Page 9 of Can't Get Over You
“Where are you?” Jude demanded.
“On Crested Bluff. Heading into the woods off Robin’s Lane. You know the house there?”
“The abandoned one?” Jude asked.
“Yeah.” Marco was out of breath. “Cops are on our fuckin’ asses. Hurry.”
He pulled the truck over and closed his eyes. Finlay was his north, and his body’s compass strained in that direction, demanding he stay on the right course.
But fragments of memories flickered somewhere in the depths of his mind.
Boys laughing. Kicking him.
Holding him down.
That terrifying helplessness, weakness. The rage, fear.
And then, a curly-haired boy rushing in with a guttural shout, punching and head-butting with reckless abandon.All to save me.
For his first few months in Calamity, until he’d found his place in the club, Marco had protected him. Saved him.
“Get in the bushes,” that same boy shouted to his friends right then. “Jude’s on his way.”
“Shit.” Jude slammed his fist on the steering wheel. “Fuck.” No, he didn’t participate in their criminal activity, but they were still his friends. And Marco had been there for him when he needed it most. What kind of man would he be if he turned his back on him when he no longer needed the protection?
“Hurry, man,” Marco shouted. “You know what they said last time. We’re eighteen now. We’ll go to jail.”
Crossing lanes, he turned the truck around and headed in the opposite direction.
He’s coming.
He wouldn’t blow me off.
Alone, Finlay stood on the front lawn. Everyone had boarded the party bus, but she was still watching for a motorcycle to come roaring down this quiet, suburban street.
Where was he? What was he doing?
“Fee?” Her best friend stepped off the bus. “Forget prom. Let’s make nachos and watch dirty movies.”
“No, you’re going.” Finlay had only been included in this group because of Willa, but man, it sure had seemed like the dream prom night. Jude as her date, and a group of friends to pre-party with. What could be better?
Instead, it was turning into a nightmare. Because Jude still hadn’t shown up.
But Finlay wouldn’t ruin this night for her friend, so she plastered on a smile. “Don’t worry about me. Let’s not forget that three hours ago, I was planning on doing laundry and adding pictures to my mood board.” She tried to sound like she couldn’t care less.
But Willa knew her too well. “He’s forty-five minutes late. I don’t think he’s coming.”
The sickly sweet scent of her friend’s corsage made Finlay a little queasy. Because the truth was, she knew her friend was right.
“I’ll tell Josh I’m not going.” Her friend turned and started off.
But Finlay grabbed her arm. “Stop it. You’re going to prom.”
“And what’re you going to do?”
“I’m going to wait a little longer.” When her friend started to protest, she said, “If you’re right, and he doesn’t come, my mom’ll come get me.” That was a lie. Her mom was working. So was her dad. No one was coming. “Either way, I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’ve been planning for months to go with him.”
But Willa wasn’t buying her false cheer. “I can’t have fun if you’re sad.”
