Page 83 of Forever Golden
“You kids keep out of trouble,” he calls out with a smile as we descend the steps of the porch, but we never get the chance to board our ride. Before any of us steps foot inside the bus, an engine revs in the distance. Then, what do we see a few seconds later?
A gray pickup barreling up the long driveway.
“Dear God, help us today,” Boone groans to himself—his reaction to seeing his other grandsons rolling up in all their loud, rowdy glory.
At least the triplets are happy to see them.
And Scar.
Boone’s right. A little divine intervention would be great right now. I especially think so when the truck slams to a stop and Linden hops out the bed of it, coming straight for my sister like there’s no one else standing here.
The wind picks up, moving through his hair, and it’s apparent that he’s too cool to notice it’s a little chilly today. Instead of wearing a hoodie or jacket like the rest of us, he’s rocking a white t-shirt and jeans.
The other four go straight for West, Joss, and I, saying their goodbyes, but you’d think Scar’s the only one Linden sees.
“Couldn’t let you leave without giving you this,” he says, stepping closer to her. She stares up at him like he’s some kind of deity, fallen from the sky to Earth.
“What is it?”
He shrugs and slips both hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Just a little something so you don’t forget me.”
She shoots him a look that has me thinking she knows he’s full of shit—one of those guys who’s used to girls eating out the palm of his hand. Then again, there’s a small part of me that worries she’s falling for it.
She takes the small bag when Linden offers it, and then pulls out a t-shirt.
“I had our guy rush and make you a pink one. That’s our band,” he explains, pointing at the logo in the center of the shirt.
“What? You thought I’d want pink because I’m a girl?” she asks with a smirk.
“Well, I uh—”
“Relax. I’m kidding. It’s sweet.” She peers up from the shirt and meets Linden’s gaze and… kill me now.
That look I was terrified I’d one day see in her eyes? The one that contradicts the cold shoulder she’s been giving him? Yeah, I see it plain as day.
“Thank you,” she eventually says, once she’s able to tear her eyes away from him.
“No problem.”
There’s a moment of awkward silence between them and I completely ignore every single conversation but theirs.
“So, I was thinking. If you give me your number, we can keep in touch. You know, check in on each other every now and then?”
I hold my breath, watching to see how things will play out.
“I told you, I’m involved with someone,” Scar explains.
Linden doesn’t seem defeated in the least by hearing my sister tell him again why she’s off limits.
“So you keep saying,” he smirks.
“And yet, you insist on backing me into a corner,” Scar shoots back.
Linden’s smile grows and he does that thing again, where he eye-bangs my sister so hard I feel dirty witnessing it.
“You’re not gonna make this easy for me, are you?”
Scar smirks when he asks. “Not only will I not make it easy, I’ll make it impossible.”