I jumped and swatted at his hand. “If Ryan touches her, we kill him.”
“Finally, we agree on something.” He lifted the book higher.
“Give it!” I huffed.
“Nope.” He opened it with both hands. “By the way, I would have never thought you were voted most likely to die from a fry addiction.”
My eyes widened. “EVERYONE LIKES FRIES!”
“But, I mean, dying for them?” He patted my head. “A bit extreme.”
“Drew!”
“Are you going to full name me? Oh God, I’ve dreamed about that for days. Do it, do it already. I’m waiting.”
“DREW AMHURST!”
“There it is.” Gleeful laughter burst forth. “Wow, I think I just got hard.”
“I hate you!”
“No, you don’t.” His laughter slowed to a chuckle. “I’ll just be taking this yearbook with me back to my room. Might memorize a few things. Oh, and I’d strap the hell in because, after last night, I’m not showing any mercy.” His eyes heated to the point that I almost fell into a sweaty pool at his feet. “Oh, and by the way, I’m honored that you wore my face on your shirt during Celebrity Crush Day your senior year.”
“Dead. I’m killing her DEAD!” I roared loud enough for Amelia to hear.
The door shut to more of Drew’s laughter.
I stomped into Amelia’s room. Her friends were still sleeping, and the shower was running, meaning I couldn’t yell at her.
I stomped back out, crossed my arms, and then prayed for an asteroid to hit the earth.
My yearbook.
I should have thought ahead.
Betrayed by my own flesh and blood.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but the embarrassment wouldn’t alleviate. And now, Drew would know even more secrets.
He would see my eighteen-year-old self dancing to his music at Sadie Hawkins; he would see the teen mom trying to finish school and balance life; he would see me wearing his face… He would see so many things I didn’t want him to see.
But most of all, Drew, would finally see me.
And I’d never been more scared.
CHAPTER 11
Andrew
I was already shaking with the need to tuck her hair behind her ear. She was wearing it down, maybe to torture me. To torture all men in general? I had no clue.
I’d spent half the drive trying not to get in a car accident while Bronte and Amelia talked about a movie Amelia wanted to see, then she started asking about going out with her friends, and then my hackles rose as she said the name, Ryan.
In reality, she said it like a normal human.
But in my head?
It was slow motion. Thunder cracked afterward, and I swerved in an effort not to get struck by lightning, all before slamming on the brakes and turning around, jabbing my finger in her direction and going. “No!”
It wasn’t my proudest moment.
The car was silent.
Bronte hid her laugh behind her hand, and Amelia glared at me as if I’d just told her she couldn’t date until she was forty, which, in hindsight? Not the worst idea I’d ever had.
“What do you mean, no?” Amelia glared. “You’re not my—”
“Say I’m not your dad, and I’m turning this car around right now!” I barked.
Amelia sputtered while Bronte started choking on another laugh.
“And you!” I pointed at Bronte. “Just letting her talk about dirty little Ryan as if he even has a chance with someone like Amelia!”
I was parked, so I reached for my phone.
“Wait, what is he doing?” Amelia asked in a panicked voice.
“No idea,” Bronte said, obvious amusement in her voice.
“Yeah, hey, Frank? Yeah, I got a problem that needs taken care of.”
“MOM!” Amelia shrieked. “What the heck?”
“Oh?” On the other end of the line, Frank chuckled. “What sort of problem? You know if it’s a person, I may need a social security number, do a little background check.”
“Oh, that’s part of the problem,” I said through clenched teeth. “There’s this guy, and sure, I can get his social, shouldn’t be a problem—”
“MOM, DO SOMETHING!” Amelia yelled.
Bronte just yawned and stared down at her phone.
“YOU GUYS ARE SO LAME! DREW! I HELPED YOU! AND YOU BETRAY ME WITH ONE PHONE CALL!”
I held up my hand. “Shhh. Not-Dad’s speaking, squirt.”
Bronte shook in her seat and then started laughing so hard she had tears running down her gorgeous cheeks
“Well…” Frank sighed. “…sounds like you have things under control. Is that a teenager yelling at you?”
“It’s what they do.” I blew out a long, slow breath.
“You’re telling me,” he said in a tired voice. “Really, though, do I need to check this punk out? Why don’t you just scare him shitless?”
“He’s too stupid to be afraid!” I raged. “I could tell him I was going to cut his tongue out and feed it to a pig, and he’d probably burp and go, ‘We got pigs?’”
“Mom!” Amelia groaned. “Ryan isn’t that dumb!”
“If he can spell cat, I quit life!” I yelled back at her. “Plus, he has eyes!”
“EVERYONE HAS EYES!” she roared. “Mom, he’s crazy!”
“What did you say?” I hissed. “I’m not crazy. Hold on, Frank, I have a teenager to calm down.”
Frank chuckled again. “Yeah, good luck with that. Do you know how many grandkids I have?”
“Too many,” I grumbled. “Hey, saw Chase on TV. Pretty cool, he’s running for a seat in the Senate.”
Amelia’s eyes went wide. “Who’s he talking to?”
“Shh…” I hushed her. Then I whispered, “Mafia.”
“He’s kidding.” Bronte laughed.
“He’s not.” Frank and I said at the same time.
“Well,” Frank said, “good luck with that. Don’t be a stranger, and if you really need help, call me later. I got a few guys in Seattle. Would be a short trip.”
“Toward death,” I said cheerfully.
“Well, I meant to Portland, but sure, scare the teen shitless. Say something about dental records.”
I snorted. “What was that? You won’t even be able to identify him with his dental records?”
“Mom.” Amelia sounded so freaked out that I felt nothing but joy in my
