Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland, #2)(36)

Jarrod Kent’s hazel eyes gleamed in the sunlight that glinted off the snow. “Come on now. We both know the Hope’s Grove rebel doesn’t do homework. Tell me what you’re really doing out here? Looking for Prescott?”

Ella Jane sighed. She had a new art elective so she’d convinced the teacher she’d left her intro project, a self portrait she was sure as hell never going to sketch out, in her truck.

“You writing a book about me, Kent? I didn’t know you cared so much.”

“I’m a very caring guy. In fact, I’m so caring, I’d like to help you out.”

Ella Jane leaned against her truck. “With what exactly?”

Jarrod’s eyes drifted down her body. Surely he wasn’t checking her out. She was wearing a hoodie for God’s sakes and not even one of hers. It had been Kyle’s and it was huge.

“I’m sympathetic to your cause. That sucks about your brother, but I bet it sucks worse hearing everyone say how sorry they are. Ever wish you could just escape it all?”

Her blood pulsed hard and fast at this guy she barely knew mentioning Kyle. “You don’t know shit about my brother. So don’t even bother offering your—”

“Condolences? Relax. I’m not. Shitty stuff happens all the time. My dad just got remarried, and I swear to God, this chick would suck my dick for half my inheritance. I know because she offered.”

Ella Jane winced. Yes, life was certainly different in the Bluffs. But between this and Hayden’s grandma, she could see that money didn’t always make everything better.

“My bad. That language wasn’t really appropriate for such delicate ears.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not as delicate as you might think.”

“Aren’t you? Wanna prove it?”

“By sucking your dick? Um, no.” She’d never said anything like that out loud and it activated her gag reflex. She didn’t hold back on her repulsed reaction to spare his feelings.

Jarrod chuckled. “Nah. I’ve got Stepmother Dearest for that. She’s only twenty-three and she’s smoking hot, in case you were wondering.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Yeah, well, step into my office and we can talk.”

“Your office?” EJ glanced around. A few pickup trucks sat near hers in the back but they were surrounded by luxury cars and decked out SUVs even the adults she knew couldn’t afford.

“Here, follow me.” Jarrod led her to a black Mercedes with tinted windows. “My lady,” he said, opening his passenger door.

EJ felt it, the weight her decision carried. It was one of those moments, like when her mom announced that her dad had left them, when she decided to give her virginity to Hayden, when her dad had come into her hospital room to tell her that, despite everyone’s best efforts, Kyle hadn’t survived.

This decision would have consequences, possibly extremely bad ones. But doing nothing, continuing to subsist the way she had been, felt a lot more dangerous. Going back into that building where she couldn’t breathe felt like a fate worse than death. Her stomach tensed just looking at the place.

“Ever wish you could just escape it all?” Jarrod had asked.

All the time, she thought to herself as she slid into a plush leather seat. All the time.

Jarrod jogged around the front of the car and joined her in the driver’s seat. She watched attentively as he pulled a small plastic bag out of his glove compartment.

She might have been small town, but she recognized marijuana when she saw it. It made appearances at field parties from time to time. She’d just never had any desire to partake. Until now.

“We’re going to get high?” she asked when Jarrod began packing the green flakes into what looked like a pipe.

His grin was wicked and enticing. “Nope.” He pulled a lighter from the wood grain center console. “We are going to get f*cking obliterated.”





By the time the weather had cooled and the threats of storms had passed, holiday break came and went with very little fanfare. He gave his brothers some of his old riding gear for Christmas and the three of them made breakfast for their parents. Goodwill and kindness was about all their family could afford to give each other.

School kicked back up after New Year’s and Cooper’s life took on a very strange pattern. One he had no desire to change.

Weekdays involved getting up, fixing his brothers some breakfast, working a few hours on whatever needed done on the farm, picking up a shift here and there at the docks, heading to school to check in with EJ and then sneaking into the back stairwell and into the utility closet to make out with Cameron.

When this had started, Cooper hadn’t expected to be at Summit Bluffs much longer, so blowing off some steam with Prom Queen wasn’t dangerous. But now, it felt different—both of them prolonging their interactions with no end in sight. As much as he hated to admit it, he’d missed her over the break, and he had felt strangely pissed off that he didn’t even have her phone number to contact her. Especially considering the way they’d left things before break—screaming at each other in the basement of the school. But that was behind them now, and thankfully, she’d shown up the first day back to school as if she’d missed him as well. He’d planned on apologizing to her the second he saw her, but she beat him to it.