Southbound Surrender Read Free

close to even seeing any panties.
    I’ll let you in on another little secret: We’re both wannabe badasses, but we’re not even remotely close. We’ve maybe got a pinky toe in the badass arena, if we’re lucky, on one of those good days when I look fifteen. There’s a silent agreement between us not to share our major shortcomings in this endeavor. At least Hudson looks tough. I’ve got nothing, except my dirt bike, which could go either way. Lame or badass. I’m not really sure.
    “We could hack into the computer system and mess with the grades. Turn Fs into As,” Hudson adds.
    “I’ve never gotten an F and neither have you.”
    “For other people,” he replies.
    I shake my head. Definitely not badasses.
    “Are you sure you saw a girl in there? Are you delusional? The heat index is high today. Maybe the sun’s getting to you. Maybe you should sit down,” Hudson says as he turns back to the fence. I want to peel him away from the fence so he can’t witness the beautiful sight that I just experienced.
    I want Piper Sullivan all to myself.
    “No, she definitely was there,” I whisper like I’m trying to convince myself that she actually was there. She had to be.
    “Did she see you?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “You sure about that?”
    All I can see are those emerald eyes and all I can hear is that low whistle she released between those glistening lips.
    “Pretty sure…”
    “Does that vision you had include a fifty-something-year-old man in khaki pants and a tie?” Hudson asks. “Who happens to be walking toward me and looking pretty pissed like he’s going to pound someone’s face in?”
    “No.”
    “That’s what I thought,” Hudson says as he backs away from the fence. I know it’s serious because Hudson doesn’t back down from anything. He’s usually the one people are backing down from even though he’s never come close to punching anyone in the face. I think he’s secretly afraid of how bad it would hurt to punch someone – I know I am – but I’d never dream of mentioning it to him just in case he decides he wants to practice on me.
    I jump on my bike and rock the kickstand back. I know my bike’s going to be a dead giveaway, but there’s no way in hell I’m confronting Piper’s dad after I just watched her lather her almost naked body through the fence. I’m not technically on his property so I can’t be slapped with trespassing, but I definitely don’t want to find out if I could go to juvie for being a peeping tom. I make a mental note to research that when I get home.
    My bike roars to life and as I’m about to throttle the engine, I feel Hudson climb on behind me and wrap his huge arms around my waist.
    “Are you kidding me?” I yell above the rumble. There’s nothing I hate more than riding tandem with Hudson. I can only imagine what it looks like with the huge man child behind me. It’s the third time I’ve been forced to do it.
    The first time involved a fuming Mrs. Hawley after we devoured a pie that wasn’t meant for us. The second time involved a screaming Jill Havens, a trombone, and cockatoo named Larry. Don’t ask.
    “ Damn you!” I yell.
    “Just drive.”

Chapter 2

    “Philips?”
    I pull my head from underneath the motorcycle tire to see my dad’s outstretched hand holding a screwdriver. He’s holding it with the handle facing me and a smile plastered on his face, just like he always does when he hands me a tool. He’s still wearing his blue work shirt with his name embroidered right above his heart in case anyone forgets: Big Dave. Believe me, no one forgets Big Dave. The last three years have served as a reminder of this since he’s the custodian at Xavier High School. Big Dave looks just like you’d expect him to. He’s lean, like runner’s lean with long, stretched out calf muscles, and is maybe 5’8” when he’s wearing shoes. So naturally, Big Dave was a clear and easy choice for a nickname. I have Big Dave to thank for jeans