Page 67 of Detour

“Why not? I’d pay money to see you drunk,” Eli, a kid in my chemistry class, teases as we walk through the paper-filled hallway. The stupid tradition of seniors making it rain papers on the last day has left the hall a complete mess. Sheets of all sizes and colors flutter through the air around us. Eli’s asked me to several parties through the years, all to which I declined, so he knows my penchant for avoiding large social gatherings. He places his hand on my lower back as we make our way out the door and into the too-bright sunshine.

I think back to the night with Coty and a bottle of vodka and my cheeks warm. “I drink sometimes.”

He eyeballs me sketchily. Squeezing in closer to fit through the gate together, Eli throws his arm over my shoulder. “Well, if that’s the case, maybe I’ll see you Saturday night.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” I mutter, shrugging him off just as I hear my name.

I lock eyes with Coty leaning against his Camaro, legs crossed at the ankles. His beast of a car is parked front and center at the curb, gaining interest from students and teachers alike. His eyes leave mine to shoot to Eli, who drops his arm awkwardly, before snapping his head back to me.

“Is he your boyfriend? I didn’t think you even liked guys.”

That makes me smile, and I give Eli a shove, then say goodbye. He chuckles as he heads toward the student lot.

Coty pushes off his car, sauntering over. His casual outfit of ripped jeans and a black V-neck tee with aviator glasses and slightly styled hair look too sexy for any sane woman to resist.

A couple feet away he stops.

“Who was that?” His head jerks toward Eli’s retreating form.

My eyes stay on his with a quirk of an eyebrow. “A friend.”

Coty breaks first and reaches for me in the next breath. Arms around my back, he leans in to whisper, “Babe, you don’t have any friends.”

I bark out a laugh. “You’re starting to catch on.”

He pulls back with a panty-dropping smile and grabs my hand, hauling me forward.

“I could’ve just walked home, you know. We live across the street, literally. You didn’t need to leave work for this.”

“It’s your last day, of course I’m picking you up. And we’re not going home.”

“Where are we going then?”

Wordlessly, Coty opens the passenger door, allowing me to climb in before strolling to his side. He starts the car which draws even more attention with the rumble of the throaty exhaust, and revs it a couple more times for his own amusement.

“You’ll see.”

CHAPTER 24

Angela

T he overlook in the daylight holds an entirely new quality than it did the last time we were here. For starters, it’s off limits. The cover of night hid the tall PRIVATE ROAD sign paired with a smaller, yet just as serious one saying KEEP OUT. Yeah, Coty didn’t even try to keep the smile from his face when we passed those ‘suggestions’ as he called them on the way up here.

Also, there are huge wind-turbines. Everywhere. The colossal white structures, a stark contrast to the olive green and muted brown terrain, essentially dominate the otherwise desolate rolling hills.

My stomach lurches, not only from the height—which is glaringly noticeable in the daylight—but also the added danger of trespassing. Like the turbines outside churning up unseen energy, unease begins to swell with each charged inhale I take.

Coty interrupts my very own anxiety tempest when he produces a large bag from the back.

“I brought extra this time.”

His wink gives me pause. Extra what exactly?

“Limes. For lunch.” With a face splitting grin, he jostles my tightly clenched hand. “Follow me.”

Loosening my grip on my seat helps unfurl the knot in my chest allowing me to trail after Coty breathing a bit easier.

Evidently, he planned an entire picnic, even picking up food and drinks from the best taco truck in town, Paco’s Tacos. And true to his word, he got me extra limes. And then some.