Split(32)

My eyes burn and frustration rolls through me. Why does every positive memory I have morph into something ugly? I can’t have one thought of her without it leading to her death.

Irritation at being robbed of good memories makes me want to jump out of my skin.

A blue sign comes into view in the distance. That’s exactly what I need. I’m sure Lucas will hate it, but right now I don’t give a f*ck; I just want the pain to go away.

I point to the sign. “Turn off there. I need to do something. It’ll only take a second.”





LUCAS


That was too close.

When she asked me about what I did before I moved to Payson, darkness flickered at the edge of my vision. Stuck in the truck, I couldn’t run, so I turned the focus on her and asked about her name. But learning about Shyann is a double-edged sword because the more I learn, the more I want to know.

Now I’m in foreign territory.

The sign ahead says DEAD MAN’S DROP.

We’re forty-five minutes between Payson and Phoenix with nothing around for miles and she wants to make a quick stop at Dead Man’s Drop?

“We told Mr. Jennings—”

“I know.” Her words snap with impatience. “We’ll get there fifteen minutes later than planned and we’ve made good time so far. I don’t think it’ll be a big deal.”

“I—”

“Please,” she whispers, her eyes cast out the window.

I flip on the blinker and take the exit.

“Thank you.” She points. “Right, then follow the dirt road. I’ll tell you where to stop.”

I do what she asks and after five miles, she motions for me to pull over. Before the truck comes to a complete stop, she’s out and charging through the thick brush of forest. I lock up and chase after her. Losing the boss’s daughter in the woods seems like a sure way to get myself fired, if not killed.

Luckily she’s stomping, so following the sound of crunching underbrush makes it easy to find her. I keep a good distance and hope she knows where she’s going and how to get back because I’m not paying attention to anything but avoiding the swing of her hips and her tight jeans.

After a few minutes I see a flash of green from the corner of my eye, like fabric being thrown. When I peer up, I stumble hard over a rock and catch myself on a tree to gawk at the view before me.

Shyann has removed her shirt and is standing in a black bra and jeans while hopping on one foot to remove her boot.

She’s getting naked.

I blink to the dirt floor and force my eyes to stay put.

“Come on, Lucas!”

At the sound of my name, instinct has me jerking, peeking, and— Oh dear God, she’s sliding her jeans down her thighs. Just like that night at the river.

I turn my back, my entire body rigid and one very particular part throbbing. “I’m uh . . . I’ll just . . . um . . .”

“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!”

What will be fun? Getting naked in the forest? Is this a Would You Rather thing? Before it was being naked in the desert or in—

Her hand grips my shoulder and I whirl around. Unblinking, I can’t tear my eyes away from Shyann standing before me in nothing but her bra and panties. My mouth goes dry, but that’s because my jaw is hanging wide open. I slam it shut.

I’ve memorized what’s underneath those strips of fabric. I’m heavy and tingly between my legs, and if she looks, which thank goodness she hasn’t, there’s no way she wouldn’t see it.

“But um . . .” I nod to the flat, soft plane of her belly that is rounded just enough to make it look like the softest thing on the face of the planet.

She reaches out and takes my hand. “Hey . . .”

My eyes dart to hers.

“You don’t have to jump if you don’t want to.”

“Okay.” I lick my lips and hope she can’t feel how bad I’m shaking.

“But you’ve gotta see this.” She turns and drags me a few yards through the forest until she stops and points. “There.”

I move closer and the trees part to reveal a decent-sized pool at the bottom of a cliff. “Wow . . .”

“This is Dead Man’s Drop. I used to come up here all the time over summer . . .”

She’s talking but my mind is on pause at the closeness of her body.

“. . . stay all day and swim . . .”

I can feel the heat of her skin against my forearm.

“. . . and Sam would—”

I blink and focus on her. “Sam?”

“Yeah, a friend—”

“You said you don’t have any friends.”

“I don’t. Not anymore. She works at Pistol Pete’s and even though we parted on bad terms . . .” She blinks and shakes her head. “Anyway, we had some good times here.”

“No.” I take a step back, pulling her with me. “You can’t jump.”

She narrows her eyes on me. “Of course I can.”

“Is it safe?”

My grip on her grows tighter and she steps close enough that I can feel the heat of her breasts brush against my ribs. “Lucas, do you trust me?”

“No.” The word comes out on a shaky whisper.

A gentle grin softens her face and with both her hands she works to relax my hold enough for her to slip free. Seconds later she turns, takes four long strides, and disappears off the rock cliff.