He nods and picks up his tablet.
“I assume you can find your own way out?”
I call Damon on my way home to thank him, let him know the good news and that once I get my first big paycheck, I’ll be taking him to a big fancy steakhouse. And on my way back to my apartment, I realize that with a simple detour, I can pass by Lucy’s high school. It’s Thursday, so of course she’s going to be in class, but for some reason, curiosity I guess, I decide to take that route.
As her school comes into sight, my heart begins to pound heavily in my chest. I begin to envision her within those walls.
What is she wearing? How many eyes are on her today?
I can already feel myself growing jealous as I approach the building.
“Christ, Titus, calm yourself down. She goes to school here every damn day, man—”
But then I see something that changes everything.
Outside, standing in the parking lot, is Lucy. There’s no mistake about it. She’s wearing a pair of those mom jeans that young girls like her make super sexy by putting tears all over them, and a black crop-top that just barely covers her tight stomach. She has her back to me, but I would recognize her tight ass and wavy blond hair anywhere.
I slow down, not just because of her, but because of who’s standing in front of her.
A guy, somewhere around her age, maybe slightly older, wearing black jeans, a red T-shirt, and a matching ball cap. He’s chatting her up, doing his best to come off charming, and it doesn’t take me more than a second to figure out who it is she’s talking to.
Eric.
My hands instantly grip the steering wheel. Without even thinking, I pull the truck into the parking lot and right up beside the two of them. I hop out and stride right up to Eric.
“T-Titus—” Lucy says from beside me.
“Hey, get lost, buddy,” I say to the little wannabe stud. A flash of confusion comes over his face. His eyes dart over to Lucy, then back to me.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me just fine.”
Oh, if only this was back overseas and this guy was alittlebit older.
“Titus, what are you doing?” Lucy whispers. I glance over at her and curl my lips, giving her barely an indication of a smile. Goddamn is she beautiful. I turn my gaze back to Eric.
“Now beat it before I go inform the administration that a non-student is here on school grounds.”
“Non-student?” Eric stammers. “Andyouare?”
“Her uncle,” I reply, slipping an arm around Lucy. “And I need to speak to my niece about a family matter. So, like I said,get lost.And stay lost.”
Just touching her like this has my blood boiling. The fact that Eric hasn’t left yet has my veins on fire. I know every insidious thought he’s having about Lucy. After all, I was his age once too.
I have the urge to grab him by his shirt and drag him out of the lot and toss him into the street, but that would cause far too much attention. I have to wait for him to get moving on his own, which eventually he does, but it feels as though it takes an eternity.
“All right, all right,” he says as he backs toward his car. “No need to get all pissy or anything.”
Pissy.
I wasn’tthatangry, but hearing him say that instantly has my blood boiling. Lucy must feel my muscles go tense or something, because she quickly whispers beside me, “It’s okay. Ignore him.”
I glance down at her, and as her beauty overwhelms me, I tell myself to be calm. I keep my eyes on her until I hear his car pull off. I barely know what to do with myself with my arm around her like this. I know what Iwantto do, but we’re out here in the high school parking lot, where any number of eyes could be on us. It’s just not safe.
Also, there’s still that whole problem of her being Dougie’s daughter…
Slowly, I force myself to let go of her…maybe the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. What the hell do I know about physics or astronomy? Nothing. But standing next to Lucy, it feels as if we are are being pulled together like two celestial bodies, and I’m nearly powerless to resist it.