“Then why do you keep looking at me?”
Instead of answering, I reached out and pulled her headphones off her neck. “I’m wondering what kind of music you like.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t try to fight me. “Has anyone ever told you that you don’t understand personal space?”
“Yep.” I placed her headphones over my ears. Her music was still playing, but the moment I heard the song she was listening to I jerked the headphones off. “Who hurt you?”
She rolled her eyes and took her headphones back, returning them to her neck. “Some of my music might be a little dark.”
“Alittledark? Listening to two seconds of that gave me an irrational urge to paint my nails black and steal my sister’s eyeliner.”
“That might be a good look for you.”
“Everything’s a good look for me.”
She fought a smile, and I found myself a little mesmerized as I silently willed her to let it spread wider. Yeah, it couldn’t just be the fact she was forbidden. I would give just about anything to turn that subtle curving of her lips into a full-blown laugh.
When we reached Mackenzie’s house, I walked her to the front door and placed her bag down by the step.
“You can feel free to thank me at any time.”
“Thank you for stealing my bag, or thank you for annoying me the whole way home?”
“Either or.” She really hated it when I did something nice for her. It kind of made me want to do it more. “I usually accept verbal or written thank yous, but I’ll also accept a bunch of flowers. Kisses work, too…”
She reached down, grabbed her bag, and pulled out herhouse key. “Good night, Parker.”
I grinned and started to back away. “See you tomorrow, Mackenzie.”
She disappeared inside and I was surprised to find a flash of disappointment shoot through me. Already it felt like the space at my side was too empty. Did I miss her? I didn’twantto miss her. I didn’t want tolikeher. But if I didn’t, then why did I ditch my truck tonight? Why did I carry her things? And why did I walk her home when she lived on the opposite side of town? I had a long trek home to consider all three questions.
Chapter 21Mackenzie
“There’s a cute boy at the front door.” It was Saturday afternoon, and Tessa had just entered my room. I was scattered and flustered as I’d been racing around the house trying to get my things together for today’s game, so the last thing I cared about was who was at our door.
“It’s probably just a delivery guy,” I said.
“A delivery guy in a Ransom Devils sweatshirt?” Tessa smirked. “He was asking for you.”
“What?”
“He said his name was Parker.”
“Parker’s downstairs? What’shedoing here?”
Tessa’s smile was wider now. “I think he wants to give you a ride to the game.”
“I don’t need a ride! The rink’s only a few minutes away. I’m walking.”
“Well, now you don’t have to.”
Why was my stepmom pushing this? I was surprised she was even okay with it.
“You’re really encouraging me to hop in a truck with Parker Darling, the bad boy of Ransom High?”
Tessa waved away my concern. “He seems like a very sweet young man. And like you said, it’s just a few minutes away. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Clearly my stepmom knew nothing about Parker.
