I stared at him, unmoving.

“Kade is rich. His friends are rich. I will lose out on a ton of money if I don’t.”

“Because you’ll cheat them?”

“No, because most of Kade’s friends are idiots. I mean, yeah, some of them aren’t, and Kade usually isn’t, but they don’t care. This is their fun. They can afford to lose some bets. I couldn’t in high school. That’s the difference.” He looked at me, pleading. “Just tell him I’ll do it, and give him my number when he calls you.”

“Maybe.” I was mean.

“Taylor, come on!”

I rolled my eyes. I’d do it. I’d be the good friend to him.

Jason relaxed, sensing my surrender. He gave me a small smile. “Thanks, Taylor.”

I nodded as he waved and climbed out to head for his car. When I went inside, I could feel that the house was still empty, but I checked the garage anyway. No car. No dad. I went to my room and read the two chapters for sociology class. They were due in two days, but good for me. I was being ambitious. When I’d finished, I watched the news.

No dad.

I was stupid for being worried. I mean, I moved back to be here for him. That was the plan, but it was obvious, and had been for so long, that he didn’t want me here. Maybe I moved back for me? Maybe it would be too hard to go back to my old school. It’d be like I was leaving her behind, or maybe I still needed Jason and Claire? Or maybe I was here, hoping to be here for him because that was what she would’ve wanted me to do.

I sighed. I needed to let it go, let him go, but something was nagging me. I couldn’t sleep so I checked my email and double-checked my class schedule for the next day. It was close to midnight.

No dad.

I read a book for another hour.

Still no dad.

That normal thing to do was to go to bed. My class was at nine in the morning. That’d be the responsible thing to do, but even when the clock told me it was after two in the morning, I was still wide awake.

My phone buzzed. It was on silent except for the alarm, but the screen lit up the entire room. My heart leaped to my chest as I rolled over, but no. Not dad. Instead I read, Hey, hot girl. Forgot to call. This is Kade. You got an answer for me?

I typed back, Come pick me up. I’ll give you your answer.

My head fell back against my pillow once I’d hit send. I needed a ride. That was it. Kade could handle himself in a fight, and my dad was still gone. I needed to find out where he was—make sure he was fine and not at some strip club. That was all I was doing. That was it.

The next second my phone buzzed again. Be there in twenty.

STRANGER PITY

TAYLOR

I was waiting in the living room with the lights off when his headlights swept across me. Everything lit up for a split second before his car faced the garage. Though it was the middle of the night—closer to early morning, actually—it was still humid. A small breeze wafted across my neck as I shut the door to the house behind me and hurried over to his car. Once inside, I didn’t look at him.

Why I was here? Why had I texted? My dad, I reminded myself. His note had told me he’d be at Mike’s house late, but this was ungodly late.

“Hot girl.”

I looked up and immediately wished I hadn’t. Logan hadn’t gotten any less gorgeous since the day before. His dark eyes watched me, a hint of amusement still there—along with a hint of something darker. The darker element sent a rush through my veins. I ignored it, taking in the dark shirt he wore over jeans. The whites of his eyes stood out from his tanned complexion, and when he grinned, they matched his perfect white teeth.

He added, “Where to? I’m your personal driver for the night.” He tapped the steering wheel. “I can be another type of driver for you, too, if you know what I mean.”

I flushed, then scowled, regretting it. I ignored the fluttering in my stomach. “I have to run an errand.”

A smooth chuckle came as he reversed the car. “Whatever you say. For real. Where we going? I didn’t figure you really had to give me the answer in person.” He started down the street, but slowed as we drew to the first intersection.

I pulled up my dad’s GPS coordinates. “Turn right.”

He nodded. “On it.”

Thirty minutes later, we stopped outside Coach Mike’s house. With one arm resting on the steering wheel, Logan faced me. “Want to tell me why we’re outside my brother’s head coach’s house?”

“You know who lives here?”

His eyes seemed to be laughing at me. They always looked like that. “I do. I’ve spent time here with my brother. Been to your house, too, by the way. That’s how I knew where to go tonight.”

Oh, yeah. He never asked for my address. “You have?”

“There was a thing for your dad once, after your mom died. We all showed up with food. Sam made us make it ourselves. She wouldn’t let us buy something, and she wouldn’t listen to me when I said your dad wouldn’t care.”

He knew about my mom, but that shouldn’t have surprised me. Of course, everyone on campus would know one of their beloved coaches had lost his wife. The corner of my mouth twitched. “That’s funny.”

“What is?”

I glanced up, holding his gaze. “Hearing that you knew about her. Usually it feels like having my insides ripped out with a spoon. This was…nice...” That was an odd sensation to me.

“Well, hey there, Hot Girl.” His voice dropped low and sensual. He laughed under his breath. “If you’re all about feeling nice, I’m chock-full of ideas.” He waved his fingers at me. “You have my phone digits now, so anytime you want the use of my other digits, I’m just a button away.” He lifted an eyebrow.