Page 48 of Aftertaste

It had been three days, and it was only twenty-four hours until gameday. I couldn’t wait until after then, so I’d decided enough was enough. I was going to get an answer. Not just that, but the answer I wanted; the answer I needed to hear from her lips.

I took a right turn, entering the other side of town. The streets weren’t as clean, the graffiti art on the wall dripping with anger and contempt. Each street I drove down had people turning to look at my car. They couldn’t see me through the tinted windows, but I witnessed each and every one of their looks. They were probably wondering what I was doing on their streets, and the simple answer was, I was getting what I wanted, no matter the cost.

The building to the high school came into view, and without a second thought, I peeled into the lot, parked in front of the main doors, then pushed out of my car. The sun beamed down on the black metal, so clean I could see my reflection in it.

It was only a matter of minutes until the school bell would ring out, and I intended to be front and center so Sage couldn’t miss me.

I leaned against the side of my car, placed the bottom of my foot on the front tire, then waited. The shades covering my eyes concealed the look on my face, but as the students started to file out of the school, it was harder to keep the mask in place.

I was here alone, without the back up of my team. They didn’t even know where I was, but I really didn’t give a flying fuck. They wouldn’t understand what I was doing, not that I did either. I was taking a risk; I just hoped it panned out.

Gasps and whispers surrounded me as students gathered in pockets around the stairs, then the captain of their basketball team—Troy—made an appearance. I could practically see the steam coming out of his ears as he stared at me. I’d fouled him in the last game and got away with it. Both he and I knew I’d done it. It was yet another time I’d gotten one up on him.

“This ain’t your turf, Hartley,” he ground out, flanked by several of his team members. I leaned back a little, trying to show him I wasn’t bothered by his veiled threat as he moved down the stairs and closer to me.

“Yeah, Hartley,” the guy next to him repeated, puffing his chest out. “Get off our grounds.”

I rolled my eyes, not that they could see thanks to the Gucci shades I had covering half of my face. “I’m good thanks,” I said, speaking just as chilled as I was acting. I wasn’t here for them; they just didn’t realize that yet.

“You’re lookin’ for trouble,” Troy gritted. “We’re not on the court now.” He cracked his knuckles, coming to a stop only a couple of feet away from me. The threat was closer now, so I stood to my full height, not prepared to back down. I didn’t care if it ended up being the entire school against me, I’d never scurry away.

“Not here for you,” I told them easily, keeping my gaze connected to his.Don’t take your eyes off the enemy. My dad had taught me that a long time ago, and I never forgot the advice.

“Yeah?” Troy laughed, several of his teammates joining in with him. “Who are you here for then?”

I raised my brow, finally taking my gaze off him as I glanced around the growing crowd. I couldn’t see her anywhere, and I wondered if she’d seen me and chosen to walk away. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all?

My body screamed at me to walk away and to give in, but something inside me had me staying put. I couldn’t deny the way I’d reacted to Sage when I’d found her in my house Saturday morning.

“None of your business,” I told Troy, my voice deeper now. I didn’t answer to him, I didn’t answer to anybody, especially not a douche who thought he was the best player on the court. He was fooling himself, just like his coaches were.

“I’d say itismy business,” he growled back, stepping closer to me. “Considering you’re on my fuckin’ turf.”

I pushed my shoulders back, clenching my fists at my sides, and preparing myself to throw down. There was no way I was backing down without a fight. “Step the fuck back,” I gritted out. “That’s your one and only warning.”

“Or what?” he laughed. “What you gonna do, Storm?” He sneered my name as if it would affect me, but it didn’t. It rolled right off of me, just like his shit basketball skills did.

“Storm!” someone shouted, the same voice I’d been dying to hear for days. “Excuse me,” the voice said again, softer this time. I searched for her in the crowd, seeing her coming from the rear end of my car. I didn’t hesitate as I left Troy and his followers.

“Sage,” I called out, not quite seeing her, then a flash of blond hair appeared along with a hand in the air. “Move,” I ground out at the students piled at the back of my car. Their eyes widened as they parted like the red sea, leaving a clear gap for Sage to make her way through. Her gaze met mine and I knew in that moment I hadn’t made a mistake coming here.

“Hey.” Her voice was soft and alluring, calling to me like a siren to a sailor. “What are you doing here?” she asked, coming closer to me.

“Came to get your answer.” I winked, holding my hand out to her, hoping like hell she didn’t turn me down in front everyone. Her soft palm met mine, my long fingers able to wrap entirely around her small hand.

“Really?” A blush flashed on her cheeks, but she didn’t move her attention off me for a single second. She was captivated by me, just like I was with her.

“Yeah.” I pulled her closer to me, our bodies so close to touching it was almost torture. “So?”

She bit down on her bottom lip, and this time instead of imagining pulling her lip from between her teeth, I placed my thumb on her chin and pulled it away. The tips of my fingers stretched into her silky soft hair, and I wished I could grab it and pull her to me, but it was too soon. Too much all at once.

I had to move one step at a time, and this was the first step of many.

“Yes,” she sighed, the word flowing on the air to me. “I’ll go out with you.”

My lips spread into the biggest grin causing my cheeks to hurt at how wide it was. “Thank fuck for that.” I pulled her toward me, closing the distance between us as I dipped down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I think we should get out of here real quick,” I whispered in her ear. My attention moved back to Troy who was watching us with narrowed eyes. I didn’t wait for Sage’s reply before I pulled her to the passenger side of my car and opened the door for her.

I purposely walked by Troy to rub it in just that little more then slipped into the driver’s side. Nobody moved from around my car as I turned the engine back on. “Belt,” I growled at Sage, flicking mine on at the same time. “Hold tight,” I warned her, then revved the engine so much that smoke came from my tires. An opening appeared right in front of me and I didn’t waste another second to get the hell out of there.

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