Storm (Elemental 1)

“Hey,” she said.

“Sorry I scared you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

It took her a second to realize he was still talking about the party. It felt like a month ago.

Hunter stood, looking a bit uncertain. “I don’t want to seem like a stalker or anything, but you said your phone was broken. I stopped by yesterday, and the manager said you got off at four today.”

“Oh.” She nodded. Get it together, genius. “Yeah.”

An awkward moment passed between them.

“Wait. I’m a jackass.” His expression changed, and he took a step back. He looked away. “When you said it was broken, you were just being—”

“No! It is. My phone. Broken.” Now she sounded like Yoda on crack. “I mean, it was. I got a new one. Yesterday.”

He still seemed unsure. “All right.” He hesitated. “Well, I guess I’ll see you at school then.”

“Wait!” She surged forward and put a hand on his arm. “You just came by to check on me?”

Hunter glanced down at her hand, and half a smile found its way onto his face. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”

He’d just come by to check on her. Not to drop nasty comments about her sexual prowess like Tommy Dunleavy or Drew McKay. Not to threaten her life like Tyler and Seth.

Not to mislead her like Chris.

The sunlight caught the white streak in his hair and made it shine silver. His eyes were bright, open, no hint of cunning or guile.

“You’re still wearing the stones,” he said softly.

Becca pulled her hand back, self-conscious now. She’d only taken them off to shower. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and felt heat creep up her cheeks. “Yeah, well, I didn’t want to lose them... .”

Lame.

“I’m glad.”

And now she was replaying the feel of his fingers along her wrist, the night he’d tied them on. She had to look away from his eyes, studying the pattern of thorns across his chest and shoulder.

Mistake. The shirt was thin and didn’t leave a lot to the imagination. She wondered if Hunter played any sports.

She jerked her eyes away. “I’m sorry—you probably want them back—”

“Not yet.” Now his voice was amused.

Oh. She looked back up at him, very aware of his closeness, of the way the sun skimmed his cheekbones, of the warmth of his body.

Casper pushed up from the concrete and started sniffing at her hands. She patted him absently, rubbing behind his ears. He pressed his body against her legs, and she wondered if the dog knew she needed a distraction.

Hunter lost the smile, and she felt him studying her face. “You hungry?”

Her head was nodding before her brain could get into gear.

“I mean no.” She glanced down at her old jeans, the ones that had a tear in the knee. The tee shirt from eighth-grade graduation that had everyone’s signature on the back, and a small rip near the hem from an overaggressive Airedale. God only knew what her hair looked like. “I’m filthy.”

“So we’ll have to go somewhere dirt won’t matter. Come on.”

And then he had her hand.

Becca had never ridden in an open-top jeep, but she loved the feel of the wind through her hair and the sun on her face. Hunter took her through the drive-thru at KFC, where he bought a bucket of chicken and potato wedges, then proceeded to drive while blindly tossing french fries to Casper in the back.