By the Pale Moonlight (Book One of the Moonlight Series) Page 12

  "It's not what you think it is," he said.

  I shrugged off his words. "It's fine. I-I've got to go meet Melanie."

  My heart felt like it might break in half as I rushed down the hallway, carefully averting my eyes away from Carrie. Ty called to me, but I ignored him in my hurry to get away from them both.

  Chapter 12

  The pounding music coming through my speakers made it practically impossible to concentrate on the calculus problems before me. It didn't matter. Even in the solitude of a tomb I wouldn't be able to focus when Ty was out with Carrie. Images of them together began to creep in. I spun the dial to my stereo until the windows rattled with the thumping bass. A headache bloomed in my temples, but it felt better than facing the reality of my life. If I couldn't keep from thinking of them, I'd damn well make sure I couldn't think at all.

  After my fifth failed attempt to work the same problem, I slammed the book shut and flung myself across my bed. How could this be happening? His sudden need to speak with Carrie didn't make sense.

  The crazy thing was that in my mind's eye all I could see was the face of a pretty junior at our school.

  I closed my eyes, trying to erase her image from my mind.

  God, not again. Not Ty.

  o0o

  "Have a good summer," Mr. Keane had said, glancing up at the clock above the door. "Never hurts to start break early."

  It was five minutes until the last bell of the day, but he acted like he was giving us the day off.

  Jenna glanced over at me and rolled her eyes. I grinned, not really caring how long he was giving us. We were still getting out early.

  We all jumped up and gathered our things, our voices animated as we discussed our summer plans. Mine really didn't go any further than getting the heck out of Dodge. The expanse of summer lay before me, and I was elated with a sense of freedom. It was one last hurrah before our senior year.

  At our lockers, Jenna and I parted ways. Backing down the hall, she grinned at me. "Party. Tonight. My house. Don't be late!"

  "Wouldn't miss it," I said, closing my now empty locker. "See ya."

  She gave me a little finger wave, pausing in her retreat to take in Mike Lomond's backside as he stood just a few lockers down gathering his things. Her grin widened, and she pointed at him, mouthing the word, "Hot!"

  I laughed. Heaven help the boy. When she turned to head down the hall, I went the other way, still smiling.

  My smile only widened when I stepped outside and spotted David standing near his car. Even from a distance I couldn't help but admire his body—his wide shoulders, muscular arms, cute butt. A sudden wild streak went through me. Perhaps tonight would be the night to continue my sexual education.

  The enticing image floated across my mind and then abruptly dissolved when he shifted his weight to reveal Kristin Gertz coyly leaning against his car. I froze mid-stride. Other students pushed past me, but I paid no attention, even when they tried to gain it. My entire focus was on the couple.

  The adoration shining in her bright eyes said it all, and the velvet caress he ran down her arm confirmed it. He leaned in to kiss her.

  I turned and fled into the school building. Surrounded by friends and strangers alike, I didn't know what to do. I brushed past them all, murmuring quiet so long's as I fought my way against the sea of students heading outside.

  At a loss of what to do, I feigned needing to get something from my locker. Tears threatened as I repeatedly failed to get the combination right. Frustrated, I yanked at the latch. The damn thing wouldn't budge. I finally kicked it in hopes it would miraculously spring open.

  The final bell rang and the remaining students flooded into the corridor. I couldn't get the searing vision of David and Kristin together out of my head.

  My locker still refused to budge. I swiped a hand across my eyes and lowered my sunglasses over the bridge of my nose.

  Elbows and backpacks jabbed into my sides as I pushed through the crowd, and a sob threatened to escape my throat as I struggled toward the girl's restroom. A few steps from my refuge, Ty's voice stopped me.

  "What are you still doing here, Mac? I thought you'd be long gone to parts unknown by now."

  Ty winked as he approached. I swallowed hard.

  "Nature calls." My voice came out surprisingly normal.

  His face split into a grin. "Too much information."

