The Better to Bite (Howl #1)(12)

“She told me to be careful when I drove my dad’s car,” another girl murmured with a wince. Heather? Yeah, that was her name. Heather with the blonde highlights in her hair. “I wasn’t careful, though. I crashed it right into the tree on Deadman’s Bend.”

Jenny stared at me with one raised brow. How did she even do that? How could a person lift only one brow?

“What’d she tell you?” Jenny wanted to know.

I smiled. “Nothing.” I pulled my hand back. So Granny Helen had fun messing with the locals. Fine. She could do her bit and—

“Hi…it’s…Anna, right?”

Jenny squeaked.

I looked over to the left, following her startled stare, and there, looking all quarter-back special and too cute with his dimpled grin, was Brent.

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”

His head cocked as he studied me. His gaze seemed too assessing, and I worried that he was seeing…too much of me. “I’m having a party at my house after the game on Friday…I thought I’d see if you wanted to stop by.”

Wait. Hold up. Had one of the VIPs just asked me to—

I risked a fast glance at Jenny. Sure enough, she mouthed OhmyGod.

Then I looked back at the VIP table. Valerie wasn’t there. Interesting. What was the deal? Was the guy asking me on a date, or was this some kind of friendly help-out-the-new-girl bit?

“You are coming to the football game on Friday, aren’t you?” He asked as his blond brows wrinkled a bit.

Honestly, I hadn’t been planning on it.

Someone kicked me under the table. Had to be Jenny. Her sandals had been a little spiky today, and I sure felt that spike bite into my skin. I nodded and acted like I cared about football. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great.” His smile kicked up in voltage. This guy was just a total All-American package. And he was very much taken. Right?

It always sucked when the hot guys were taken.

He leaned toward me, and I caught the scent of crisp, really nice smelling cologne. “If you want, I can drive you out to my place. Just stick around a bit after the game, and I’ll give you a ride. That way, you won’t get lost.”

Not a problem. I peeked again for Valerie. Didn’t see her. So I just asked, “Um, will Valerie be riding along with us?”

His eyes chilled at that. “No. She definitely won’t be.”

Well, well…Not taken.

“So is it a date?” He wanted to know.

Ah, there was that big four-letter word. Date. But why not? “Sure.” Even I knew that if the big catch in school asked for a date, a girl should at least give him a try.

He tapped his knuckles on the table. “Wow, usually I get more of a response that than.”

His grin asked me to smile back with him.

My heart did a fast little jump. I could sure see what the fuss was about with him. “You should know, I’m not gonna be your usual type of girl.” Fair warning for him.

“Good. I’m tired of that kind of girl. I’m ready for surprises.”

I was good at surprises.

The bell rang then, and Brent stepped back. “See you soon.”

I nodded.

Jenny kicked me again, but I think it was just an excited kick that time. More of a reflex move. Especially since she followed up the kick with, “You totally don’t need a love spell.”

Before she could say more on that, I stood up, ready to dump my tray and head to my next class. Troy had grabbed Brent, and they were talking about practice being canceled for today because something was wrong with the coach and—

My gaze collided with Rafe’s. He stood against the back cafeteria wall, with his arms crossed over his chest. His face looked hard, kind of angry, and his stare was locked right on me.

I did a Cassidy move, and I inclined my head toward him in a faint nod even as my hands tightened on my tray.

“Hey, I got that,” Brent said, appearing again, and he took my tray from me. That grin of his flashed once more. “I can play the gentleman.”

I mumbled my thanks and darted another glance Rafe’s way.

I told you to stay out of the woods.

He was gone.

***

The big orange/yellow bus waited for me. Thanks to my little episode at the sheriff’s station yesterday, my dad had told me to head home after school today. No drop-ins at the station to look at photos of missing folks for me.

I knew he was “Anna—proofing” the place today. Getting anything that could mess with my head out of the way so that I’d be clear to stop by in the future. But, for now, he’d given orders that I was to take the bus back home.

The man really needed to hurry up and buy my car. I could already smell the odor of old gym socks emanating from the bus. The second day of school, and already the thing reeked. Maybe it always smelled that way.

I shuffled forward, ready to climb aboard and begin a desperate search for a seat that didn’t suck, but then I heard the low, rumbling growl.

My body tensed, and my head whipped to the left.

The growl turned into a roar and a motorcycle twisted through the parking lot. A guy was on it, a guy with broad shoulders and a dark, black helmet.

“He is so hot,” a girl said from behind me.

Things got really weird then…because the guy on the bike braked and turned back to look at the bus line.