Page 25 of Hell or High Water

Rolling my eyes at myself for even caring about what stupid number I ranked on Than’s scale for females, I tugged on my backpack, which was weighed down with the laptop I’d been assigned from the office and several books from my American English Literature class, and I headed for the exit. My first day was over.

Stepping outside into the sunlight, I wished I’d brought my sunglasses. Lifting my hand, I shaded my eyes and scanned the parking lot for Than’s truck. Tabby was getting into a silver Honda Accord, and she waved at me. She’d been nice. Nia? The jury was still out on her. I got the feeling that her attitude toward me had to do with Crew. I’d wanted to just tell her I wasn’t into him, but that would have made it awkward.

I was so ready to be done with high school. There was always drama.

When my eyes finally fell on the truck I’d been looking for, I blew out a breath. Leaning against the front of his truck, Than had his arms crossed over his chest, making his biceps stand out even more. A cigarette was hanging from his mouth, and he had on a pair of dark aviator sunglasses. I’d not seen him smoke since Friday, when he’d come to the motel room. I was also ninety-five percent sure there was no smoking allowed on school property.

Not that he cared.

This morning, on the drive to school, he’d barely said a word to me. Much like Saturday evening when we’d returned to the cabin and all of yesterday. For a moment Saturday, I’d thought perhaps he didn’t hate me. He’d seemed…friendly almost. But that had been a fluke. His dislike for me was something I needed to just get over and stop letting it bother me.

Yes, he is incredibly hot, but he is not into you.

Besides, I didn’t need Than Carver to like me. I had bigger issues. But since I’d arrived here, there had been no blue notes. Every day that went by and nothing showed up, I started to feel more relaxed. Whoever had been leaving them for me hadn’t followed me here.

I heard someone call my name, and I glanced over to see Kate waving. Her eyes were wide with interest as I reached Than. She was assuming the wrong thing. I gave her a small wave before turning my attention back to Than. He was still smoking and hadn’t moved from his relaxed position.

“You know that is against the rules,” I said, pointing at his cigarette.

He smirked and took a drag from it before taking it out of his mouth. “First day, and you’re already the hall monitor. Congrats,” he drawled, then dropped the cigarette to the pavement and put the toe of his boot over it.

I scowled at him and walked over to the driver’s side.

“Montana!” a deep voice called just as I reached the door.

I turned around to see Crew jogging toward me in his football uniform, carrying a helmet in his right hand and running his fingers through his damp, sweaty brown hair with the other.

“Oh, look, the hall monitor made friends.” Than’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.

I shot him an annoyed look before turning back to Crew. He slowed as he reached me, his eyes darting to Than, then back to me. I could see the uncertainty before he even asked.

“Uh, I was gonna ask for your number, but”—he paused—“I didn’t know you were seeing someone already.”

I let out a small laugh. “I’m not. This is just my ride.”

He still didn’t seem convinced. “Oh, okay, my phone is down in the field house. I’m afraid I’ll forget yours without putting it in there. Can I put mine in yours and you text me so I’ll have it?”

I wanted to say no. This was not going to become anything. Our worlds were not the same. He had a full-ride football scholarship to the University of Tennessee. During lunch, I’d learned his parents were married, and he had three younger sisters. His life sounded like one of those happy family sitcoms. Mine did not. But I had two months until graduation, and having friends wouldn’t hurt. Especially since the man I lived with didn’t like me.

I reached into the pocket of my jeans and pulled out my phone, then handed it to him.

A slap on the hood of the truck startled me, and I jumped before turning around to look at Than. He grinned as if my reaction was funny.

“Let’s go,” he said, walking around to get inside.

Rolling my eyes, I shifted my attention back to Crew. He was glancing up, watching us while entering his number into my Contacts, and then it looked like he sent a text. Probably to himself. He smiled as he handed it back to me.

“Isn’t that Than Carver?” he asked.

How did he know Than? Than hadn’t acted like he knew Crew.

I nodded. “Afraid so.”

Crew grinned, but there was a touch of something in his expression that I wanted to say was concern…or fear maybe—I wasn’t sure.

“How, uh, do you know Than?”

Linc had called me this morning to go over questions like this one.

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