  "Guess you don't want to hear about it being that time of the month, then?"

  "Disgusting." He laughed and draped an arm over my shoulders. "You know, just because we're friends doesn't mean I need or want to hear about these things."

  I let out a laugh I didn't feel. "That's only because you don't want me nosing around in your boy habits."

  "Damn straight." He pulled me in close and continued down the hall. "Listen. It's Carrie's birthday in a couple of weeks and I thought maybe..." He stopped mid-stride, his eyes locked on my face. "What's wrong?"

  Of course he'd notice.

  "Nothing."

  Twin lines of worry appeared between his brows.

  I knew it was pointless to try to hide anything from him.

  He ushered me against the lockers and shielded me from the milling students. I stepped close to his comforting presence, gripping his T-shirt lightly, head bowed.

  "Tell me," he said.

  "It's David...I..." I choked on my words, unable to continue.

  Ty's chest rose up and down. Jaw clenched tight, he spoke tersely. "What did he do?"

  "There you are, Mac! I've been looking for you everywhere."

  Ty stepped back, his face heated as David sauntered over and wrapped an arm around my waist. He gave me a gentle squeeze. I stared up at him in shock. He had to be joking.

  My mind reeled when he leaned in for a kiss.

  "Ready to go?" he asked.

  His demeanor made no sense. No one could pull off a lie like that with a straight face.

  He didn't wait for me to respond. It didn't matter. I couldn't speak if I tried.

  "How goes it, man?" David nodded at Ty, completely at ease and oblivious to the tension in Ty's posture. "We partying for Carrie's birthday?"

  Ty eyed him coolly. "I was just discussing plans with Mac. What have you been up to?"

  David shrugged. "Looking for my beautiful girl here."

  Ty kept his gaze fixed on my face, measuring my reaction.

  Honestly, I didn't know what to think. Self-doubt immediately took root in my mind. Maybe I had gotten it all wrong. This small pinprick of uncertainty started to expand. Surely David couldn't lie to my face so smoothly.

  "I've been looking for you, too. Out in the parking lot," I said.

  David laughed. "And of course I went to your mom's classroom. We must have crossed paths."

  I studied his face, trying to discern if there was even the slightest hint of untruthfulness in his words. Try as I could, I didn't detect any.

  "My bad," I laughed, relief flooding through me.

  It couldn't have been him. I must've been mistaken the entire time.

  Ty's fists went slack with my sudden change of mood. I flashed him a quick smile as David led me away.

  "I'll see you at home," I yelled over my shoulder.

  We were mere steps from the exit when it happened. I'd thought about it many times since. Had we been a few seconds earlier or later, perhaps I never would've known. A flash of movement caught my eye, and I turned to see Kristin looking at us. An obvious sadness colored her pretty features and, in that moment, I knew I'd been right.

  If he saw her again after that day, they hid it well.

  Chapter 13

  I almost didn't go to the game. The image of Ty and Carrie back together flipped through my mind all afternoon, and my heart ached at the thought.

  On top of that, the loud music I'd insisted on blasting had given me a killer headache. Completely on edge, there was no guarantee I wouldn't scratch Carrie's eyes out if I happened across her in the crowd. What I would do to Ty
would be far worse.

  Part of me expected him to call, but the phone hadn't made a sound. I couldn't handle what that might mean.

  In the end, I went simply because I couldn't not know what was going on.

  My father was tooling around the house alone, and he jumped at the opportunity to drive me to school. He blared The Best of Bread the entire way, singing at the top of his lungs. I considered having him drop me off a few blocks from school.

  "Are you sure you don't want me to stick around—just in case you need a ride?" he asked as I climbed out of the car.

  "No thanks. I'll catch a ride with someone—plus mom's here somewhere." My mother helped supervise the SBA's souvenir stand during the games.

  He hesitated. I prayed he wouldn't question me or heaven forbid ask if something was wrong. Nothing brought on the waterworks faster than having an "Are you okay?" thrown at me.

