Page 174 of Zero Chance

I told Keene I could make it to the front door by myself when he pulled into the driveway, but he ignored my wishes and opened his door when I opened mine.We met in front of the still-running Jeep, leaving Xander and Alec in the back seat together, staying warm and toasty with the heater running full blast.

Taking my hand, Keene started me toward the porch and squeezed supportively.I was still feeling good and buzzed so every time I started to walk off course, he laughed and steered me back the right way.

“Thanks for tonight,” he said, pausing at the porch steps and not daring to go any further up.“I had a good time.”

I turned to smile up at him and said, “Yeah.Me too.”

“Best night ever,” he echoed with a smile in his voice.He touched my chin softly and murmured, “Call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay.”I stared at him in anticipation, needing his mouth on mine, and he grinned knowingly before dipping his face to kiss me.

But the front door clicked open, interrupting us.

Keene growled softly in irritation but quickly masked it as he turned to my mom who stepped into the dark with us.

“Hey, Ms.B,” he greeted with a cheerful voice as he waved.“We’re back with eight whole minutes left to spare.Aren’t you proud?”

But she completely ignored him, glaring at me as she stormed forward.“Are youdrunk?”

“Me?”Keene broke in.“No, ma’am.I’m as sober as a church mouse.I never drink and drive.Not ever.You can field sobriety test me, if you want.”

Searing him with a glare, she growled, “How dare you get my daughter drunk!”

“Oh, come on,” he chided.“She’d never tried alcohol before.”

“Because it’s notlegalfor her to drink yet!”

“It was just a light, bubbly wine,” he argued.“She was safe the entire time.I wouldn’t let her?—”

“You know what?You can go home now.In fact, please do.Before I call the police.”

“Will you stop threatening him with the police?”I growled, stepping toward her with a glare.“You can’t have someone arrested just because you don’t like that they’re dating your daughter.”

Whirling to me, she pinched her lips thin.“You’re rebelling like this just because of what I said earlier, aren’t you?This is my payback.”

“Wait.What’d you say earlier?”Keene asked, darting a concerned glance between me and my mother.

Not answering him because I refused to bother him with her poisoned words, I glared my mother down.“This is not payback.This is me resistingyourconstraints because what you’re doing is wrong.I want to live my life for once, Mother.Do youhearthat?I want tolive.I don’t want to die anymore.Why aren’t you even remotely happy about that?”

“I’mdefinitely happy about that,” Keene said.

“Keene, go home!”Mom snapped.

“I’ll leave whenWaverlysays she wants me to leave,” he snapped back.

“It’s fine,” I told him shortly, even as I let out a miserable sigh.But I calmed myself when I turned to look into his worried eyes.Taking his hands, I squeezed his fingers gratefully and softened my voice.“It’s fine.At leastoneof us should get to escape this place.”

That didn’t seem to reassure him at all, and I could tell he was going to argue.But I didn’t want him to fight with my mother.Not after the magical night we’d just had.I lifted my hand to his cheek and barely fluttered the backs of my fingers over his facial hair.

Lips parting, he gazed at me with aching torment, letting me know with his eyes that he absolutely hated how we were leaving things.

But I just smiled at him.“Thank you for the best night ever,” I murmured and rose onto my toes to kiss him.Right in front of my pissed-off mother.

He kissed me back desperately, gripping my face and pulling me close, his lips clinging possessively.

When I pulled back again, he murmured a sound of resistance and gripped my arm so he could keep me close as he pressed his brow to mine and squeezed his eyes shut before whispering, “Thankyoufor the best night ever.”

“Talk to you tomorrow,” I said, then stepped back, making him shudder out a stuttered breath as he watched me with worried eyes.He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded mutely, letting me know he was accepting this as goodbye.

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