Page 32 of The Lie
FOURTEEN
MILA
Abrand-new car…well, brand new to me.
Dad surprised me with a car so I can drive to school, and I love it. It’s the best surprise. Honestly, I had no idea he was going to do that. I’d been fine getting lifts in the morning, even if it had been earlier than I wanted some days.
That was Saturday, and today is my first day back at Ridgecrest. Even though Dad isn’t happy with me and wants me to wait.
“Please, just give it another week,” he asks again.
I shake my head as I try to put my hair up in a ponytail, but I give up when it doesn’t work. Dad watches me and gives me a sorry smile. He tried to help me with it last week, but it wasn’t tight enough and fell out after ten minutes. He tried again before admitting that his hair styling skills are lacking.
“Dad, I’m fine, and I’ve been cooped up here too long. I need to go back.”
If not for my grades, then for my mental health. Being stuck here all day makes me overthink. Everything. And that’s not good for someone who got hit by the car of two gangsters. I assume that’s what they are. I call them “bad guys,” but I assume they’re mixed up in all the stuff that goes on at The Shed.
“Call me if you need me. I don’t care if it’s somethingsilly. You call me, and I will come get you.”
I smile as I dive in for another hug from Dad. He rubs the middle of my back and lets out a defeated huff.
“You’re a stubborn girl.” He shakes his head at me as he takes another sip of coffee.
I chuckle and kiss his cheek. “Yeah, but you love me just the way I am,” I tease him.
“I’ll always love you, even when you’re being so stubborn that I want to bundle you in bubble wrap and keep you safe.”
I poke my tongue at Dad, loving this banter with him. Looking down at my phone, I realize I don’t have much time left before school starts. I give him another huge squeeze, and my ribs feel so much better now, the hug doesn’t even hurt.
Grabbing my bag off the table, I dash for the door. “Bye, Dad. See you at dinner. Kate’s place?” He nods and just stands there. “Dad, you’re late for work. Get a move on.” I worry they’ll fire him if he keeps spending time away taking care of me.
I run out to my shiny new silver Honda Civic, giddy at the sight of it. When I hear the beep of a car unlocking, I turn to see Jace storming toward his black SUV. He stops for a moment and looks over at me. He pauses, only for a split second, before he yanks opens his door then slams it behind him.
Someone made him an extra bowl of rage cereal this morning. Not my problem anymore. But I linger as he reverses out of the driveway, and the screeching of his tires has me getting into my own car.
Grady must have left early for weight training. I’m so glad I have my own car now. No way I would have asked Jace for a lift. I would rather get hit by a car again than get into a car with that anger directed at me.
Well, maybe not get hit by a car. That hurts. But I would call an Uber or Hunter.
“Mila, babe.” Hunter greets me outside of school with a bear hug and lingering kiss that I never want to stop.
Unfortunately, we do have to stop, and when I draw back, he kisses my nose. And, in this moment, it really sinks in—I’m dating Hunter West. My cute best friend who was always scared to use the rope swing at the lake, grew up into this tall, sexy guy who is mine. I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him again, grinning.
“What was that for?” he asks.
“Because you’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.”
The bell rings and he takes my bag. Instead of walking beside me, he comes up behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist and placing his chin on my shoulder as we walk together as one.
“I’m never letting you go either, Mila. When you said I could keep you, I took it to heart. I’ve always known you would one day be my girl. I just had to wait until now to claim you.”
I turn my head and kiss his cheek.
He gives me a cocky grin as he stands up and waves an arm in the air. “Everyone, listen up. Mila Hart is my girl. Forever and always.”
My eyes widen as I take in the students around us that have frozen to listen to Hunter. I grab his arm and pull it down. “I think they know. Let’s go before I’m late for my first class because you’re marking your territory.” I cock a brow at him, and he chuckles.
“Sorry for being so excited to finally be yours that I had to tell everyone.”
