Masquerade by Cambria Hebert

his jaw, which was set like he was
expecting rejection.
    Something about that
slightly vulnerable look in his eyes melted me. I gave in, if the
hottest guy in school wanted to date me – and I know I wanted to date
him – then I
would stop wondering why he liked me and just go for it. “Me
too.”
    “ Really?” His eyes shone
like the summer sun with a hint of surprise.
    “ Really.”
    A grin broke his face, exposing
straight, white teeth and suddenly he was lifting me off my feet to
plant a quick, firm kiss on my lips. When he put me down, he took
my hand, and we began walking across the campus to his truck. I
noticed that people were outright staring, and for once, I didn’t
care.
    “ Do you usually go to your
grandma’s after school?”
    “ As often as I can.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I have to go to Bible study.” He slid his
eyes away from the road to look at me, then back. “My mother is
very religious,” I explained and noticed a tightening around his
eyes and mouth. Was he against religion then? “She wasn’t always
that way, but then my father died.”
    “ Your father
died?”
    “ Yeah. A few years ago. He
was on the police force here. He was shot during a robbery.” That
single bullet had changed everything in my entire world.
    “ That must have been really
hard. I’m sure it still is.” He reached across the seat for my
hand.
    “ Sometimes.” I liked that
he didn’t automatically apologize. Whenever I told someone about my
dad, it was the first thing people said: ‘I’m sorry.’ I knew they
meant it, and it was supposed to be comforting; but it really
wasn’t, and it wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t their fault that he’d
died, so why apologize for something they had nothing to do
with?
    “ Your grandma is your dad’s
mother?”
    “ Yeah. She’s really special
to me.”
    “ I’m glad you have her,
then.”
    “ Who is special to you,
Sam?”
    “ You,” he rasped the word
and sent goose bumps across my skin.
    “ Where are your
parents?”
    Seconds passed before he answered.
“I’m emancipated. I don’t see them.”
    “ For how long?”
    “ About a year and a
half.”
    No wonder he seemed so lonely, and it
could even explain his rude roommates. “You’re
roommates…?”
    “ They’re emancipated
too.”
    “ Oh.” It was ironic because
‘I’m sorry’ popped onto my tongue, but I bit it back. “You’re not
alone anymore.”
    A groan built in his chest and rumbled
out of him. The topic was clearly hard for him, so I changed the
subject. “What do you do after school?”
    “ I have a job,” he said it
low, like he was ashamed.
    “ Really? Where?”
    “ Planet
Fitness , at the front desk. They’re
coaching me to be a personal trainer.”
    “ Wow. That’s really cool.”
I guess his job explained the muscles I’d seen rippling beneath his
clothes.
    He seemed embarrassed, but added, “I
just got hired for a second job too. Down at the lake renting
paddle boats and stuff. It’s just for spring and summer though,
mostly on weekends.”
    “ That’s really
responsible,” I said before I could stop myself. He threw me a
look, and I giggled. “Sorry.” I laughed again.
    He tried not to, but laughed anyway.
When we sobered he said, “I can take care of myself.”
    That seemed really important to him,
and I nodded. I guess he didn’t have a choice. Undoing my seatbelt
I slid closer to him. “You’re doing a good job.”
    He cleared his throat but said
nothing. When we pulled up to my grandma’s house he parked, letting
the engine idle. “Thanks for the ride.”
    “ How long do you usually
stay here?”
    “ As long as I
can.”
    “ I get off at nine. Want me
to pick you up?”
    Nine was later than I usually stayed,
but I would wait just to see him again. “Sure. Unless you’ll be
tired and want to go home.”
    “ I’d rather see
you.”
    “ See you later then.” I
peeked up at him from beneath my lashes.
    He moved fast, taking my face between
his palms