Dr. Mac shook his head and gave the class a scowl. “Wednesday, I expect more participation, oryoucan expect a pop quiz.”
Tara and I looked at each other and groaned.
Eager to escape his clutches along with the rest of the students, I crammed my laptop into my bag and jumped out of my seat, dragging Tara to weave through the crowd into the hallway.
“Jesus, thought he’d never shut it.” She shouldered her backpack and strutted beside me. “At least Monday’s freaking done.”
“Yeah. It seemed even longer than usual.” I strode to the class exit, where several other students poured through the open double doors like lines of scurrying ants.
“You gotta work tonight?” Tara asked, stopping next to the wall and pulling out a mirrored compact.
“Yeah, headed there right now.”
“Workaholic.” She flashed a quick grin then lined her lips with gloss, smacking them together and giving the mirror a duckface. “Catch you tomorrow. Momma’s got a project she needs help with.” She rolled her eyes. “I hope it doesn’t involve climbing the roof again.” Finished, she shoved the makeup mirror into her purse.
I laughed at the memory of seeing my tall friend standing on the roof of her home, pounding nails through the shingles to secure an old rooster weathervane to the house. “Well, you have to admit—Mr. Callahan looks pretty cool up there.”
Students continued to funnel through the hall. Several of the guys from the football team hollered through the corridor and fist-bumped one another.
“Puh-lease.” Tara gave a shiver, her eyes lingering on the star quarterback as he disappeared through the exit. “Our house looks likeThe Addams Familymerged withKing of the Hill. It’s hideous.”
She and her mom lived in an old, Victorian-style home. A year or so ago, Tara’s father had died of an unexpected heart attack but had left enough life insurance for Tara’s college fund. Her mom used what was left to convert their three acres into a full-sized working farm. Needing something to focus on, she’d created chicken coops and a pen for hogs, deciding to live off-the-grid as much as possible.
Tara hated being a farm girl with a passion.
I tried to swallow a chuckle. “Well, you better hope she didn’t buy some cows today and needs help milking them.”
With her green eyes flashing, Tara bared her teeth in a snarl. “I will disown her if she did.”
“No, you won’t.” I snorted and pointed to her chest. “You’ll gripe about it, then do whatever she asks because you love her.”
“I’m such a pushover.” She sighed, and her shoulders slumped.
“There are worse faults to have.” I jerked a thumb toward the thinning throng of students. “I gotta get.”
“Okay.” With a smile, Tara leaned forward and squeezed my arm. “See ya tomorrow. Maybe we can quiz each other for the history exam.” Giving me a jaunty wave, she walked backward out of the doorway. “I’ll text you later, let you know what kind of shitshow Momma’s started this time.”
“Pictures,” I shouted, “or I won’t believe it.”
“Absolutely not.” She twisted and disappeared down the steps.
Shifting my backpack to the other shoulder, I stopped and dug around for a bottle of water and took a swig.
Maybe I’m tired because I got so dehydrated yesterday.
After I downed half the bottle, I recapped it and placed it into my backpack.
I was one of the last students to step into the unseasonable heat. For it only being less than two weeks until Halloween, Texas still clung to summer with an iron fist and seemed determined to fry everything before letting Autumn stake its claim.
As my eyes adjusted to the bright light, the smell of hot tar hit my nose and the punishing sun fried my bare shoulders. Shielding my eyes from the glare and repositioning my tank top straps, I walked forward, eager to get to the library for shade and cool air on my skin.
“Oof.” I collided with something hard. My hands splayed outward as I stumbled, but strong arms caught me before my face hit the concrete sidewalk.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” I gushed, fire rushing to my cheeks for not paying attention.
Large, masculine hands gripped my upper arms.
I glanced upward and steadied myself as his warm fingers wrapped around my skin. Pale eyes stared back, their color bordering between glacial ice and shining silver. A black ring surrounded the irises, contrasting with the lighter color and lending him an exotic look.
