Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(29)

“Did you sleep good?” he asked.

I had. The pain medicine I had to take at night to rest knocked me out. “Yeah. I slept good. You?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I guess. I sleep better in your room.”

Oh. I wasn’t sure what to say to that. So I studied my hands in my lap.

He didn’t say anything more. We rode in uncomfortable silence the rest of the way to school. Miraculously, there was a parking spot empty near the front. It was where he always parked. To the right of us was Marcus Hardy’s truck, and to the left was Dewayne Falco’s Mustang. It was like the three of them had parking spots that had been assigned. No one ever parked here but them.

“We’re here,” he said, stating the obvious. “Stay put. I’m helping you down.”

I did as I was told.

Rock opened my door and reached for my book bag, then slung it over his shoulder before holding out his hand for me.

Once again I slipped my hand in his, and he held on to me tightly as he eased me down from the truck. I only winced once, and Rock’s hand squeezed mine when I did. “You okay?” he asked, sounding concerned.

“Yes. I’m fine. Thank you,” I replied.

He didn’t let go of my hand as he closed the truck door. I waited for him to release me, but he didn’t. Instead his fingers threaded through mine. “Let’s go,” he said, and we headed for the entrance.

Excitement and confusion were battling inside me. Why was he holding my hand like this? He knew I didn’t need his help walking.

A whistle startled me, and I looked up to see Preston Drake grinning from ear to ear as his eyes zeroed in on our hands. I loosened my grasp, preparing for Rock to drop my hand like it was on fire. Instead he squeezed it tightly. “He’s a bitch-face sometimes. Ignore him. He means well,” Rock said, leaning down to me. Then he winked.

Rock winked at me.

What was going on?

“Finally got the girl. ’Bout damn time. You’ve worked hard enough for it,” Preston said with a smug grin on his face.

“Shut it, you shithead,” Rock grumbled. Preston only laughed in response.

“I’m . . . we aren’t . . .” I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be explaining this or not.

“Yeah, we aren’t,” Rock finished for me, glaring at Preston. Then his hand released mine and I felt cold. And alone.

“Let’s get you to first period,” Rock said in a strained voice.

Something was wrong with him. His tone was hard, and I wasn’t used to that from him. At least not since we’d become friends.

“Okay,” I replied.

Rock

I stood at my locker, trying not to grab my books and start throwing shit. I was in the f**king friend zone with Trisha, and I was seeing now that I was stuck there. She didn’t see us any other way. I’d tested it this morning by holding her hand. She’d been blushing when I’d picked her up, and then she’d shivered when I’d touched her hand. For the first time I’d thought maybe I had gotten under that thick skin of hers.

I was wrong. Dammit.

Slamming my locker door, I took one more deep breath. I had to get control of this. Fact was, I wasn’t going anywhere. She needed me, and my infatuation with her was something deeper now. Stopping it seemed impossible. But if I was going to survive this, maybe I needed to shield my heart.

Hands slid up my back and nails scratched at my neck.

“Missed you this weekend at the party,” Rose said from behind me. She was pursuing me like her life depended on it.

“I was busy,” I replied, moving back a step out of her reach, then heading for my first-period class.

She fell into step beside me. “I heard you brought Trisha Corbin to school this morning. Are you two a thing now?”

No. But not for lack of trying to get her to trust me. “We’re just friends,” I said, hating the way it tasted. I wanted to claim her as mine.

“Oh, well, that’s good. My parents are out of town this week. I was hoping you could come over tonight and stay . . . all night.”

I knew if I went, I’d get laid. Hell, I’d probably get several blow jobs too. Rose was known for her killer blow jobs. But I wasn’t even slightly interested. Not in the f**king least. Which only told me I was too far gone with Trisha.

“Can’t. Got plans,” I told her, then stepped into my literature class.

Marcus was already there, sitting at his desk and flirting with some new girl I didn’t recognize. I didn’t pay any attention to her as I sat down beside him.

Marcus didn’t look away from the blonde he was flirting with. He was a man on a mission, and I had no doubt he’d succeed.

“You up for some fun tonight?” Marcus asked me, and I turned my head to look at him.

“What?” I asked, confused. I hadn’t been listening to his conversation with the girl, so I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Hillary here has a friend named Chandise who has a thing for you. They want to know if we’re up for a good time tonight. I told her we are always up for a good time.” Marcus was grinning like he’d already gotten laid.

I hated to c**k block him, but I wasn’t going with them. “Sorry. I got plans. Ask Preston instead.” Who we all knew was always up for a good time.