Page 14 of For Three Seconds

“Only sometimes,” I said.

That was true; with therapy, I’d learned to forget and make peace with that night, even though I still asked myself all those questions.

How did I get out of the car? Did I talk to my parents before they passed? Why the fuck couldn’t I remember?

Therapy didn’t make the questions go away; it just helped me manage the urge to drive myself crazy with wonder.

It helped keep me sane. To me, the nightmares weren’t nightmares, but answers.

* * *

Mr. Reeves’sclass was getting easier to manage. By Friday, I had it down to fight my urges to crane my neck so that I could look at Gavin. Let me just say it wasn’t easy. I’d tried to drop the class, but my counselor wouldn’t let me

I was stuck here for the rest of the year. When the bell rang, I did what I always did: pretend like Gavin wasn’t behind me. Keep my head down and do my work.

“Every Friday we’re going to do projects. Your partner for the semester is the person behind or in front of you.”

Collective groans went around the room. People started turning their desks around so they could face their partners. I was still processing the fact that Gavin was going to be my partner for the semester.

I shivered when I felt the tip of a pencil run down my nape. My back arched, and goose bumps appeared on my arms.

I heard a manly chuckle. “Turn around, Scar.”

I got up from my desk and turned it around so it was in front of Gavin’s. He was sprawled behind his desk, both long legs straight on each side, a black notebook in front of him, and that freaking pencil back behind his ear. Since football hadn’t started yet, he wasn’t wearing his number three jersey. I sat down, aware he was watching me.

“Are we going to be playing this game?”

Huh?

“What game?”

Gavin leaned forward on his elbows, close enough that I could smell the mint on his breath. “The one where we kiss, we pretend it never happened, you cry in my arms, and then you run scared. You like me one day, and the next day, it’s like you don’t fucking know me.”

I grimaced. I wasn’t expecting him to put it all out there. Gavin Dunn wasn’t one for sugarcoating. Instead of being brave and saying something that was going to lead to more questions, I took the easy way out.

A coward’s way out.

“I’m still trying to adjust.” My tone was low because even though it was an easy way out, that didn’t make the statement any less true.

His face morphed entirely, his eyes going soft.

I didn’t need his pity.

“You know I’m here for you, Scarlett. You need me, doesn’t matter what time or place, and I’ll be there.”

I believed him. I knew his words rang true, but if I needed help, he would be the last person I would ever call.

I was his girlfriend’s best friend. Gavin was a good guy. He watched out for me because of Gigi.

And because of Gigi, I vowed I would never again take comfort in his arms.

“So.” I cleared my throat instead of answering him. “Now that we’re friends and all, can we start on our work? I need an A in this class, and that means you better not slack off.”

Gavin scoffed and put his hand over his chest. “You wound me.”

He grinned. It was the type of grin that made girls swoon—a little teeth showing, a dash of mischief in those gray eyes, and a whole lot of swagger.

Shit, I was in trouble.

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