“I will.”
“Good. You have a safe drive, Scarlett,” he whispers, inches away from my rigid figure. If anyone saw us now, it would raise eyebrows. People would ask,“Why is he so close to her? He has no business being mere centimeters away from her parting lips.”And he doesn’t, but I want him there. I want those lips to fall and land directly on mine. I want him to steal my breath away in more ways than he already has.
When did we get here? I don’t even remember taking the path to my car.
“You too,” I respond, swaying with the wind.
The color drains from his complexion once again as his eyes tear away from mine. The forceful gulp he takes has him faltering away from me. I don’t miss the fear that encompasses his stare before he walks away.
It leaves me with a hole in my stomach, aching to be filled with answers and the reassurance that I did nothing wrong.
Scarlett Dane
CHAPTER VIII
I take the long way home, driving all throughout Riverton as my stomach unwinds from the knots tying my insides.
There’s no way I could go home with my troubled emotions mapped out along every feature. My mother would know in an instant. She’d ask what’s wrong but wouldn’t push. My dad, on the other hand… he won’t stop until the truth spills from my lips. And he’ll get every face and detail. He always does.
Etta James's soulful sound blasts through my speakers. My phone is on shuffle, but the universe has the same mindset as I do, playingI Just Want To Make Love To Youuntil my heart bleeds.
“Why? Why? Why?” I ask myself, banging the back of my head against the rest of my seat.
Why is this happening to me?
Why are these feelings consuming every thought that passes through my mind?
Why did he walk away from me, looking disgusted?
What did I do?
“Ugh! What. The.Fuck!”
Coming to a stop in front of some train tracks, I watch the train zoom by, staring at the blurred faces of the passengers before glancing up at the raining, gloomy evening sky.
The clouds seem to gather in one spot, directly above a nondescript building on the other side of the railroad. A sign out front readsWarehouse Lofts For Lease!
I take the advertisement, clouds, and racing heart as a sign, so once the train passes and the traffic light turns green, I turn right into their parking lot.
My father would kill me if he knew I was going into isolated buildings by myself. He also would be pissed if he knew what I was about to do. But I’ve never done anything crazy in my life.
I’ve been good.
Straight-A student with a full paid scholarship to one of the best art programs in the country. The University of California, Los Angeles, doesn’t just accept any applicant. They take in the best, the brilliant,the elite. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. Haven’t gotten pregnant.
I’ve been the perfect daughter.
What’s one spontaneous decision?
“Hello?” I call out as I walk through the revolving door, looking for the attendant that’s supposed to be behind the bulletproof glass.
There’s shuffling coming from the left, followed by a barked, “One minute!” I wait patiently, rocking back on my heels until a burly, red-headed man comes from the side room.
“Hey. How can I help you?” he asks, not looking at me as he wipes smudges of ink off his massive palms.
“Hi, Roy,” I say, reading his name off the tiny pin attached to his shirt. “I saw your sign out front and was hoping someone could show me around one of the lofts.” Subtly, I wrap my arm around my back, feeling for the detachable pepper spray I have connected to my key chain. It’ll make me feel safer with it in my grasp. Who knows what kind of man I’m dealing with.
Finally, he lifts his bushy head. His heavy-lidded eyes clash with mine with such intensity that it knocks me back a step.