  "Call if you need me," he said.

  He rocked down the street, completely oblivious to the spectacle he presented. Several milling students turned to watch him go. I frowned. Adoption had to be to blame for this.

  I made my way toward the stands feeling like a complete idiot. I usually sat with my friends, but my group and I were no longer claiming each other. It was an odd feeling walking into a crowd alone, not knowing whether a friendly face would appear to save you from isolation.

  I should've called Melanie. I flipped open my phone to do just that, but snapped it closed when I caught sight of the thick yellow tape barring the dark recesses beneath the seating area. Funny how it had all slipped my mind. Just one week ago, Kim's life had ended under there. I glanced away, my chest seizing. It could've been me. Despite this, I felt strangely attracted to the area—morbidly fascinated with the idea of slipping beneath the barricade to lay where they'd found her body.

  Suddenly cold, I wrapped my arms around my chest and kept my feet moving. I passed the small entrance and let out the breath I held.

  The game was well into the first quarter and my eyes automatically scoured the field for Ty. I spotted him standing on the sideline, his helmet removed and hanging at his side. His hair stood on end and glare-guard marked his face. Deep in conversation with the players flanking him, he watched the game with a burning intensity.

  I glanced at the scoreboard. We were up by a touchdown, and I knew without a doubt his attendance was the cause.

  For whatever reason, I somehow expected him to sense my presence and turn to look at me. He didn't, and I bit down my disappointment.

  "Hey Mac, over here!"

  A lone voice rose over the crowd. I searched the stands for its source. Mary waved frantically from a few rows up and relief flooded through me. I ran up the steps and squeezed in with her group. Everyone was in high spirits, and I tried to break free of my melancholy as they all leaned in for quick introductions. I knew most of them by name, but that was as far as it went. It didn't seem to matter to them—they all slipped into easy conversation, acting as though I were one of them.

  "Here, Makenna," Mary said as she pressed a steaming cup into my hand. "Secret family recipe."

  She said the last with a wink. I hesitated before bringing the styrofoam rim to my lips. I took a sip, expecting the familiar sting of alcohol beneath the hot liquid. The rich, creamy taste spread through my mouth, and I nearly spit it out in surprise. It was the best hot chocolate I'd ever tasted.

  Mary raised her brow, self-critical. "Too much milk?"

  I took a hearty swallow and smiled. "No, it's perfect."

  She beamed with pride before her attention moved to the field. "Glad you came. He's kicking ass tonight." She gave me a knowing look. I blushed.

  Ty was at the top of his game. When the offense took to the field, he caught an amazing reception on their second down. He seemed to hang in the air as he easily picked off the ball. The spectators lost their minds, and I couldn't help going along with the contagious atmosphere as Ty rushed down the field for another touchdown. Hands patted me on the back, a clear indication they thought I should share in his victory. An indication they thought Ty and I were together. God help me, I started to believe it, too.

  A couple of minutes before half-time, I excused myself and descended the stairs. I wanted to let Ty know I was there. My pulse raced as thoughts of how he'd react flashed through my mind. I needed to get this over with, though. My imagination could no longer be left to its own accord.

  I wouldn't have much time to flag him down as the team made their way to the locker room, and I hurried to the end of the fence line separating the field from the bleachers.

  I stopped dead at the sight of Carrie standing sentry at the small opening through which they would pass. In a fog, I heard the shrill of the final whistle and saw the band march forward and onto the field. The football players jogged by ahead of me, and then Carrie separated Ty from the pack.

  When she clutched a handful of his jersey and leaned into him, a searing pain flared in my chest. Their posture was so familiar with each other. Of course it was. Maybe Ty cared for me, but they'd shared a lot in the two years they had dated. And honestly, I had no chance in a head to head battle with her.

  Ty's attention suddenly jerked in my direction. We locked eyes. Was that guilt I saw in his? He stepped away from Carrie and that was answer enough. When she turned her smug face to me, I turned and fled in the opposite direction. I thought I heard his voice call out my name, but I didn't stop.

