“Yeah, of course. Let me know you got home safely. You know I don’t like you walking out all alone.”
“I’ll be fine. Believe me.” She gave Sean a quick hug before leaving his home. What she really needed to do was clear her head. She didn’t go straight home but instead walked to the private land that was once a park. It was nearly thirty minutes away from her home, but it was torn down years ago since addicts would leave used needles in the sand pits.
After much-heated debate, the park was torn up, moved, and the ground was closed off, ready to be used for a building site that never actually happened. The company that bought the land ended up going bankrupt and the last Pru heard, the possession of the land was still being argued in court. So until a resolution was found, nothing could be done to it, which was a shame.
It was a huge piece of land. Homes would be a waste but a nature reserve or something else would’ve been far more fitting to the space. Still, it helped her to sit and think. No one would be stopping by, and as she lay down on her back, staring up at the sky, she had to wonder about what she was doing with her life.
In a matter of months, she’d be entering the last year of high school, preparing for the day she’d go to college. She had to make so many decisions and on top of everything, she had Drake to deal with.
“You know you shouldn’t be out here alone,” Drake said, taking the spot next to her.
She didn’t gasp or scare. When she glanced at him, he smiled at her. “I shouldn’t be surprised you knew where I was.”
“True,” he said. “I seem to know where you are all the time.”
“You followed me from Sean’s. It’s not hard to guess.”
“Yeah, and you’re still seeing that asshole.”
“Don’t, Drake.”
“Don’t?”
She sighed. “Why do you have to keep bringing him up? I told you you’ve got nothing to worry about. We’re friends. We’re only friends. Nothing else is going to change that. I promise you.”
“And what if I say differently?” he asked.
Pru chuckled. “You can say whatever you want to say. It’s not going to suddenly change anything, is it?” She shrugged. “I don’t want to argue or fight with you over this.”
“We’re going to anyway until you do as you’re told.”
Pru flopped back to the ground and stared up at the sky. The colors were so clear and bright. Soon they would be full of fall clouds, of the threat of lightning, thunder, rain, and storms. She loved summer clouds. The heat offered a calmness that was also silently deadly. With the heat, it brought its own bunch of problems. What would she be doing come fall? When they were both back in high school? Already, they were complicating their relationship and Drake was making this far more difficult than it actually needed to be. She didn’t understand.
Sean had been her friend for so long. He’d been the one constant in all of her life during Drake’s bullying. Was that why he wanted him gone? Did he feel threatened by her best friend? It made some sense, but she had told him, repeatedly, nothing was going on. She hadn’t told Sean about her time with Drake. What was the point when their relationship was supposed to be secret?
They weren’t dating. They had shared a few kisses and had seen each other nearly naked. That didn’t mean anything. Not in this day and age. She knew her peers were doing all kinds of crazy stuff. For so long, she’d been living a rather boring life. Hanging out with Sean, watching movies, or just driving around, not really doing anything.
This, with Drake, was the most adventurous she’d ever been. Glancing at him, she found Drake staring right back at her. “Stop telling me what to do.”
“Or what?”
Before she had could come up with a witty comeback, he moved on top of her. He ended up between her spread thighs. His hands were beside her head, trapping her against the ground.
“What are you going to do to me, princess?”
She smiled. “Princess? I thought I was trash to you?”
“You are to everyone else, but not today. Not when no one else is looking.”
Should she like their secret relationship?
It’s so brand new, it doesn’t matter if I like it or not. It’s what is going to happen.
She reached out, touching a strand of his hair. “You need a cut.”
“Not yet.”
She stroked a finger down his cheek, crossing over his pulse and resting it across his chest. His heart raced beneath her hand and she was utterly fascinated by it. “Kiss me,” she said, hungry for his lips.
Drake slammed his lips down on hers. One of his hands went to her head, gripping the back of it as he ravished her mouth. The other locked their fingers together, holding her hand directly above her head. His tongue traced across her lips and she let out a moan, giving him access. This time, Drake groaned and he nipped at her bottom lip.