Page 25 of Fighting for the Truth

I don’t say anything. I’m not hashing it out in front of half the school and whoever else she’s invited. As I step into the warm night air to wait on Hawk, none other than Caleb appears in front of me. He wears a charming smile that reaches his eyes. “Hey, Britt. Where are you headed? I was hoping to catch up tonight.”

I give him a practiced, tight smile as I see Hawk’s truck stop in front of my house. “Uh, I’m going out on a date tonight. I’m sorry. Have fun though.” I try to pass him with no other words, but he turns to watch me as I walk to the waiting truck.

“I miss you, Brittney.” It almost sounds like a yelp. I stop and face him.

“We’re just friends, Caleb. We didn’t have the right chemistry between us. Please leave it at that. I prefer not to lose you as a friend.” It’s all I can say before Mandy steps outside and calls for him. She glances at Hawk’s truck and then back at me as the party music kicks up.

I take my chance and rush toward the truck. Hawk stares at me with interest. “Should I be worried?” he asks as I get in.

I swat his hand where it sits on the gear shift. “Why would you even ask that?” I laugh.

“It did have the appearance of a guy trying to get the girl,” he answers with a raised brow.

I shake my head and grin. “You know the guy Mandy said was asking about me the other day?” He nods. “That was him. I guess he might be a little more stuck on me than what I thought, but it wasn’t ever serious. At least not for me.”

“Did y’all—” I cut him off mid question.

“Absolutely not. Yes, we made out a few times, but nothing ventured below the belt.”

Hawk takes it as an opportunity to glance at my chest. “But he’s had his hands on those?” His nostrils flare even as he’s smiling.

“Hawk, I don’t ask where your hands have been. All you need to know is no one has touched me below the belt.”

He starts driving. “I can’t say I’ve not been touched below the belt, but you’ll be the one to break me in,” he says, and winks at me.

He’s impossibly handsome. My stomach flutters with anxious butterflies as we near the restaurant for our date. He takes me to the Silver Note on the square. It’s known for being the best place for a date in this town. He does all the things a boyfriend should do. He opens doors and pulls out chairs. We’ve had a wonderful dinner.

We’re getting ready to leave when a woman stops us. She’s stunning with her dark hair and pale blue eyes. She’s a waitress here it appears from her attire. She can’t be more than early twenties. She hands me a card. “You’re Brittney Jameson, right?”

“Uh, yes. Do I know you?” I ask.

She laughs nervously. “Oh heavens no. I had a meeting with your dad a few weeks ago and I was wondering if you could give him my card. I forgot to give it to him in case he needed more information from me.”

She appears to understand I know exactly what she’s insinuating, so her smile falls, and she retreats behind the doors of the kitchen. I abruptly walk outside and head for Hawk’s truck with him on my heels.

“Brittney. What was that about?” he asks gently.

I crumple the card in my hand. I can’t believe this. Never has one of my parents’ “lovers” ever approached me. I feel sick to my stomach.

“Nothing. Let’s finish what we started,” I say.

He glances at me unsure but unlocks the door and helps me in anyway. By the time we pull up in the field behind the school hidden by trees and close to our houses, I’m wound up tighter than a spring. He cuts the engine and glances at me.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Hawk. Let’s focus on us. That’s what I want right now.”

He blinks at me a few times but then opens his door and reaches behind the seat to retrieve something. He walks to the back of the truck and lets the tailgate down. After a few minutes, he moves to my side and opens the door for me. “Hold on,” he says as he reaches by me to turn the key so his radio will play music. He puts in what appears to be a burned CD and it starts playing a slow R&B song I’ve never heard. Satisfied, he grabs my hand and twirls me around. I laugh and do my best to focus on being here with him and not some tramp my dad has slept with.

We dance in the warm night air. I’m quiet as we sway in slow motion with my cheek pressed to his chest. He stops moving and takes my face in his hands before gently lowering his lips to mine. I let out a little moan as he lifts me up and carries me to the tailgate.

When he deposits me there, we make out for a long time before moving farther up in the bed of his truck. I push him to his back and straddle him. I wore a dress tonight, so all that’s between us is my panties and his jeans. I can feel his hardness and I grind into it. He bites his lip as he watches me.

I reach for the bottom of my dress and lift it over my head. He sucks in a breath as he realizes I wasn’t wearing a bra underneath. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”

He hasn’t touched me yet, so I take his hands in mine and bring them to my breasts. He shifts and sits up. My center is throbbing for him as thunder rumbles in the distance. I can smell rain in the wind as it blows my hair. But I can’t find it in me to care right now.

He kisses my neck and chills erupt all over my skin, which make my nipples pebble against the fabric of his shirt that much more. He pulls back and stares into my eyes and I know he has to be ready to burst. I undo his pants, and he tugs my bottom lip with his thumb.

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