Page 39 of Falling For Temptation

We move forward in the line again, finally getting close enough to see the register and a display of enormous, thick cookies.

“Well, guys like that are basically one in a bazillion. Hot, sweet, and respectful? It seems almost…too good to be true.” She sighs, watching a motorcycle roar past us on the street. “You should snatch him up before some other ho does.”

I cross my arms over my chest, toeing my worn red sandal over a blade of grass breaking through a sidewalk crack.

I finally gain the courage to speak. “My concern is just that he…he’s like that sweet guy who wants to go back to the farm and raise a family. He wants kids and some barefoot, pregnant girl to bake him apple pies on Sunday. That will never be me. I guess I’m just seeing where it goes because…yeah, he’s incredible. I’ve never in my life met a guy like him. If he’s for real—which seems unlikely, but if he is—then yeah, I would totally snatch him up.” I pause, debating my next words. “I guess I just…don’t know how he’ll feel about…some things from my past that aren’t exactly pleasant. He’s so innocent. Honestly, it’s not a bad thing, but…he doesn’t even know what social media is,” I confess, knowing she’ll be as shocked as I was.

Kenna gasps dramatically.

“No way!” Her mouth is an O. “Wow…that’s some pretty impressive sheltering.” She lowers her voice to a stage whisper. “Is his family, like, in a cult?”

I lift my hands, palms up. “I have no idea. He hasn’t said much about them. I know they’re super religious,” I say, thinking of the dancing-is-sinful conversation. “I get the feeling he was raised in a really strict home. Which is the exact opposite of how I was. I don’t know…it seems like our differences could be insurmountable.” I sigh, discouragement creeping in.

My mom basically abandoned me when I was seven, leaving me for days at a time on benders. I bounced between foster homes the next eleven years with essentially no rules and few expectations. I never had anyone to answer to—until Victoria.

“Oh, don’t say that! Love doesn’t care about background or upbringing. You can love someone who grew up different than you as long as you can agree on how you want to raise your kids,” she says confidently.

We are finally only two people away from the front, and the sugary chocolate smell is wafting through the air, watering my mouth.

“I don’t think I want kids, so…I guess I need to ask him if he does. That could be a deal-breaker.” I pull out my wallet, fishing around for a few dollar bills I made in tips.

Kenna laughs. “Yeah, that’s a conversation you should have before he falls completely in love with you.”

We climb into her Jeep ten minutes later, digging into the melty, phenomenal bakery cookies.

“These are sinfully delicious,” I say around the steaming bite of a double dark chocolate morsel.

“I know, right? Told you. Only once a month—I mean it.” Her voice is a little desperate for me to agree to the timeline.

“Mmm, let’s go back tomorrow…” I moan dramatically.

“Harley! No! If I get fat because you keep forcing me to—”

I burst out laughing at the seriousness of her tone, and she looks over at me with a grin.

“Ugh, you’re the worst,” she says, shaking her head and trying not to laugh.

Her freshly highlighted hair is blowing in the wind coming through the open windows as we cruise.

My phone pings with a text. Looking down, I see an unknown number.

Unknown: Harley, where are you? What makes you think you can steal my money, then run off and hide? I’m not dealing with Lenny and Seven on my back about where you are anymore. You created this shit storm, now face the consequences!!!

My bloodstream slowly freezes as I read the message. Victoria is so sweet to check in on me, considering I ran away a month ago. With trembling fingers, I block the number.

Looking up, I see the university coming into view. My heart is thundering in my chest as I try to take a few discreet, calming breaths. We make our way up to our room, and I immediately curl up in my bed.

“Hey, Riley just asked if I want to go tanning. You in?” Kenna asks, checking her hair in the mirror.

“No, you go ahead. I need to study,” I mumble.

“Okay, see you at dinner.” She skips out the door.

I’m paralyzed by my thoughts for at least an hour, debating how much Victoria knows.

Has she found me? She said I was hiding, so I would assume that means she has no idea where I am. I haven’t been getting texts from Seven ever since I blocked him. He’s probably still been trying to contact me.

Why can’t he get over it and find someone new to torment?

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