Page 157 of Faking It With the Small-Town Bad Boy

drunk into her tree!”

The officer turns, shooting us with a warning of a look like I had been

the one to drive into someone else’s tree. Why is he blaming us for

being upset? I have every right to be mad! Ryan just destroyed a

legacy of a tree that has stayed in my family since this property has

been in my family lineage.

And it’s gone now, nothing but a smoldering stump the firefighters

say could burn for days on end. That thought alone sends me to my

knees, and Percy collapses with me, holding an arm securely around

my back while I sob into my hands.

“This is bullshit,” I say, slightly furious still. “They are friends with

the fucking governor. Hell, they are probably just looking out for

Ryan’s better interest.”

“That, or the breathalyzer is off, Leah. I know when I would have half

a bottle of whiskey, they would stop me on the backroads and try to

test me. I always came away free. I doubt those things have been

calibrated in forever.”

I weep harder, my body going hollow with a devastating ache.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re going to be fine, darling. I know what that

meant to you and—”

“What’s wrong?” a deep, slightly tired voice says on the porch.

Percy and I both transfer our attention to Ryan who seems unphased

just within reach. I could leap up and strangle him by the throat if I

was the violent type, but I’m not. The thought still looms closely,

though.

“You prick,” I breathe, still shaking all over.

He waves at the ambulance that drives away, and I can’t understand

how he’s gotten away so easily! They didn’t even ask if I would press

charges for him destroying my property. I can hear the police

muttering nearby, their words inflicting more pain than watching the

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