Fire burns along my flesh, making my skin break out in a sweat.
“I kissed him,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper.
“No fucking way!” she shrieks, making me recoil at her outburst.
“Stop talking,” I grumble, shoving my shirts into her arms. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
She pouts, but I’m not falling for it. I leave her to pay for my items and make my way down the darkened hallway toward the restroom. Before I reach the restroom, I can’t help but notice a corkboard stuffed with all sorts of ads and coupons. They’re all for various shops here on Main Street, even the restaurant Jordy and Roux work at, but the one on orange paper catches my eye.
Babysitter needed for four-year-old for occasional nights and weekends. Text Jack Henderson. Reliable applicants only.
No fucking way.
I rip the ad off the wall so no one else will text him. Quickly, I fire off a text.
Me: Hello. I’m available. Penelope Morgan.
Not a total lie. It’s my full, given name minus my last name.
Unknown Number: How old are you? How did you get my number?
I save his contact in my phone and then respond.
Me: 17. Thrift store. How much?
Jackoff Henderson: Depends on your experience. $10-$14 per hour.
Me: I watch my nephew all the time. He’s that age. When should I start?
Jackoff Henderson: I think it’s best we meet first before I allow you to sit my daughter.
Daughter? Fuck this dude.
Me: Great. Where are you? I can come to you.
Jackoff Henderson: I’m at work. Do you know where the tire factory is?
Me: I’m not driving all the way to the other side of town to meet you there. Can I just come by your house later and meet the kid? I promise. I’m legit.
Jackoff Henderson: Send a pic so I know you’re not some creep.
Rolling my eyes, I switch it to selfie mode. I force one of Charlotte’s cheerleader smiles and send it to him.
Jackoff Henderson: I get off work late tonight. What about tomorrow? Can you come at noon?
Me: It might be closer to dinner, but I’ll be there. Just text me your address.
My heart is hammering in my chest. Did I really just get a job babysitting Terrence’s kid? Why? I know why. I need to help him get her back and this seems like the best way to find answers.
He’s going to freak.
Probably tell me no.
Which is why I definitely don’t need to tell him yet. Not until I find some information that could be useful to him.
I will find out where Lacey is and I will find a way to get Terrence his daughter.
Terrence
I groan when I see Grandma has texted me for the millionth time.
Grandma: Come get your mail, Terry. I haven’t seen you since Christmas. I miss you.
Guilt washes over me. I really ought to swing by and see her, but I just don’t feel like it. Grandma always has shit to say and rides my ass. My head is finally starting to not fucking kill me all the time. The last thing I need is to let her get inside it. I know that a trip to pick up my mail will turn into cleaning out my room, which will turn into discussing my living arrangements. And on and on and on. Grandma, no matter how great my life is going for me, finds shit to nag at me about. Always has. I bet Tierra is having a fucking blast living there with her right now.
Me: Soon, Grandma.
As soon as I pocket my phone, I climb out of Cal’s truck I borrowed. Since it’s Sunday and he’s holed up in bed with his girl, he won’t need it. I do need to see about getting a vehicle soon. That’s one more thing Grandma will be on my shit about, too.
I notice that Penny’s orange Jeep is already here, parked on the grass near the school gym and not in the parking lot like everyone else. It brings a smile to my face. Quickly, it falls when I think about the kiss on New Year’s Eve.
Goddamn, she tasted sweet.
All I got was a tiny nibble of the forbidden fruit and damned if I wasn’t addicted. I know a kiss isn’t gonna get my ass landed in prison or anything, but if I keep obsessing over this girl, I know I’ll do more than kiss her.
Which I absolutely cannot do.
Not that I even have a choice anyway. She lost her shit a bit after the kiss. I could tell she was panicking. Whatever goes on inside Penny’s head is epic and destructive. It tears her down. That night, it tore her down right in front of my eyes. All I wanted to do was fix her. I’d felt responsible for sending her into a frenzy. Yet, before I could undo the damage, she blew out of there like a storm.
I can’t stop thinking about her mouth.
How fucking perfect that kiss was.
I’m pulled out of my daze when I walk up to the gym door at the school. Karen told me she’d open it up but that I’d need to lock it on my way out. I posted the roster on New Year’s Day on the door stating who made the team. I’m looking forward to what these girls can do. With Penny and Tierra leading them, they’re gonna go far.
As soon as I push through the door, my eyes swim through the sea of girls, landing on her. Penny. Where everyone else is shooting baskets, she dribbles around, darting left and right as Tierra tries to steal. Those two are a fucking force.
Penny’s blond hair has been pulled back in a tight, high ponytail that swings back and forth with each move she makes. Her clothes are baggy, unlike just about all the other girls who wear tanks or sports bras. Somehow, it doesn’t dampen how good she looks. Only makes her more alluring because I know what she fucking looks like under all that material.
That night of our kiss…
Fuck, she looked good.
All tight clothing and bare skin on her arms. I’d never wanted to fuck a girl as much as I did Penny English in that moment. Had her family and my friends not been around, my horny ass probably would have tried too.
Which is why I can never be alone with this girl.
I want her too much.
And despite her meltdown, she wants me too.
Considering she’s not a legal adult yet, that’s a problem. And goddammit, I have too many problems as it is.
“Hey, Coach James,” Liv says, flashing me a flirty grin. “Thanks for choosing me.”
“All came down to skills and who’s an asset to the team,” I grunt out, uncomfortable with the way she stares at me.
She steps closer. “I appreciate it. I need basketball for my college résumé.”
Her smile widens until she gets nailed in the head with a basketball. It bounces off her and rolls my way, so I stop it with my foot. She lets out a shriek, whirling around to see who hit her. My eyes land on Penny’s bored expression, but fire burns in her blue eyes.
“Oops,” Penny says. “I didn’t see you there. My bad.”
Liv rubs at her head before snatching up a ball and storming off. Penny walks over to me to retrieve her ball that’s resting under my foot.
“Violent,” I mutter, my lips curling up in amusement.
“Her head shouldn’t be so big,” Penny sasses. “Give me my ball.”
“Say you’re sorry.” I arch a brow at her.
“I already did.” Her ponytail whips to the side as she tries to kick the ball out from under my foot.
“Not to Liv, to me.”
Her blue eyes snap up to meet mine. “For what?”
“Running off like Cinderella that night.”