were so hurt after he used you that      I swore to protect you until you could listen to what I had to say. I’m in love      with you.”