Page 39 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

My body buzzes from his touch, but it doesn’t bring me comfort. The echo of his words wrap themselves around my neck and tighten like a noose.

I clear my throat and push the feeling down.

21

Becca

“What are you doing for Christmas break?”

I grimace in Sabrina’s direction, taking a bite of sushi instead of answering her.

She sighs, dropping her chopsticks, leaning forward on our couch. “Are you planning to ignore me all night?”

“I’m not ignorin’ you, I just don’t have anything to say about it, is all.”

Sabrina stares, her gaze searing into the side of my face. I avoid eye contact—something I’ve found myself doing more of lately, ever since I’ve been with Eli.

It’s exhausting, keeping this secret, and I’m sick of hiding it. Over the past month, I’ve slowly come to terms with the fact that I want to be with him. I like him, no matter how many times I try to convince myself I don’t.

Still, that noose around my neck dangles, threatening to pull tight with every twitch of my heart.

“Are you going home?” Sabrina prods.

I shrug. “Momma keeps callin’ every other day, tryin’ to strong-arm me. It’s not gonn

a happen, though. Once I go back, I reckon they’ll never let me leave again. Diploma be damned.”

Sabrina scoffs. “They can’t hold you hostage.”

My lips turn down. “You’d be surprised at what my old man can do.”

She looks down, fiddling with the wooden chopsticks on her sushi tray. “Well, I think it’s ridiculous. You’re a grown woman. You have rights.” She crosses her arms.

I smile at her. “Oh, girl. It’s adorable you think Sugarlake, Tennessee gives a damn about my ‘rights.’”

Her forehead scrunches. “Your dad’s one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever met.”

Confusion tilts my head. “Technically, you never have met him. But… can’t really argue your point.”

“Yeah…” She takes another bite of sushi. “I guess you’ll have the place to yourself if you decide to stay. I’ll be in Colorado with the fam. They rented a cabin so we could ski.”

My stomach clenches at her words. My mind wanders, thinking of what it would be like to spend it with Eli. No interruptions. No friends to steal me away. In a spur of the moment decision, I grab my phone and send a text.

Me: Whatcha doing for Xmas, big head?

Eli: You, hopefully.

I bite my lip, a tingle pricking between my legs.

He texts again.

Eli: You’re not going home?

Me: That depends. If I stay with you, can we get a tree?

Why the hell did I say that? It’s dumb, and I feel stupid for asking.

Last week, he told me Christmas was his favorite holiday even though he usually spends it alone. We got into a debate because I strongly disagree with that statement.

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