Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“That key goes to something.”
“What, though?” I glance at the entrance to the locker room beside the case. “His old locker?”
“Those were torn out before my time and have been replaced since. Could it be for a box or trunk at the house? Maybe his toolbox or an old door somewhere?”
I move to the other side of him to find how to get into the case, but I don’t see an opening. “We need that key. How do we get it?”
“The only time I saw them putting a trophy in place, they had to move the entire thing.”
Coming to stand face-to-face—okay, my face to his chest—with him, I say, “You know what you have to do.”
“Get the key?”
I nod. “Get the key.”
He peers over my head, then down the hall in the other direction. “Keep an eye out, okay?”
Turning my back to him, I scan the perimeters while humming the Mission: Impossible tune. His chuckle can barely be heard under the sound of rubber skidding against linoleum. I look back over my shoulder to see him sliding the back panel to the side. It’s tempting to tell him to steal my dad’s jersey for me. Nobody will probably notice a random-ass key missing from the display. I can’t say the same about the legendary jersey.
“I’m starving,” I say, checking to make sure the coast is still clear.
“A life of crime tends to make one hungry. I’ll feed you if we escape this unlawful activity.” I catch him bending through the gap he left himself to grab the key. “Got it.”
The sound of heels clacking echoes down the hall. “Hurry. Hurry. Someone’s coming.”
He hands me the key, then works on sliding the case back just as Mrs. Carson sees us. “Hey there, you said you were visiting the coaches over on the training field.”
The rubber screeches as the case slides back in its place. Brandon grabs my hand and says, “This way.” We push out into the sun through the side doors and run along the sidewalk back toward the parking lot.
The sneaking around school property, stealing the key, and pissing off Mrs. Carson have me laughing as adrenaline courses through me. Seeing Brandon’s million-kilowatt smile has my heart beating faster. That or the running, but I think the credit goes to him.
Dolly was a wild child, but she got it right when she said to listen to your heart over your head. Mine is currently shouting for me to take a chance on this man. But kissing him breathless usually requires breath in the first place, and the high school parking lot isn’t exactly romantic.
I slow down just as we reach the car and bend over to catch my breath. With my fingers wrapped tightly around the ornate brass key, I look up to see him leaning against the car, which is small compared to him, and wondering if not now, when?
Just do it, Autumn. “Brandon—?”
“Brandon Culver,” Mrs. Carson yells, waving a sheet of paper in the air. “You stay right there.”
“Get in,” he says, rushing to the passenger side and dipping inside just as quickly as I settle in behind the wheel and start the car, ready to peel out. We roll down our windows, so we don’t miss a thing, and because it cools me off.
Even when we’re driving away, I can hear her yelling that we didn’t sign out. I glance over at him next to me, and we both burst into laughter. “I didn’t write the date either.” I could ride the high that comes with pulling off a stunt like that all the way home. Or better yet, to his house.
“Rebel,” he replies, chuckling.
When I sneak a peek at him, the wind blowing through his hair, he has a smile that feels more like him than any other I’ve seen, and adventure brightens in his eyes that only draws me closer to him. I want his arm wrapped around me again, to feel safe under his protection as he snaps back at anyone trying to harm me, and to feel beautiful like when he looked at me earlier in the field. He didn’t see flowers; he only saw me. I gulp, knowing exactly what is happening. I have feelings for Brandon Culver. How in the world did that happen?
Seeing him in a new light, it’s easy to pinpoint exactly how that happened. And as much as I want to blame that ridiculously handsome face of his, I know it’s not that. Okay, it’s not just that. It’s his heart and who he is as a person.
I wasn’t joking earlier about him being the full package. I just didn’t realize I was susceptible to falling for him.
He laughs again, and says, “You showed her.”
“I sure did,” I mumble, staring at the road ahead, realizing I’ve detoured so far from the path I was headed that I’m not sure if I’ve lost my way or found my heart with this man.