Page 32 of Burning Skies
That was fucking reckless. Her father Vernon is an asshole on a good day. Can’t imagine the kind of trouble I could’ve stirred up for her if he heard she and I were running around together.
Rhett lifts his brows, obviously waiting for an answer.
He doesn’t know about Honey. If he did, he’d just say it. Rhett doesn’t play games. I appreciate that about my brother. “It was fine. Crowded. Loud. But the food was good.”
On the way out the door, he pats my shoulder. “Glad you’re getting out and socializing. Was starting to worry about you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He mutters, “Little shit,” as he leaves, and I chuckle.
We might tease Rhett sometimes about being our dad, but after our mother took off and our father was too drunk to tie his own shoelaces, Rhett’s the one who stepped up and kept us together.
When the door closes, I stare at my empty fireplace. I have my brothers, but does Honey have someone who checks on her?
Just because we said we’d only have sex once doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right? We’re gonna be in Maverick’s wedding together after all.
Would it hurt if I checked on her?
11
HONEY
Conversationin the English department goes on around me while I stare at the essay I’m supposed to be grading.
But instead of letters, I see Beau’s soulful eyes. Instead of paper and ink, I see his rugged jaw. Instead of lines and paragraphs, I see our bodies moving together.
A few days later, and I’m still not over it.
Sighing, I let my mind wander back to that night.
I touch my lips. They were swollen when I got home.
That’s not the only thing that was sore.
God, the things he made me feel. I don’t have words. The closest thing I can come up with is “cataclysmic.”
But then I remind myself of his parting words, and I slam back down to Earth. One and done. Ugh, what an asshole.
It’s never going to happen again, Honey. He doesn’t want you like that.
And even if he did, he knows I’m off limits. Why would he bother when my family will make life hell for him?
“Earth to Honey.” Trish claps in my face, and I jerk backward. “Must be a great essay to hold your attention like that.”
“Jesus, you scared me.” I scoot my seat back. Once I collect myself, I look up at her. “Did you need something?”
She gives me one of her wacky smiles. “No, just wanted to say hi, seeing as we’re the last two people here today. Again. Well, us and the newspaper kids and Adrian, but they never go home.” Adrian’s rowdy bunch yells down the hall. I think he gets them dinner so they can work late.
“Oh, hi. Did… did you have a good day, Trish?”
“The kids are squirrelly. With Halloween next week, I feel like they’re all gearing up to be little psychos. I’ve been meaning to ask, how is the Halloween committee going? I was surprised no one asked me to be on it.”
Is that what this is about? “If you want to help, we need to decorate the rooms after school for the elementary school kids.” We let the children trick-or-treat here so parents can rest assured it’s a safe place.
She shrugs. “If I can make it, I will.” Trish sounds butthurt.
“We’d love to have you.”
