Page 84 of Forever Golden
Instead of letting that deter him, his masochistic ass smiles at her. “So, I take it that’s a no on giving me your number.”
“Oh, it’s abigno,” she clarifies.
Linden nods, biting the side of his lip as he slips both hands back inside his pockets. “At least give me your socials. What’s the harm in that?”
He’s not begging, but he’s definitely being persistent as hell.
Shaking her head, Scar laughs a bit. “It was great meeting you, Linden. Goodbye.”
With that, she offers a cheeky grin and starts toward the bus but isn’t quite fast enough. Linden manages to get a hold of her when she passes, and if his light grip on her hand was enough to halt her, it means shewantedto be stopped.
“Don’t make me stalk you, Scarlett.” He croons his warning with a wicked smirk. One that makes Scar’s own smile dim a bit. However, I’m convinced this shift has nothing to do with being put off by Linden’s intensity. If anything—based solely on who our mother is, and how we’re both a little broken because of it—I’d say she likes it.
Scar blinks into Linden’s gaze while slowly pulling out of his grasp. Her eyes flit to his parted lips, and then meet his stare again.
“Give it your best shot,” is her parting challenge.
Linden eyes her as she passes, not bothering to stop her this time, but he keeps his gaze trained in her direction long after she’s disappeared inside the bus. Watching him now, I wonder if he’s questioning the same thing I am.
Were Scar’s words meant as a deterrent? Or were they an invitation?
“Ready?” West asks, stealing my attention. “We should get going so we’re not late.”
I glance toward Linden one last time before nodding.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
West’s hand rests against the small of my back and we say our last goodbyes. For so many reasons, this was a trip to remember. In a few hours we’ll be back in Cypress Prep, back where we’ll have to face our problems head on, but I have to believe there will be a break in Roby’s investigation soon. Especially now that we’ve made a connection between Vin and Paul Ruiz. I’m not sure what good it will do yet, but I choose to believe things will start to go our way soon.
I mean, they have to.
Right?
* * *
QweenPandora:Incoming, lovelies!
It appears Cypress Prep Royalty has landed. Still no word on where TheGoldenCrew has been all week, but they certainly look well-rested. Perhaps a bit of time away from the city is just what the doctor ordered.
But be careful, oh royal ones. We’ve all heard the age-old adage of how absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I have a theory of my own. Perhaps fondness of heart isn’t the only emotion one’s absence might feed.
Could the same hold true for hatred? Guess we’ll all just have to wait and see.
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 30
BLUE
Home sweet home.
Or… something like that, I guess.
I stare at the rickety security door at the front of our small place and beat back the heaviness that tries creeping in. It’s stifling and palpable.
It’s possible that things could turn out just fine. Don’t think the worst.