Page 169 of Falling in Reverse

“Friday,” he emits as if I’ve forgotten. “Unless you have plans.”

I can think of a million.

“I’m falling behind in school?—”

“Then the week after.”

Right.

I give him a small wave before pivoting, not able to get through the park fast enough and into my car. All of Emilio’s words feel like a laundry list of disloyalty to Levi, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up. How many more secret visits I can withstand and get away with before my best friend discovers the truth and nails me for it?

I’m so deep in thought that I don’t hear a thing. No footsteps or rushed movements in my direction.

Nonetheless, I definitely can’t mistake the large hand that covers my lips and hauls me backward.

I permit my weight to fall, hoping it’ll make it more difficult for the person to drag my body, but it’s quickly determined as useless. And after a few more feet, I’m instantaneously released behind a beat-up van parked along the curb.

Whipping around, I come face to face with Reeve. That surfer persona and easy smile greeting me back as the soft breeze whips around his sandy blonde hair.

“Hey, Bay Bay McQueen. Whatcha doin’, baby?”

“Geezus Christ,” I utter, clutching my chest. “Why are you dudes always manhandling me?

“Needed to talk…privately.”

I heave my shoulders upward, impatience and my frantic heartbeat the two things I’m trying to reel in right now. “Well?”

“Why are you having secret meetings with Emilio Wildes, McQueen? I thought you said you didn’t want anything to do with him.”

“Are you going to start with this, too?” He stares back at me, giving nothing away and he must get that from Cairo. “What are you going to do? Rat me out to Baby Wildes?”

“Why are you tryin’ to make everything worse than it is with him, McQueen?”

“I’m not.”

Reeve creeps closer to me, and out of all of the guys, he’s the one who scares me the least.

With my body.

Not my head.

“You are. You know damn well that he’d be pissed if he found out you were conversing with his father.”

“Well, the world doesn’t revolve around him, does it?”

“He seems to think so.” His enticing hazel eyes plummet down to my mouth. “And I’d like to believe that you’re not some shady chick, but someone who lives by her word.”

He sounds as though he’d be disappointed if he was wrong and that would make me a letdown.

“I do.”

“Baby”—his hands come up to either side of my cheeks— “I still wanna take you out, but it’d be more fun if you were alive.”

“I’m not looking to overtake anyone,” I say for the millionth time. If I had a dollar for the amount of times I said it, my dad’s bills wouldn’t be so far behind.

“Then what’s up with the secret talks?”

I bite down on the inside of my lip, but there’s no use in hiding it. “He’s threatened my sisters, and I’m scared of what he might do if I keep ignoring him.”

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