The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels #1)(20)

Shaking his head, Kyle went through the kitchen and let himself out on the back porch. A cool breeze blew through the screen windows and the wood floor creaked under his feet. It was worn and painted smooth. The rail he’d seen Faith stretching on yesterday turned out to be a real ballet barre. It was only five feet long, but definitely the real deal. He ran his hand along it—the wood was worn smooth here, too. This was a place she spent a lot of time.

“Kyle?”

He jumped and hurried back inside. “Sorry—I was just, uh, checking on my mess in the backyard.”

Faith had changed into leggings, a pair of ripped jean shorts, and a pink T-shirt that said, “Ballet dancers do it on their toes,” in white script letters.

“What is that shirt?” he asked, unable to keep from chuckling.

She smoothed it out, her shoulders bunching around her ears. “Something stupid Violet bought me as a gag gift for my birthday. I’ve always been too embarrassed to wear it, but I thought today… I’ll just go change.”

She turned to go, but he held out a hand. “No, wait. You should wear it. It’s pretty funny given what we’re trying to do. New rule: I promise not to laugh at any of your outfits, as long as you stop giving a shit what people think. Deal?”

She stood, back straight, shoulders thrown out. Owning that shirt. “Deal.”

“Then let’s go.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Time to show ourselves around town.”





Chapter Fourteen


Faith


Faith’s cheeks still burned after Kyle’s initial reaction to the T-shirt. It really was kind of stupid, but, as he put it, it made sense. She was proving a point, and the T-shirt helped with that. The reason the blowup with Cameron hurt so much wasn’t that he’d cheated on her, but he’d let the whole school in on it, knowing how much it would get to her. Funny how Kyle could remind her it didn’t matter. That she needed to be her own person. It was hard, though.

She followed him out of the house and turned to lock the front door, giving herself time to take a few breaths. It was so strange having him over, actually inside. And that outfit—he looked like a completely different person. Nicer.

Boyfriend material.

She shook that thought off. He might be the cutest guy she’d been around—maybe ever—but they were in this situation to get a reaction, not become a couple. So what if she’d caught him running his hand over her ballet barre on the porch, like it amazed him. Or the way he stared at her—all honesty, no bullshit. If this is who he really was, she had no idea why so many people at school, especially guys, gave him so much space.

“You coming?” he called.

She jumped, realizing she’d taken way too long to put her key in the lock. “Um, yeah.”

The little Toyota pickup at the curb was nothing like the Charger she normally saw him drive. It was a faded red, dented, and had a hubcap missing on the back tire. It was the kind of truck landscapers drove, sure, but would it make it around the block?

He held the door open for her, eyebrow raised. What, did he think she was too good to ride around with him? Head held high, she marched down the flagstone sidewalk and climbed into the truck without a word.

He snorted when he closed the door, and only then did it dawn on her—he’d held it open for her. Heat flooded her face, all the way to the roots of her hair. “Thanks for opening my door.”

The grin he gave her sent goose bumps racing up her arms. “I pull out all the stops when I’m aiding and abetting a revenge-seeking ex-girlfriend.”

That wasn’t exactly the vibe she was getting, and she couldn’t decide whether to be concerned or intrigued. Was he trying to seduce her for real? Or was he simply a great actor?

Not knowing was part of the fun.

“So, Little Red here.” She patted the dashboard as the engine sputtered to life. “Does the Charger get jealous when you drive another car?”

“What, you don’t like her?” Kyle tsked and shook his head. “We can’t be friends, then.”

“Are we?” Faith blurted out. “Friends?”

She wanted to eat the words as soon as they came out of her mouth, but the look Kyle leveled at her was thoughtful, and way too serious. “That’s up to you.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay, friends, then. But that means you have to tell me a secret.”

“Will you tell me one?” he asked, glancing at her as they drove out of the neighborhood and onto the main street into town.

“You already know one,” she said. “Our deal is my secret.”

“It’s mine, too, then.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “Unless you’re willing to give me something new.”

She slumped in her seat, marveling at how quickly Kyle outmaneuvered her. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

“Something really weird,” he said, that stupid half smirk still on his face.

“Do you really want to know, or are you pushing my buttons?”

“Both.”

“I believe it.” Faith racked her brain for something weird, but not weird. Nothing came to mind, except that she ate peanut butter on her pancakes instead of syrup. God, she was so boring.

“Nothing?” He shot her this incredulous look. “Seriously, nobody is that normal.”