The Color of Us (College Bound Book 2) Read Free Page B

when Sam was around.
    Sam.
    For the first time in months, I wanted to talk about her. To him. Maybe it was because I recognized a little bit of sorrow in Liam too. Maybe it was because even though he looked like danger, I felt safe around him.
    I watched my fingers as they toyed with the label on the soda bottle. “My sister and I used to chase rainbows with my dad.” My voice sounded weird after sitting so long in silence, but I continued. “As soon as a storm ended and the sun came out, we’d run to him and he’d take us to find one.” I couldn’t hold back the smile. I felt it break open on my face as I relived the memory.
    “Searching for the pot of gold?” Liam stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and grinned when he faced me.
    I shook my head and looked out the window. “It was never about the treasure. We wanted to see where the rainbow began. We always figured the beginning was the best part because that’s where the rain turned into beauty.”
    “And the end of the rainbow? You never wanted to find that?” Liam cocked his head to the side, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
    “Nope. The end of the rainbow was where all the colors ended. As kids we always pictured that as a sad, unhappy place.” I shrugged as I looked up through my lashes at him. “Silly, huh? I mean, who’s to say which is the beginning and which is the end? They’re really one in the same. But when we were kids, we thought they were totally different things.”
    Liam sat back and studied me. Around us, students headed back into the building. When he didn’t speak, I regretted sharing such a special memory. Did he think it was ridiculous? Childish?
    “We should go.” I wrapped my fingers around the door handle, but Liam reached over and placed his large hand on my arm to keep me from leaving.
    “Tell me why you’re sad.”
    I peered into his green eyes and weighed how much confessing the truth might wreck my heart. Sam was dead. She’d been gone for two months, and I still hadn’t said the words out loud. I wasn’t sure I ever could.
    I bit my bottom lip and blinked hard to keep my calm. “I guess because my sister and I were right all along. I found the end of the rainbow, and now I can’t find my way out. Sometimes it feels like nothing will ever be beautiful or happy again.”
    I pulled on the door handle and hurried out of the Jeep before I could see the look of pity I was sure Liam was wearing. Pity for the crazy girl. Pity for the sad girl. It didn’t matter.
    I didn’t want anyone’s pity.
    Class had started by the time Liam made it back to his seat. He didn’t acknowledge me, which only cemented my assumption that he wanted to avoid me. Instead of paying attention to Weinberg, he spent the first few minutes looking down as he typed on his phone. I was surprised when mine vibrated in my pocket a few seconds later. Discretely I pulled it out and looked down at the screen.
    Liam: If you were locked in a car with only a hammer, how would you get out?
    I cut a glance over to him, but he was staring down at his phone, waiting for my reply. Hope kindled inside me. Maybe I hadn’t scared him off. His friendship was the one thing that made this class bearable.
    Me: Am I tied up?
    A grin tugged at one side of his mouth.
    Liam: Not a bad visual
    But no
    I tried to guess what the answer to the joke could possibly be and then wondered if I’d be able to hide my blush if it was dirty because there was a good chance it would be. Most of the things that came out of Liam’s mouth were vulgar and provocative.
    Me: Only a hammer? Guess I’d smash the window.
    The shake of his head was small, but his grin was huge.
    Liam: Poor car
    Why not just unlock the door?
    I groaned at my own stupidity, and then my phone vibrated again.
    Liam: Pay attention to Weinberg
    You need all the help you can get
    I snuck another glance at him as I tucked my phone away and gave him a grateful smile. My confession in the car hadn’t bothered him.