Page 42 of Fire Fight

“Pass it to me,” she offers. “We share our second period class.”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t ask you to do that. I was just hoping you knew her combination. Then I can leave it in the locker.” I pause as she seems hesitant. “Cadence is making things quite difficult for me at home, you know. My father and I only found each other after my mother died—”

“She died?” A hand goes to her mouth, eyes opening wide. “Oh my god. That’s awful, Blaine. I had no idea. Was it—”

“Thank you.” I brush against her arm, then touch her hair, my fingers lingering far longer than they need. “It’s been a tough time, lately, and we were only just starting to feel like a family. Now her mother and—” I break off, clamping my lips together. “Never mind that. I don’t like to tell tales. Just know, you’d be doing me a huge favour.”

My hand cups her shoulder with those last words, and she immediately brightens. “You’re in luck,” she says, nudging me aside to enter the code while I pretend to shield my eyes, memorising the numbers through my parted fingers.

“Thanks so much. You know, I’m jealous Cadence got to know you first. I bet you’re a fantastic friend to her.”

“Oh, we’re not friends,” she says with a tinkling laugh as superficial as the rest of her. “I just showed her around school because we’re neighbours. But I can’t abide liars.”

Her smile widens, dimples flashing, the whole nine yards.

Even having some third-person experience of her true colours, I’m still torn between disgust and admiration at her cold-hearted pursuit of what she wants. “I’d much rather beyourfriend and steer clear of her.”

I nod, placing my presents on the top shelf of Cadence’s locker and swinging the door closed. “I’d enjoy that, too.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CADENCE

Hudson takesus on a winding journey as he drops his second youngest brother at the boy’s primary school, checking he’s got his lunch in his backpack and ruffling his hair before he shoos him away.

“Why’s he at school so early?” Their usual starting time is at least fifteen minutes before ours.

“Oh, it’s a big day in Robbie’s life,” Hudson says with a grin as he signals, then merges into the crowded lane of traffic. “He’s been appointed to the crossing guard team and takes his dutiesveryseriously.”

When I make noises about how sweet that is, he winks. “We’ve all got bets on how long he takes to realise he’s basically an unpaid intern.”

I collapse into laughter, envious of the strong sibling bond his family share. “You’re so mean. How much is the betting pool up to?”

“You want to make a wager, hm?” He shakes his head, feigning disappointment. “And here I thought you were the nice one of your lot.”

The moment he pulls to a stop at the controlled intersection, I smack his thigh. “I am the nice one.”

His wide grin makes my stomach perform a slow loop, the deep pounamu green of his eyes such a vibrant offset to his strawberry blond hair that I wish he’d lean over and kiss me.

But the lights change and far too soon we’re pulling into the student parking lot, where he takes a spot near the street. “That’s cool,” I say, teasing him. “We can walk to the school from here.”

“All part of my dastardly plan,” he murmurs, taking my hand. His long fingers tug me towards the main quad. “Not only do I get to hold on to you for longer, but everyone gets to see you with me.”

He presses a soft kiss to the back of my hand while my mind dissects his statement. “Is it important you be seen with me?”

“Unless you want to spend the day fighting off potential suitors.”

“Oh, yeah,” I scoff, wrinkling my nose while he shrugs. But I’m happy to indulge his burst of possessiveness, especially since there’s almost certain to be no interest from any other quarter.

A certainty that soon falls by the wayside as I notice a lot of eyes turning our way.

“Why is everyone staring?”

“Because you’re the prettiest girl in school.”

“Right.” I snort, then clap my free hand over my face in embarrassment.

If anything, Hudson’s eyes sparkle brighter. “It’s nice you’re warding off the unwanted attention.”

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