“Thanks, Maxx,” I say, meeting his gaze in the rear view mirror.
“Don’t mention it, Freckles,” he replies and drives off before I can respond to his nickname for me, which only reminds me of the accident and the glowing marks. I’m having trouble not believing this is all related somehow, but I just can’t figure out the ‘how’. I’m also having trouble understanding Maxx’s hot and cold routine. One minute, the guy seems to hate me, and the next, he is checking on me when he heard I was hurt and being nice. Overall, this is one confusing day, and I think I need a lie down.
“We are having a party on Saturday, if you want to come over,” Landon says. “The students are a little more relaxed when there is booze and music.”
“Parties aren’t really my thing,” I reply. I would prefer to have my headphones in, sat on the sofa and reading a book. Which my dad says is odd for my age, but nothing beats a good book…and a bag of popcorn.
“Well, the offer is there,” Landon says, grinning at me. “You never know, you might have fun.”
“She said she doesn’t want to go. Freckles hardly seems like the crazy party girl type,” Maxx states, and somehow his statement feels like a carefully hidden insult.
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to go,” I correct him, and his blue eyes meet mine through the mirror.
“You shouldn’t come, you won’t fit in or make friends. So, what’s the point?” he says, and Landon whacks his arm. The asshole is back, and whatever nice attitude he had is clearly gone.
“You’re such an ass,” I bite out and look away from him. How does this guy manage to annoy me so much in such a short time? I briefly catch Landon’s gaze in the mirror and wonder why he is smiling, but I know it’s not the time to ask. The rest of the ride is silent, and Maxx pulls the car into his driveway. I grab my bag and quickly get out the car.
“Thanks for the lift,” I tell Landon.
“We will drive you home from now on,” Maxx states.
“No thanks. I think I’d rather walk than sit in a car with an asshole like you,” I say and turn around before he can reply. I jump when Maxx is suddenly somehow in front of me, but I have no clue how he got there so quick.
“You will let me drive you home. The bus isn’t exactly safe,” he growls out.
“Seriously? No. We aren’t friends, and you are a dick to me. You don’t get to tell me what to do,” I growl out and walk around him.
“Ura, he doesn’t mean—”
“Sorry, Landon, but your brother needs to know I’m not his to boss around,” I say, and Maxx crosses his arms, not looking impressed. “Also, if you are still pretending you’re normal…normal people don’t move that fast or appear out of nowhere.” I roll my eyes at his shocked, unamused face and walk back to my house. I know there is something up with my neighbors, but I just haven’t figured out what yet.
Chapter Eight
“Hey, how was school?” Dad asks as he comes into the house and rests a bag down on the floor after closing the door. I turn my Kindle off and smile over at him. His work uniform is covered in oil patches, and he looks exhausted. I hate that he has to work every day from morning until night, just so we can afford to live.
“Good,” I lie, because there is no way I’m explaining all the weirdness of today. My dad would freak and most likely find me another therapist somehow. I get up and follow dad into the kitchen, opening the microwave and handing him the plate of lasagna I made.
“Thanks, but you didn’t have to cook,” he says, and I shrug. Dad isn’t—and has never been—a good cook. That was always mum. When she left, I learnt how to cook because living on take-out food or whatever burnt or undercooked food dad attempted to make got old really quickly. “I brought us home some cakes from the shop in town,” dad explains and puts the white box on top of the kitchen counter. I get the bowl of salad out of the fridge and leave it next to him as he sits down on the stool and starts to eat before opening the box. There are five cakes, all smothered in icing with little decorations on top of them. They are super cute and look yummy.
“Was the bus okay?” dad asks as I pick up the pink iced cake and move to sit on the stool next to him to eat it.
“I didn’t get the bus in the end, the neighbors offered me a lift home,” I explain, and dad seems to think over it for a while as he eats.
“The boys from across the street?” he asks. “The ones that seem to have no parents around?”
“Yep, Landon and Maxx. Landon showed me around today and made sure I didn’t get lost. Landon said his mum works out of town but comes back once a month,” I say. “They are nice and friendly, you don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not worried. I’m happy to see you socializing, even if I wish it was with girls instead of teenage boys,” he grumbles and sighs. “Well, you should take over two of the cakes as a thank you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I mutter.
“They are clearly helping you settle in, and you should thank them,” he states, and I know from his tone alone he isn’t going to let this one drop. I finish off my cupcake before answering him.
“Fine,” I mutter, sliding off my chair and chucking the cupcake wrapper in the bin. I get a plate out of the cupboard and pick out the two blue frosted cupcakes for the guys. “Be right back then.”
“Be nice,” dad warns me. “We need this move to work out, and arguing with the neighbors won’t help it.”
“It’s not me being nice you have to worry about,” I mutter, but one look at my dad’s exhausted face, and I sigh. “You have nothing to worry about. Landon is my friend already, and I’m sure Maxx will like the cake.”
“Alright. Also, you will tell me if you plan to date one of these guys, right? I want to meet him if you do. I know your mother isn’t around, and I need to make sure you understand everything—”
“If this is the sex talk, please don’t. The internet is here these days, and I’m seventeen, not thirteen,” I say, my eyes widening in fake horror, making him laugh.
“Well, you know to be safe then?” he blurts out, practically choking on the words.
“I’m going,” I mutter, practically running out the door and hearing my dad’s laugh right behind me. I have a feeling he did that just to make me leave and take the damn cakes over. I walk across the street and up the steps to the guys’ house, balancing the plate with cupcakes in my one hand as I press the doorbell. A few moments later, the door swings open and Landon grins down at me.
“Ura! What’s up?” Landon asks and spots the cupcakes before I can say anything. “You have food, get in here, girl.” I laugh as Landon steps aside and lets me into their house. The hallway is like mine, only newly painted a cream color. I can see the modern black-countered kitchen on the right, and the door to the lounge is shut closed.
“My dad wanted to thank you for giving me a lift home, and for looking after me today,” I say, feeling awkward.
“Well, that’s cool of him, and food is always welcome. Especially the little bakery cakes,” he says and picks up a cupcake. “These cupcakes should be illegal with how addictive they are.”
“What is she doing here?” Maxx’s cold voice snaps from the top of the stairs, and I look up to see him walking down, his arms crossed over his bare, sweaty chest. He must have been working out, and I have to force my mouth to close before I start drooling.
“Ura bought us cakes from her dad,” Landon says, and Maxx narrows his eyes at the cupcake as he walks straight up to me. He leans down, so we are so very close, and a warm feeling flies across my body.
