The Best Is Yet to Come (59)

“Even when Scott’s a key member of the winning football team?”

Hope mulled over his question. “I trust him. If drugs are being dealt at the school, Dean Wilcox will put an end to it, and it won’t matter to him what position Scott plays on the football team. Coach knows that, and I believe he’s cooperating.”

“Hope, listen, this is important.” He firmly took hold of both her shoulders and held her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you’ve got to stay out of it.”

She blinked, as if she didn’t understand. “I don’t know that I can.”

“Hope, please. Whoever is responsible is sending Spencer a message. You already got one, and if you ignore it, then these sorts of incidents will only escalate. You can’t allow yourself to be put in harm’s way.”

She considered his words and then shook her head. “I wish I could, Cade. If what Callie told me is true and there are drugs being sold on school grounds, I had a legal obligation to involve the school. If Dean Wilcox and Coach Simmons need my help, I can’t refuse.”

“Hope, you need to think this through,” he begged. “This isn’t a game. You’ve put yourself in danger.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. If for nothing else than my peace of mind, stay out of this.” Cade feared she was in denial and had no clue what she was getting herself into.

“At least I know Spencer is safe for now.” Hope sighed.

“How’s that?”

“After the fight, Spencer, Scott, and Callie were escorted to Dean Wilcox’s office. Spencer and Callie have been suspended from school for the remainder of the week.”

“And Scott?”

“A slap on the wrist. Scott, the precious football star, got off with nothing more than an extra study period because he wasn’t the one who started the fight. He claimed it was self-defense.”

Cade was relieved both Spencer and Callie wouldn’t be on school grounds, at least for now. A lot could happen before the end of the week.

“Spencer left the school with his dad,” Hope added. “He was devastated, and who could blame him? That car was more than his transportation. Spencer and his dad spent countless hours working on the engine, getting it to run again.”

“The poor kid.” Cade hated the possibility that Hope might be targeted next. “These people don’t take interference lightly. Just look at what happened to Spencer.”

Frustration ate at him. He wanted to argue, explain that whoever was behind her slashed tire and the car fire wasn’t going to idly sit back and do nothing. He didn’t want to start their reconciliation with another argument. Cade could tell: Hope’s mind was set.

“Promise me you’ll watch your back,” he said with feeling.

“I promise.”

That was all he could ask of her. It would have to be enough.





Chapter 21




Spencer heard the doorbell ring and turned up the volume on his headphones. He hoped it wasn’t someone for him. He was in no mood for company. The bell was pressed a second time, and his mother left the kitchen to answer the door.

A minute later, she found him in his bedroom, in the dark with his blinds shut. He was sprawled out on his bed with his eyes closed, music blaring in his ears. His mother waited until he removed the headphones. “Callie’s here,” she told him.

Callie was the last person he had any desire to see, let alone talk to.

Now or ever.

“Send her away,” he said, glaring up at his mother to be sure she understood he wasn’t willing to compromise, no matter how good of friends their parents were.

“The least you can do is hear her out,” his mother insisted.

He stubbornly disagreed. “Tell her to leave.”

“I know you’re upset, sweetie, but I think you should listen to her. She’s upset and—”

“Mom, no.”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Brown,” Callie said. She’d apparently followed his mother down the hallway leading to his bedroom. “I can understand why Spencer wants nothing to do with me.”

Spencer groaned and yearned to cover his face with his pillow and block out the world. If not the world, then at least Callie.

“I promise this will only take a minute,” Callie assured his mother, but the message was for him as well.

As far as he was concerned, even one second with Callie was more than he could tolerate.

“Spencer,” his mother said, chastising him. “The least you can do is give her a chance to speak, seeing as she came all this way.”

All this way? What? A mile, maybe two? His mother didn’t get it. Callie had literally ruined his life.

“Please,” Callie whispered, standing next to his mother, crowding the doorway.

“Fine.” He sat up, but refused to look at Callie. He feared once he did, he’d lose the fragile hold he had on his temper. The urge to verbally rip into her hovered on his lips. One wrong word and he was going to lose it.

Callie remained standing in the doorway after his mother left. Spencer kept his gaze focused on her shoes. He’d listen; not that he expected anything she said would be worthwhile. Polite or not, he intended for her to leave as soon as possible.