Bow Down(75)
Caffeinated and fed, I quickly left the house, hustling over toward my car. It was parked in the street so that Dad and Lynn could get out of the driveway easily. I walked through the grass, frowning at the morning dew that stained my sneakers.
As I got to my car, an unusual motion across the street caught my eye. I looked up just as a figure stepped sideways, disappearing behind some shrubs.
What the hell? I thought. The person looked so damn familiar.
Curious, I decided to cross the street and check. Any thoughts about being late disappeared into the back of my head. There was a bus stop at the corner, and people were always sitting on the bench or generally waiting around for the bus, but the guy seemed so strange. As I crossed the street and angled toward the bush, I saw him.
“Camden?” I said.
He smirked at me. “’Morning, Lace.”
“What are you doing?”
“Just hanging out.”
“Hanging out? You’re stalking us, aren’t you?”
He laughed. “Not stalking. Just waiting around for the bus.”
I looked him up and down, frowning. He was wearing the same outfit from the night before and looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept for hours. Still, despite that, my heart fluttered slightly as I took in his confident smile and his muscular body.
Memories of that body threatened to overwhelm me, but I ignored them.
“You look like you haven’t slept.”
“I’ve been busy.”
I sighed. “What are you doing here, really, Camden?”
He stared at me for a second, his face suddenly serious. He took a few steps closer and I felt a thrill run down my spine. It was half fear and half something else.
Truthfully, even after all this time, I still couldn’t help but remember the guy I was close with in high school. But that dangerous edge was still there, even if buried under expensive-looking clothes and a new confidence.
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you,” he said.
“Try me.”
“You’re just going to have to be patient, Lace.”
“You’re full of crap,” I said, turning away. “You always have been.”
“Wait a second,” he said, grabbing my arm.
I felt the tinge of electricity as soon as his skin touched mine. It wasn’t crackling static or anything like that, but more like a tingle that spread from my head down my spine. It made my heart beat faster and my breath come deeper, like a drug or something. I felt like such a cliché, getting excited at an innocent touch, but I couldn’t help myself. It had been so long. Instantly, I wanted more.
“I don’t feel like playing games with you anymore, Camden,” I said softly.
He released his grip on my arm. “I get it. You hate me.”
I looked at his face, his beautiful, cocky face. “Do you blame me?”
“Not really. But something is happening and I don’t have time to deal with your stubbornness.”
I rolled my eyes. For a second, I thought he was going to be a decent guy, but there he was again. The same cocky asshole.
“I don’t care what you think is happening. If you really wanted to do us a favor, you’d just leave again.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can. You’re pretty good at it.”
I heard him grunt, frustrated, as I turned and started to walk away again.
“You’re all in danger.”
I paused and looked back. “What did you say?”
“That’s why I’m here,” he said more softly. “You’re all in danger.”
“What did you do?”
He shook his head. “It’s too complicated to explain here.”
“You keep saying that, and yet I keep thinking you’re a liar.”
“Come on.” He started walking back toward the house. I moved fast to catch up.
“I have work.”
“I’ll drive with you, then.”
“Not a chance. Just tell me what’s happening.”
“In the car,” he said brusquely.
With a sigh, I unlocked the doors. He climbed into the driver’s seat and I gaped in at him.
“Are you joking?”
“I’m the better driver.”
“Did a lot of driving in your Mexican prison?”
He grinned. “More than you’d think.”
I tossed him the keys and walked around to the passenger’s seat, not wanting to fight him anymore. Plus, I was definitely late for work and needed to get going.
He started the engine. “Where to?”
“The Salty Whale.”
“You still work at the Whale?”
“For this summer, yeah.”
He laughed and pulled out of the driveway. “I remember visiting you there.”