Ross’s dark eyes swept to the house. “Your dad is watching us from the window.”
“I don’t care. I want to know what you mean.”
“You’re trying to tell me you don’t know what happened to me in high school?”
“Is it the cheating thing? I don’t care anymore.”
He stopped, his expression a mixture between anger and confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?
“Did—didn’t you get kicked out of school for cheating?”
“No. I… Where did you hear that from?”
Her grip tightened on his cuff. The answer stuck in her throat, but it didn’t matter because it was obvious.
“Mia.”
She raised her gaze to him.
“I never cheated. I really tried to do well in school.”
“Then what happened?”
His shoulders fell as he closed his eyes and rubbed a hand across his forehead. “I ended up in your father’s courtroom.”
“What? What for?” Mia’s hand fell away as she took a step back. After believing the cheating story for so long, this new twist took her by complete surprise.
“Shoplifting. My friend and I were hanging out, basically avoiding school, and we were bored. We went into a store, and I saw a copy ofButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It was Grandpa’s favorite movie, and his birthday was coming up. I never had any money, but I really wanted to give it to him. Obviously, I got caught.”
She let out a breath. “Okay, well, it’s ironic you would steal that particular movie given the subject matter.”
Ross’s lips stretched into a frown. “This isn’t funny, Mia. You have no idea what it’s like to go through the system.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. But as far as kids getting into trouble, it’s not that bad. I’m sure my dad sits on these cases all the time.”
“That’s what the public defender said. He told us I’d probably get a warning, community service, or restitution.” He took a breath. “The judge sentenced me to sixty days in juvenile detention.”
Her world froze. “What?”
“Your dad made sure I got the worst punishment he could give me. It wasn’t simply petty theft, but also burglary with intent. I took a twenty-dollar blu-ray. We didn’t even have a blu-ray player, so that shows you how much thought I put into it. Your father even threw in truancy for skipping school.”
“Had you done this before?”
“No. First and only offense.”
“Ross, I… It doesn’t make any sense. What else aren’t you telling me?” Mia was desperate to find an explanation, one which fit neatly inside her existing reality.
His expression remained flat. “That’s the whole story. There is nothing else.”
“No. That can’t be it. Just tell me. I don’t care what it is. I just want to know the truth.”
“There’s nothing else, Mia.”
“I can’t believe that.”
“So, you think I’m lying?” His question was edged in anger. Every muscle in his body locked together. His calmness seemed to be held together with nothing but a thread.
“Or maybe you don’t remember everything that happened. My dad is strict, but he’s not like that, Ross. He wouldn’t do that. It doesn’t matter if he dislikes you, he’s always been fair. He’s always believed in second chances.”
