Page 13 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
“What? You didn’t think I’d actually want you, did you?”
“I think she did, Baby,” the brunette purred as she ran her hand through Kes’s hair. Ashley was disgusted by how she stared up at him, like he was some sort of god and she would do whatever he asked.
“Sad, Newbie, but on the plus side, I did mean it when I said you could keep the locker. This is the loser side of the school. Why would I want your dumb locker?” The group laughed, and anger settled in her stomach like a tiny pit of rage.
Wrapping his arm around the cheerleader’s shoulders, he wandered away with the group he’d arrived with—the rest of the students in the hallway who had played witness to the humiliating event smirked and laughed as they stared. Great, just great.
Fucking Kes Reynolds.
“She totally likes you,” Zumi said in a sing-song voice.
Kes stared at the closed door through which the stunning blonde had just disappeared. He didn’t think she’d recognized him, but he’d never forgotten her. Those big blue eyes were the only thing he’d dreamed about until death and destruction had taken their place. It had been so long since he even thought about seeing Ashley Hartley that she’d become a phantom in his mind. An intangible ghost that he’d never see or have.
The instant he’d heard her voice, he’d known it was her, but when she’d looked at him, his heart had stilled. Was it wrong that his first thought was to check her hand for a ring?
“Earth to Kes,” Zumi waved her hand at him. “And you like her too, huh?”
“Huh?” Kes looked down at Zumi, who was smiling as if she’d just won a pony.
“I said she likes you, and you definitely like her back. You’re all googly-eyed.” She fluttered her lashes while making a silly face. “You know, like in that old cartoon movie you got for me to watch when I was sick—the one with the deer, skunk, and bunny.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
The problem was, the kid wasn’t far off the mark. He’d always been all ‘googly-eyed’ over Ashley, but she hated him, and with good reason. He’d been such a dick to her for years, and then, in his one shining moment where he could have written away their dark past, he’d ruined it all over again.
The pulse in his neck was pounding hard as he marched across the floor to the donated clothing section. Zumi was skipping beside him, her hair bouncing with the motion like it was trying to fly.
“I bet you could make her your girlfriend,” Zumi practically sang. “She is really pretty.”
“Yes, I’m sure she would be all hot for a guy living in a tent under a bridge.”
Zumi pulled on his arm, and he groaned as he stopped and stared down at his pint-sized interrogator. “I thought you always told me that we could do and be whatever we want—that I could have a future and become more than just a girl living on the street. Do you believe that, or were you lying to me?”
His mouth fell open. “Umm, I meant you, not me.”
“If you meant just me, then you’re still a liar. I’m no different than you. In fact, I would say you could walk away from the tents tomorrow if you wanted. You could get any job you want. You try to hide it, but you’re super smart and have mad skills.” She held up her finger like his mother used to do when giving him shit. “And you have enough money to buy me breakfast, and now a new jacket. If you can find a way to make that much money, then you can find a way out from under the bridge.” She crossed her arms and gripped her elbow with one hand, tapping her chin as she stared at him. “I think you already have, but you choose to stay. Why? I don’t know, but I will.”
“You spend way too much time paying attention to me. Maybe your mother was right, and you should stop visiting my spot.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, and he swallowed hard.
“Now who is the one being stupid?” she mocked. She poked him in the arm. “You’re scared, and I’m going to find out why even if you don’t tell me.”
His blood pressure was rising, and he had no one to blame other than himself. Luckily, the promise of a second good meal for the day intervened.
“Do you smell that?” Zumi made a little moaning sound as her eyes zeroed in on a long table filled with metal serving trays of food. “Do you think we could stay for a meal? I know I’m being greedy, wanting two in one day, but I just….”
“Yes, we can stay, but only if you stop harassing me and pick out a jacket.”
“You love to barter way too much, but fine, I accept.” Zumi wandered toward the area that had aclothingsign over the door, and he could’ve sworn he heard her whisper under her breath, “At least for now.”
The food tasted like ash in his mouth, but at least Zumi seemed to be having a good time. He leaned back against the wall and watched as she did impressions for some of the people staying there. She certainly had a flair for the dramatic. He could see her on television or Broadway—hell, he could see her singing on stage with a million screaming fans if she wanted.
He ran his hand through his short hair as he looked up at the high roof of the church with its ornately carved wood. How many weddings and funerals had this place seen? How many tears had been shed inside these walls?
Kes pulled his hood up into place and let out his signature whistle. Zumi turned in his direction and then waved at everyone, saying goodbye as she ran to catch up.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” He paused with his hand on the door.