  Faced with the dead end of the perimeter fence before me, I tucked myself against the back of a stairwell and waited until I could be sure the coast was clear. When I eventually poked my head over the edge, they were gone.

  o0o

  I was lying in bed staring at my ceiling when a soft rapping jarred my window. I didn't need to turn on the light to know who it was; Ty had often scaled the porch overhang to sneak into my room. When I didn't immediately answer, he pounded harder. He'd wake my parents at this rate. He was persistent, and I finally stomped over to the window and raised the sash.

  He was inside before I could protest. He'd showered and changed into jeans and a dark grey T-shirt. His wet hair glistened beneath the dim light coming in behind him and he smelled like Dial.

  I crossed my arms. "What do you want? You'll be lucky if my father doesn't come run your butt out of here."

  "If you'd keep your voice down, that won't be a problem." He frowned at my defensive posture. "What's going on?"

  "Are you serious?" My voice shook slightly, and I willed it to steady. "I could ask you the same thing."

  "Fine. Short answer? Nothing's going on between Carrie and me. If you had bothered to stand still at any point today, you'd know that already."

  I started at the anger in his voice. How dare he be mad at me?

  "I saw you, Ty. I'm not stupid." My words tumbled out, stumbling over each other in their haste. "At least have the courtesy to tell me the truth."

  His eyes boiled. "Have I ever lied to you? Do you really think I'm capable of doing something like that to you? Jesus, I'm not David!"

  I recoiled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

  His jaw tightened and he looked away. After a long pause, he returned his steady gaze. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

  My chin trembled. "Get out."

  "No." He stood his ground. "The guy cheated on you—more than once. Everyone seems to know that but you. I'm sorry he did that, but I am not him."

  "You look the same from where I'm standing." Fat tears pooled in my eyes. I batted them away, angry at their betrayal.

  His shoulders went slack at my words, and he stepped toward me, stopping when I retreated. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Do you really believe that?"

  I started to nod, but I couldn't.

  His green eyes traced my face. A blossom of pain spread through my chest to see the confusion and frustration tug the corners of his mouth down. I wanted to smooth away the frown lines between his brows. To believe everything he said.

/>   I shook my head instead. "No."

  He moved toward me again. This time I didn't back away. He pulled me into his arms and rested his cheek against my forehead. My tears wet his shirt as all of my pent up emotions poured out of me. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

  "Sssh." He cupped my chin. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have left you today." He forced me to look at him. "I swear nothing's going on with Carrie. You have to know I'd never do that to you."

  I laid my hands over his. "I know."

  His thumbs drew circles across my skin, wiping my damp cheeks. In a sudden need to feel him, I reached up and kissed him. The salt of my tears mingled on our lips, and I pressed forward.

  He held back, his body tensing. I ignored it, ignored everything. A part of my mind argued that this wasn't right, but I pushed all thoughts aside as I nibbled on his bottom lip, focused on provoking a response from him.

  I ran my hands across his broad chest and down across his hard stomach so I could tug his T-shirt over his head. He neither resisted nor tried to help, and I eventually pulled the material free and tossed it across the room. I played my hands across his body. He was an intoxicating mixture of hard muscle and silky skin. I wanted to touch every inch of him.

  When I kissed him this time, his lips moved beneath mine, pulling me in with a need that matched my own. He crushed me to him. I ran my hands through his hair, urging him on. His tongue slid against mine, and a low heat spread in my belly.

  I stepped back, forcing him to follow lest our connection be broken. When the back of my thighs hit my mattress, I tumbled onto the bed, pulling him down with me. He tore his mouth away; our sudden horizontal position seemed to startle him.

  "We can't do this." He climbed off the bed and scoured the floor for his shirt. When he spotted it, he quickly pulled it back on, the tag flapping around his Adam's apple as he took deep swallows.