Somehow Gray rose above it. She was so proud of his academic performance. So proud of how hard he’d worked so he could go to college. She was frustrated thinking of how easy Brendan had it. Maybe his parents couldn’t afford the Ivy League school he wanted to attend, but he’d never even bothered getting a job this summer.
Shelby had already earned a partial scholarship to Belmont in Nashville and planned to major in secondary education. She wanted to be an English teacher. Vanderbilt, also in Nashville, was on Gray’s top three list, and he’d already been accepted. She dreamed of their future in Nashville, away from the watchful eyes of Grandville.
Sneaking around with Gray took considerable effort. Meeting after school was out since she served on three committees and participated in four clubs. Anyway, he worked after school until the hardware store closed, then he had his studies. He had to keep up his grades if he wanted that scholarship. He joked that sneaking around was sexy. Maybe it was... a little. But it came at a cost.
Tonight she planned on broaching the topic. She wanted to tell her family and best friends. She felt so guilty each time she told her dad good night and went to her room—only to sneak out later. Felt guilty when she lied to Gram about who she was texting. Felt remorseful when Monica or Lindsay invited her over and she fibbed about her plans.
She could trust her family and friends to keep a secret, and spending time together would be easier if they knew. Surely she could make him understand that. He was needlessly worried about her reputation anyway. If people refused to see Gray based on his own merits, she didn’t care what they thought of her.
It was almost eleven. Dad would be sound asleep by now. A fresh pinch of guilt twisted her insides. Even so, she carefully opened the window and climbed out, grateful the ranch offered an easy first-floor escape.
She dropped to the ground and rounded the house. The Octoberair was crisp, and the scent of woodsmoke carried on the breeze. She searched the shadows for Gray. He insisted on walking with her to the park where he’d left his truck. Sometimes they huddled inside it, and other times they sat in the swings or lay on the creaky merry-go-round. It didn’t matter what they did as long as they were together. She lived for these stolen moments.
There he was in the moonlight, approaching her drive with that easy swagger she loved so much. Her face broke out in a smile and her steps quickened. She couldn’t get to him quickly enough. They hadn’t been alone together in almost a week—forever.
At the edge of the darkened street, they came together like a magnet to steel. Shelby quickly got lost in the kiss. How had she made it almost a week without these lips on hers?
“Glad to see me?” he teased breathlessly.
“I only came so I wouldn’t hurt your feelings.”
They were kissing again. He pulled her closer, his hands finding the curve between her shoulder blades, the small of her back. Oh, he was so good at this. They should probably move this to the park, but she couldn’t bring herself to—
Headlights cut across the night. They jumped apart. She hadn’t even heard the engine. The unfamiliar car swept into her driveway and stopped twenty feet away.
“Who’s that?” Gray asked.
“I don’t know.”
There was no sense hiding now. The headlights had already given them away.
The door opened and even in the dim light she recognized her brother’s form. Caleb slammed the car door and strode toward them. “Get away from her.”
“Caleb, stop. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It’s pretty clear what’s going on here, Shelby.”
“And just what is that?” Gray said with a steely voice.
“Oh, I think we both know the answer to that.” Caleb came to a stop in front of them. “Go in the house, Shelby.” His eyes never left Gray.
She stepped between them. “No. You don’t understand. We’re dating. We’ve been dating for weeks.”
Caleb’s head whipped her way. “So Dad knows about this?”
Her silence answered the question.
“What are you doing with him? Where’s your head?”
“Shut up, Caleb. You don’t know him.”
“I know enough. He’s already got his claws into you, and you’re going to wind up with a broken heart or worse.” His eyes narrowed on Gray. “Isn’t that right, thug?”
“Leave him alone!” Tears prickled her eyes. She was so tired of everyone misjudging Gray. She planted her palms on Caleb’s chest and shoved. “Don’t you say one bad word about him! You don’t know anything!”
“Hey, hey.” Gray grabbed her, turned her toward him. His steady gaze locked on her. “Come on, settle down.”
A sob died in her throat at his gentle tone.
