“A mermaid?” He raised a browplayfully.
“I know it’s kind of childish, but… I’m obsessed with mermaids.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. As a kid, I just thought they weresocool.”
“Well, mermaids are prettybadass.”
She laughed. “Glad youthinkso.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Adrian spoke like everything she did was exceptional. Notsomuch.
“More like… everyone.” She sighed. “People think I’maslut.”
“Screw those people,” Adrian growled. “They don’tmatter.”
“Their opinion does. They’re right.” She chewed the inside of her lip. “That’s why you had to make Brently let me go tonight. He expects to get what everyone elsehashad.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve slept with the whole town. If you tell someone no, that’s the bottom line,” Adrianresponded.
Isa pulled her knees to her chest. “I don’t know. After my mom left, my dad stopped paying attention to me. He threw himself into work. I had to get the attention from somewhere, and guys were more than willing. I haven’t slept with anyone in years, but people remember. This is my fault. I’ve made my own bed, and now I have to lieinit.”
“It’s never your fault if someone won’t take no for an answer,” he saidquietly.
She leaned backward on her right hand. “People don’t think like thataroundhere.”
Adrian reached out his hand and placed it on top of hers. “Thank you. For telling the truth. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think it matters what happened in the past, only whathappensnow.”
“I’m tired of being a fake. I want to be honest,” she replied. “I wasn’t the nicest person in high school. I was kind of a mess. I want to change that and become someone better now. Turn over anewleaf.”
“That’s pretty honorableofyou.”
“I just want to do the right thing. I needed to start over.” On instinct, she threaded her fingers throughAdrian’s.
He played with her fingers and asked, “So…boyfriend?”
She laughed lightly again. “I don’t know.Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe.” She caught him grinning at her, and she said, “Okay, yes. Maybe means you can be my boyfriend. Though it’s all movingsofast.”
“My mom says it’s never too fast, once you meettheone.”
That statement scared her, and Adrian seemed to know he’d gone too far. He let go of her hand and said, “You should probably get back home. I havetogo.”
“Where?” She stood up. “Why do you have to go, andsosoon?”
“My dad’s pretty pissed off at me. I snuck out. I’m not really supposed to be here,” he explained. “If he finds out I’m not home… well, he’s gonnakillme.”
She was disappointed, but she didn’t want Adrian to get in trouble. “I get it.It’sokay.”
He walked her to her car. “Be safe out there, all right? Go straight home,” hetoldher.
“You aren’t my dad,” she laughed, but it felt nice, someone caring about whereshewent.
“No, but you’re mygirlfriend,” Adrian said, and it was so sweet she giggledagain.
He put a hand on her arm and kissed her cheek. “Like I said, be safe. I’ll see you soon. Ipromise.”
Adrian made it sound like it was dire. But Isa knew he’d turn up again. Her cheek was warm when she got in the car, and she wavedgoodbye.
