Overlooked(1)(32)

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s still in that ‘rack ‘em up’ phase of his life where his only goal is how many girls he can get with, and all you’ll be to him is another notch on his belt,” she pauses. “But you’re the smart girl, the career-minded girl, the one who’s going to really make something of herself. You need to be smart enough not to get all wrapped up in some guy who’s just going to forget about you as soon as you’re gone again,” Mom’s voice is consoling, but the words she’s saying are just like throwing kerosene on a fire that I’m starting to feel.

“I can’t believe this. I really can’t. You’re basically saying that because Zane is some kind of man-slut, I need to be the sensible one and not do anything with him or… I don’t even know what you think the downside of this is for me, other than that apparently I’m some lonely-heart virgin or something,” I say, shaking my head.

“Sweetie, it’s just that I know both of you. You’re not, either of you, made for a long-distance relationship,” Mom insists.

Before I even really know what I’m doing, I’m on my feet.

“I’m done talking about this,” I say. “I really don’t want to hear another word out of you about Zane, or me, or… or how Zane and me having a little fun is going to somehow ruin your friendship with Bev and Nolan.”

I hurry to my room, not even listening for Mom to call me back, not paying any attention to anything other than the need to get my purse and get the hell out of the house, as far away as I can go.

Mom tries to catch me at the front door, but I bark something about how if she tries to keep me from leaving the house I will absolutely call the police and have them be the reason the family is scandalized. It’s a stupid threat and I know it, but it gets me through the door.

Then I’m in my car, pulling out of the driveway, and turning onto the street to get as far away as I can as quickly as I can.





CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE





ZANE LEWIS



I see Harper bolt out of her house, and guess that she and Nadine have been talking about what her mom saw the night before.

Obviously that went well.

As far as I know, my mom and dad still have no clue what Harper and I were up to, but it’s really only a matter of time.

The way that Harper throws herself into her car and the way the tires squeal on the pavement from how fast she pulls out tells me that she’s not in the best state of mind, and some deep instinct rises up in me. I have to follow her, even if I’m not all that sure that I’m the person she wants to see right now.

I tell Mom I’ll be back in a bit without telling her where I’m going. She doesn’t much care, since she’s busy with putting things away from the party, and doesn’t even ask any questions as I head out the door to my rental.

If I was Harper, where would I go? She’s driven away too fast for me to realistically follow her. I’ll have to make a few guesses.

I decide quickly that she’s probably not at the library, one of the few of her favorite places that I can remember from when we were in high school. I try to look for her car at the bars I pass by, but I don’t see it anywhere.

Finally inspiration strikes and I decide that it’s worth at least checking the lake.

I pull into the parking area next to the lake, and her car is the only one there. Of course, she’s not in the car, and for a second I actually feel my worry increase. I have to hope she didn’t do anything too stupid. I park and get out of my car, and start towards the shoreline, looking for Harper.

She sees me before I see her. So much for my military training. I see she’s been crying, her face is red, but she actually somehow manages to look cuter than I’ve ever seen her, vulnerable in a way that the Harper I knew in high school never let herself be. But she also looks angry.

“What are you doing here, Zane?”

I wonder if Harper came out here for the purpose of screaming where no one can hear her, her voice is pretty hoarse.

“I saw you leave,” I reply.

“Mom and I got into a fight, and I just… I couldn’t even be around to listen to her anymore,” Harper says, shaking her head and sounding so exhausted I have to wonder how she has the energy to be so angry.

“What were you fighting about?” I know it has to be about Nadine finding us in the yard the night before, but I can’t really figure how that conversation could lead to Harper storming off and driving away to the lake.

“You, mostly,” Harper says, her voice almost sarcastic.

“What were you fighting about me for?” I want to know whatever it is that has Harper so upset, what her mom could have possibly said.