I lean down so he can hear what I’m about to say, good andloud.
“Listen, Easton. If I let you up, my mother—who is standing at that kitchen window putting dinner dishes away—will glance up, take one look at you, probably lose her effing shit, and call the cops.”
If I move any farther to the right, the floodlights are going to activate—three of them strategically placed around the property—making it as bright as the Parker Lane football field.
“What are we gonna do?” he whispers.
We?
And why does he suddenly sound…scared?
For a brief moment I feel kind of sorry for the guy—he is a guy, after all, and we all know teenage boys aren’t known for their quick wit and fortitude. Their common sense and decision-making are subpar at best, inferior to girls until at least the age of forty.
I give my hair a toss, feeling superior.
“We? I didn’t realize we were a duo.” I don’t think so, buddy. “This isn’t High School Musical, Easton—we arenotin this together.”
I smirk at my quip, quoting a movie I used to watch over and over again as a kid. How clever was that comeback?!
Easton frowns. “Harper. Just let me up.”
I melt a little at the sound of my name. “So what would happen if you get caught?”
“I’ll get kicked off the hockey team for sure.” He sounds dejected and regretful.
I nod. “Yup, sounds about right. What else?”
“My parents will kill me. I’ll probably lose my scholarship to Michigan.” He begins listing the consequences of his actions. “I’ll have to go to a community college and pay tuition, if I can even get accepted anywhere after committing, like, three crimes in one night.”
“Hmm,” I hum. “Must be having some regrets now, hey?”
He looks murderous as he stares up at me from the ground.
“I hate you so bad right now,” he hisses.
Well.
He’s about to hate me even more.
Chapter 5
Easton
“Youhateme?” Harper repeats. “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” Her tongue clicks inside her mouth—a mouth I actually thought was pretty when I saw her smearing on lip gloss yesterday, pursing them in the small heart-shaped mirror that hangs inside her locker. “How do you know I don’t hateyou?”
God. If only she knew Maddie Miller isn’t the only girl I used to have feelings for. There was a time sophomore year when I had a huge crush on Harper, too. But whatever.
That was then; this is now.
I’m a new person.
Acriminal.
“Fine. I’msorry. I don’t hate you.” She sounds disgruntled as she lets the admission drag off her tongue. “I might not understand you, but I certainly don’t hate you.”
Harper actually has the balls to tap her impatient foot against my chest, keeping me hostage. I hold still so she doesn’t alert her mother to what’s going on at the back of their property.
I turn my head and can see her mom puttering in the kitchen, illuminated by the overhead light, wiping down the table.
