Page 6 of Keep Me Still
Well, that’s a new twist on an old nightmare. Sweat soaks my t-shirt and I try to shake the images on the way to the shower. And now, for reasons that aren’t his fault in any way, I don’t want to see Landen O’Brien ever again.
Which is unfortunate, because as soon as I step outside, he’s there. Waiting for me. Leaning up against his truck, looking like a magazine ad. Just like in my nightmare, I’m suddenly smothered and unable to breathe at the sight of him.
I’ve built walls around myself, carefully constructed them piece by painstaking piece to keep myself safe. Unseen, unaffected. And Landen’s grinning at me with a smile that might as well be a sledgehammer. When he opens the truck door for me and our eyes meet, his intentions are clear. He wants to tear down those walls, send them crashing all around me. Doesn’t he realize they’ll bury me? Us?
“What are you doing here?” Part of me is relieved. I was starting to think I’d dreamed him. But the thought of dreams reminds me of my nightmare last night, and my stomach tightens as bile rises in my throat.
“Thought you might like a ride,” he answers, smiling that tempting smile at me.
“This going to be a regular thing?” I ask out of curiosity as he helps me into the truck.
“Do you want it to be?” He arches an eyebrow and I can’t help but smile back.
“If you do.”
“I do,” he says and his grin widens. “I think we’re married now.”
“You don’t have to do this, you know. I can handle the bus.”
He’s still shaking his head when he gets in on his side. “Yeah, who doesn’t love a bus full of obnoxious freshmen who don’t shower after gym class?” He winks at me and my insides start to tingle. What is it about this guy? Why do I feel like he was sent here just for me?
“Actually I’m going to have soccer and football practice after school Monday through Thursday, but I can at least give you a ridetoschool and I can take you home on Fridays.”
“You play both?” I didn’t even know you could do that.
His jaw clenches, and it might be my imagination, but his knuckles are white on the steering wheel. “I play soccer but the football team needs a kicker so I’ll be doing that too, probably.”
Maybe he wasn’t just sent here for me after all. “I think maybe I’d like to see you play. Both, I mean.” I glance out the window so I don’t have to see his face when he tells me I can sit with his girlfriend. Or so he won’t see mine. He clears his throat and I turn back to him.
“Maybe some days you can stay after school and check out practice, maybe catch a few games? When I don’t say anything, he hurries on. “I could drive you home afterwards.”
“By the time games end I’m sure my Aunt Kate could come get me so you don’t have to go out of your way.”
“No, I meant, Iwantto take you home after. So you can give me the play-by-play on what you think of my skills,” he says with a wink.
“Hmm, I’ll think about it,” I say, doing my best to keep my voice even though all I’m thinking about are the “skills” of his I’ve already dreamt of.
“Hey,Landen?” Layla asks me as we head into school. I can sense her literally shrinking back against the looks we’re getting.
I fight the urge to put my arm around her. Barely. “Yeah?”
“What were you talking about yesterday when you said things were weird here?”
Oh yeah.That. My bombed pick up line. So glad she remembered. “Uh, well.” I run a hand through my hair and decide to just lay it out there. “I thought I was going to have to fight someone just to talk to you. I mean, you’re literally the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in real life and I expected guys to be like, lined up. But you were always alone every time I saw you so…I’ve decided guys here must be blind and dumb.” There, that didn’t sound too bad. I watch her, waiting for her to tell me I don’t have a chance.
She smiles this tiny little smile with only one side of her mouth turning up. Then she bites her lip and her grin widens, lighting up her entire face. And I can’t breathe. No one has ever smiled at me like that. Like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to them.
“That’s very sweet, minus the fighting part,” she says finally and I exhale.
“Yeah, well, sweet’s not something people usually call me, but from you I’ll take it.”
I watch her roll her eyes. “Gee thanks. And what do people usually call you?”
“It varies. But most of it’s a little harsh for your ears.”
The pouty expression she gives me makes it hard to think straight. “And what do you know about my ears?” she asks as we reach her locker.
“Hmm.” I lean over and tuck her thick hair behind each so I can thoroughly inspect them. And also just to have an excuse to touch her. They’re petite and adorable, just like I expected them to be. “Yep, just as I suspected. Way too delicate to hear some of the things I’ve been called,” I say softly into her right ear. The shiver that runs up her spine shakes us both. For a second, I’m too stunned to speak. Just barely touching her and whispering in her ear made her shiver. Me—I made her shiver. And God help me, I want to do it again and again.
