Zap me twice and kick me in the arse.

I hadn’t imagined Marissa’s presence the night before. She called and left me two messages, along with a text saying she was heading to town. She wanted to meet up for coffee or a drink.

I erased the text. There was no way I wanted to have that awkward conversation, especially after she saw my wasted state the night before. I didn’t regret getting so drunk, but I wasn’t signing up for another round in the near future.

Then I scrolled through the rest.

Jesse called a bunch of times and left six text messages.

Where are you?

Can we talk?

I’d like to talk. I’m sorry.

The last three had the same sentiments except he said they were having a party and he’d like me to come.

I thumbed a response back, feeling my ego get a little boost. Crazy night, didn’t have my phone. Did you know Marissa and your exgf are in town?

I didn’t wait long. My phone buzzed back right away. Yeah, M called the house phone. We moved houses, but same number. Want to meet for lunch?

I checked the time. It was 11:45. Sure.

Will pick you up in twenty.

K.

Instead of waiting in my room, I finished dressing and grabbed my book bag. I wasn’t sure what Jesse had planned so I brought my laptop and enough homework that would last me the entire weekend. Then I went downstairs and parked my bottom on the curb. Before he showed, the back stairwell door opened behind me.

Beth plopped down beside me. Kicking her legs out, she leaned back and yawned. “Who are you waiting for?”

“Jesse.”

“Ah. The mystery man.”

I frowned as I heard the amusement in her tone. It wasn’t amusing to me. “Who are you waiting for?”

“Who do you think?”

I grinned at her. “Your hunky Sal?”

She snorted. “He’s a good guy.”

Really?

She added, “Rough around the edges, but he’s loyal to the extreme. He was surprised by you last night.”

“Because I wouldn’t drink the Wild Turkey?”

“That and because you didn’t give a damn who he was or even where we were.” She laughed as she readjusted and hugged her knees to her chest instead. “Most people piss their pants when they step foot into a party like last night. You didn’t seem to care at all.”

“Because I didn’t. Your crowd doesn’t scare me. I could tell they all cared about you and I was there with you. So…” I let the sentence fade.

From the silence that hung afterwards, I could feel her studying me. After another few moments, she sighed in surrender. “You’re a different bird, aren’t you?”

I glanced at her. “What do you mean?”

It was at that time when Jesse pulled into the parking lot and wheeled to a stop in front of us. Beth gestured to him. “Not many would keep a relationship secret with the biggest star at Grant West.”

Standing, I gave her a crooked grin. “Not many know who I am here. I’d like to keep it that way.”

She frowned and I knew the wheels were going again. I hadn’t meant to sound mysterious, just that I didn’t want people pitying me when they heard about my older brother’s tragic death or my parents’ neglect. Too many stares and too many whispers hadn’t helped my grief back home. Coupling that with the target on my back that’d be there once people knew my connection to Jesse sounded like my worst nightmare. I wasn’t stupid. I knew it’d get out, but I had every intention of prolonging that as long as possible.

As I got in, Jesse flashed me a grin. It melted my panties. Oh boy. Those black shades on him were lethal to my hormones. Beth was a forgotten thought as he peeled out of the parking lot. When we met Hannah’s red Camaro, I was grateful his windows were tinted.

“Isn’t that your friend?” Jesse asked, turning onto the road.

I nodded and twisted around. Beth hopped into the Camaro and Hannah wheeled the car around to follow us. If I’d been driving, they would’ve been behind us within seconds. Jesse went fast. They were a speck behind us before long.

“Where are we going?”

He ignored that question. “I’m sorry I haven’t called.”

I frowned. I wanted to tell him I hadn’t cared, but I was trying to keep the lying only to myself. I said nothing instead.

“There’s a lot of shit going on with my dad. I can tell you, but I don’t want to. I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Why are you telling me this?” We weren’t a couple. I wasn’t his girlfriend.

“Because the press might get wind of it and I don’t want you hurt that I never said anything. I just,” he let loose a deep breath. “I just don’t want to deal with it.”

“Cord said something was going on.”

“Yeah.” He smirked at me. “He also said you didn’t seem too worried about me, said that you told him not to talk to you in classes too. Are we your dirty secret?”

“More like I’d be yours.”

The smirk flattened. “Are you f**king with me?”

My eyes widened when I heard a savage tone in his voice. I hadn’t expected that. “No, but you two are the basketball celebrities. I’m a nobody.”

His hand had clenched around the steering wheel. As his chest loosened and he let out a constrained breath, his hand never unclenched. “You’re not a nobody. I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.”

I wanted to be a nobody. It was easy that way. But I forced a bright smile. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll tell you when you tell me about your crazy night.”

Ugh. I groaned, just thinking about it. “Don’t make me sick. Recanting it makes me want to vomit.”

“You were sick last night?”

I nodded. “I was sick after the first stop in our crazy night of adventures.”

“First stop?” His grin widened so I was graced with his dimples. They were rarely seen and only two people knew of their existence, one of them was dead. Laying my head against the seat, I felt his gaze on me. He was studying me, much the same as Beth had done, but I felt warm under his perusal. Anyone else and I would’ve been prickly and getting ready for a fight if the scrutiny lasted too long. Not with Jesse. Everything was different with Jesse.