statement.
“Listen, you’re funny, Cat. But are you a trustworthy person?”
“Yeah?” Her eyes narrowed in on me waiting for me to reveal a secret to her. Dozens of people continued to stare at us like aliens conspiring against humans. It was weird. I didn’t like the stares.
“Do you have a car?”
“Of course.”
I shuffled my weight. I couldn’t believe I was actually considering doing this. I’d never brought anyone back to our property but there was something different about her.
“I’m going to text you my address, but you have to promise me you won’t give it out to anyone.” I looked her in those gorgeous eyes to let her know I was serious. This couldn’t get out.
She smirked and her light laugh crackled into pure laughter, like a firecracker had exploded. “What are you hiding, Mr.? Some sort of government stuff?”
“Don’t push it, C? Okay? I want to help you.”
It was a habit of mine I had. Being team captain made it natural for me to make people around me comfortable. I gave everyone a nickname. I just gave Cat hers.
“C, huh? I guess I’ll see ya later then. Thanks.” Her smirk wouldn’t leave her face and I turned around quickly so I wouldn’t change my mind.
Fuck.
Being a soft teddy bear on the inside would get me in trouble.
CAT
“Turn left. In two miles, the destination will be on your right,” Suri informed me, but it was too late. I was beginning to doubt her genius.
After school, I usually spent time at my mother’s salon. I’d spend an hour sweeping, mopping, and organizing; they were small chores to earn extra cash. Once those tasks were completed, I’d spend additional time catching up on the latest hair and makeup trends. If I were lucky, I’d get a manicure from Sally, who I happened to adore, or a deep oil treatment from Rhonda, who was also nice.
My mom’s salon was an elite, upscale one located in Plano, one of Dallas’ ritziest parts. Another reason for my desire to lose a few pounds. Okay, scratch that; major pounds. It was my entry to the world of fashion and glamour.
Thanks to my mom being a stylist, I was fashionable and knew how to rock my hair and makeup. But it was hard to find fashionable, trendy clothing in sizes I needed. Finding a bucket of ice water in hell would have been easier.
“Where are you headed? Your face is glowing,” Sally teased. I wanted to tell her – oh, did I want to tell her – I was going to Ramon Nicolas’ house.
Oh I wanted to tell everyone so bad!
Everyone knew who Ramon was; everyone and anyone who lived within a hundred mile radius from our county. He took our football team to the state championships and won. He was a star. And now this star had invited me to his…property?
I surveyed the country roads. The sun would be setting soon, but I began to feel an eerie chill down my spine at the lack of human civilization.
I followed Suri’s instructions to the letter. The last ten miles were so desolate, I wondered if he was luring me out into the wilderness just so he could kill me like they did in horror movies.
Private Property: Warning.
“The destination is on your right.”
I parked my Audi and, sans the pounding of my heart, sat in silence. My heart beat like an African drum, and the butterflies in my stomach flapped to its rhythm. Yeah, it was sort of silent.
“Where’s your house, Ramon?”
My eyes scanned the miles of gate that separated me from the property. I reached for my iPhone and texted him: I’m here?
I watched the three small grey dots pop up on the screen, signaling that he was texting his response.
Ramon: Coming.
I scanned the wooded lot I finally spotted a figure in a white t-shirt making its way through the woods and coming my way. There was no mistaking Ramon’s shaggy brown hair and chocolate puppy dog eyes. Come to think of it, the way he looked emerging from the woods just then would have made him a fine actor to cast in the next werewolf and vampire hit.
I
“Listen, you’re funny, Cat. But are you a trustworthy person?”
“Yeah?” Her eyes narrowed in on me waiting for me to reveal a secret to her. Dozens of people continued to stare at us like aliens conspiring against humans. It was weird. I didn’t like the stares.
“Do you have a car?”
“Of course.”
I shuffled my weight. I couldn’t believe I was actually considering doing this. I’d never brought anyone back to our property but there was something different about her.
“I’m going to text you my address, but you have to promise me you won’t give it out to anyone.” I looked her in those gorgeous eyes to let her know I was serious. This couldn’t get out.
She smirked and her light laugh crackled into pure laughter, like a firecracker had exploded. “What are you hiding, Mr.? Some sort of government stuff?”
“Don’t push it, C? Okay? I want to help you.”
It was a habit of mine I had. Being team captain made it natural for me to make people around me comfortable. I gave everyone a nickname. I just gave Cat hers.
“C, huh? I guess I’ll see ya later then. Thanks.” Her smirk wouldn’t leave her face and I turned around quickly so I wouldn’t change my mind.
Fuck.
Being a soft teddy bear on the inside would get me in trouble.
CAT
“Turn left. In two miles, the destination will be on your right,” Suri informed me, but it was too late. I was beginning to doubt her genius.
After school, I usually spent time at my mother’s salon. I’d spend an hour sweeping, mopping, and organizing; they were small chores to earn extra cash. Once those tasks were completed, I’d spend additional time catching up on the latest hair and makeup trends. If I were lucky, I’d get a manicure from Sally, who I happened to adore, or a deep oil treatment from Rhonda, who was also nice.
My mom’s salon was an elite, upscale one located in Plano, one of Dallas’ ritziest parts. Another reason for my desire to lose a few pounds. Okay, scratch that; major pounds. It was my entry to the world of fashion and glamour.
Thanks to my mom being a stylist, I was fashionable and knew how to rock my hair and makeup. But it was hard to find fashionable, trendy clothing in sizes I needed. Finding a bucket of ice water in hell would have been easier.
“Where are you headed? Your face is glowing,” Sally teased. I wanted to tell her – oh, did I want to tell her – I was going to Ramon Nicolas’ house.
Oh I wanted to tell everyone so bad!
Everyone knew who Ramon was; everyone and anyone who lived within a hundred mile radius from our county. He took our football team to the state championships and won. He was a star. And now this star had invited me to his…property?
I surveyed the country roads. The sun would be setting soon, but I began to feel an eerie chill down my spine at the lack of human civilization.
I followed Suri’s instructions to the letter. The last ten miles were so desolate, I wondered if he was luring me out into the wilderness just so he could kill me like they did in horror movies.
Private Property: Warning.
“The destination is on your right.”
I parked my Audi and, sans the pounding of my heart, sat in silence. My heart beat like an African drum, and the butterflies in my stomach flapped to its rhythm. Yeah, it was sort of silent.
“Where’s your house, Ramon?”
My eyes scanned the miles of gate that separated me from the property. I reached for my iPhone and texted him: I’m here?
I watched the three small grey dots pop up on the screen, signaling that he was texting his response.
Ramon: Coming.
I scanned the wooded lot I finally spotted a figure in a white t-shirt making its way through the woods and coming my way. There was no mistaking Ramon’s shaggy brown hair and chocolate puppy dog eyes. Come to think of it, the way he looked emerging from the woods just then would have made him a fine actor to cast in the next werewolf and vampire hit.
I