Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(18)

It was the quickest shower of my life.

Trisha

“Holy crap! That’s Dewayne Falco’s dad telling off Rock’s dad,” Riley whispered beside me.

“Forget that. Did you really nod your head yes at Rock?” Davey asked, looking horrified.

I had. I had told him yes. He’d run out here to see me. Gotten in trouble with his dad, and his dad was yelling mean, awful things about him. Rock’s eyes had stayed on me, pleading with me to say yes. What was I supposed to do?

“He was . . . determined. And I was afraid his dad was going to take a swing at him,” I admitted.

Davey scoffed. “What, and break his hand on his son’s wall of muscle? Puh-lease.”

“It was romantic,” Riley said all dreamily. “I would have jumped off a bridge for the man if he’d asked me. He was ignoring his nasty father and completely captivated by you.”

“Shut that crap down, Riley,” Davey muttered, annoyed. “It’s Rock Taylor. When has he ever been serious about a girl?”

Riley shrugged. “He’s never gone after one like he is going after Trisha. If she hadn’t given in, she might have completely ruined his football career. He’s missing practice for her, and now he’s risking getting in trouble with his coach and dad by breaking the rules and running out here to get her to go out with him. I think she’s different.”

Why did I want to believe that so much? I was weakening.

“He was with Noah the skank today. What changed?” Davey asked.

“Don’t know, but let her make her own decisions. Back off,” Riley scolded.

Then she looked at me. “Want us to wait on you? Or are you really going to let him give you a ride?”

I had Krit and Green with me. “I can’t leave Krit and Green,” I reminded them. “I’ll just stay and talk to him.”

Davey sighed. “Great. We get to wait until this train wreck is over. Oh joy. I wanted a burger.”

Riley glared at him. “Shut up, Davey.” Then she looked at me. “I’ll go get Krit and Green. You go wait on him outside the field house.”

I did as I was told and walked slowly toward the field house. What was I going to say to him? Why was he so determined to get me to talk to him? Davey was right, where was Noah? I assumed they’d be together tonight. Unless they really did finish things in a closet somewhere in the school.

The jealous burn in my gut frustrated me. I had nothing to be jealous of, but I was anyway.

The doors opened and Dewayne Falco stepped out with Marcus Hardy. Both of them looked over at me, and Dewayne nodded. Marcus smiled as if he knew a secret, and then they headed to the parking lot.

I fidgeted with my hands and finally stuck them in the front pockets of my jean shorts. I glanced back at Riley and Davey to see that my brother and Green were back with them. Krit’s eyes were trained on me as he was talking. He liked Rock. I wondered how he would feel about this.

“You stayed.” Rock’s voice startled me, and I swung my gaze back around to see Rock walking toward me. His dark brown hair was damp, and it looked like he had run his hand through it to style it. His jeans hugged his h*ps and thighs just right. The way the black T-shirt he was wearing accented his muscles made the whole effect perfection. And he wanted me to go somewhere with him.

“I said I would,” I replied.

He grinned. “Yeah, you did. But I wasn’t sure.”

I pointed back at Krit. “I have to go home with him. Make sure he’s okay and everything. I can’t go anywhere with you.”

His smile fell, but he didn’t look angry. He was thinking. “I didn’t know he had come too. I get that. Can I take you both home, then?”

“Why?” I asked. I didn’t understand him at all. What did he get out of taking me and my brother home?

A crooked grin tugged at his lips. “Because I like to be near you.”

I wasn’t expecting that. My heart reacted like a girl and went all fluttery.

That same swoony girl inside me replied, “Okay.”

Rock beamed, showing off his pretty white teeth. Dang it, he was nice to look at, and I was proving to be a weak female.

“There you are.” Noah’s sickeningly sweet voice reminded me of everything I was letting myself forget. “I’ve been waiting out by my car forever. I thought we’d go have some fun before we headed to the party and celebrate your win.”

“Noah, I told you that was off.” Rock’s reply was laced with frustration.

“No, you didn’t.” She pouted, then ran her hand up his arm. “I didn’t wear panties,” she added.

Okay. I’d had enough. I was leaving now.

“Seriously, Noah. This isn’t cool. I told you earlier today after the stunt you pulled in the cafeteria that this was off. I’m not going to the damn party.” His tone was cold. Either she was lying or he was.

I took a step back, thinking I could sneak off. But Rock’s gaze snapped back to mine, and his eyes were pleading with me. “Don’t. Please just give me a minute.”

He was asking me “please” again. It was really hard not to give in when he asked so nicely.

“Rock, stop playing with her. She’s not going to give you what you need tonight. After a win like that you need a wild ride, and I’m ready to give you several rides before the night is over.”