Starlee's Turn (The Wayward Sons 2)

“Does it matter if they win? Like, they don’t have to go to the dance together, do they?”

“No, they’ll just get crowned on the field at the game and announced at the dance.” I shrug. “It’s not a big deal—it’s more her attitude.”

I know she’s aware of their past and the nasty stuff Christina did to Jake and Claire. Jake told us after the party. Everyone’s moved on for the most part, it’s just Christina’s sense of entitlement that’s a concern. The girl doesn’t like to hear no.

“I’ll see you tonight—okay?” I say, noticing the crowds in the hall are thinning.

“Yep.” She smiles and my heart kickstarts just from that simple gesture. I watch her walk all the way down the hall before heading to my own class.

31

Starlee

I’m on the way over to meet Dexter when I spot Katie walking down the path from the cabins. She’s carrying something in her hands. Something purple and familiar.

She notices me noticing her and holds up the object. “Looking for this?”

It’s my coat.

“Yes! I’ve been searching all over for it.” I take the jacket from her and go ahead and tug it on. “Where did you find it?”

“In the back cottage—you know, the one we haven’t rented in weeks.”

My movement slows. I keep my expression blank. “Huh, weird. I must have run in there for a minute.”

She shrugs. “Guess so, but you know, it got me thinking about how private those cabins are this time of year. They’re pretty isolated. I mean, people could be in them and no one would ever know.”

/>

The expression on her face tells me Katie isn’t stupid and she knows exactly what’s been going on in the cabin. I wonder if she knows with who?

“I guess that’s true.”

“People need to realize though that we do check occasionally. And that getting sloppy and leaving things like jackets and charging cables could cause a problem.” She pulls the black cord out of her pocket. “C. Evans,” is written on the side with silver ink.

I guess that sums up what she knows.

I take the cord and shove it in my pocket.

“Don’t forget it’s a small town, Starlee.” She warns. “People talk. It doesn’t take much. I’d hate for the wrong person to find out.”

Sierra. I fight a grimace. Katie must have heard about the rules.

“Right,” I smile, edging away. “Thanks for the reminder.”

As always, music greets me when I walk into the Wayward Sun, even though it’s after hours. I ate with Leelee, finished my homework, put the final touches on my costume with Sierra and came over to the shop. I kept waiting for Sierra to say something to me—a hint that she knows we’ve been fudging the rules, but she doesn’t. She’s friendly and excited and every day I like her more.

I think she likes me, too.

When we’re done, I enter the shop and I close the door quietly, not wanting to startle Dexter. Okay, that’s only part of it. I like to watch him in his element—hands coated in flour and sugar. His clever, creative mind coming up with new treats.

I move around the counter and stand in the kitchen door. He’s wearing a Black Wayward Sun T-shirt and a crisp white apron tied at the waist. His black pants are baggy. His shoes are dusted with flour. With his fingertips, he sprinkles flour and salt on the counter top before grabbing a chilled ball of dough out of a stainless-steel bowl. He drops the dough and picks up the rolling pin and begins to work.

I’m not sure why this whole thing is so hot—why he’s so hot like this. Is it the long, defined, muscle in his forearm? Or the way his broad shoulders tense and roll with every move. It could be the way he stands, legs slightly apart, giving me a perfect view of his—

“Hey,” he says, noticing me in the doorway. “How long have you been here?”

“Just a few seconds.” I walk into the kitchen. “What are you making?”