Coercion (28 page)
“Not all.” A glimmer of a smile danced on her lips, although her eyes remained sad. “Only the good-looking ones.”
Michael put his arm around her shoulders once again. “Naturally.” He paused. “Then how do you explain the incident with Rooney?”
Breeze wriggled in his arms, putting enough distance between them to give him a jab in the ribs. They were still laughing when, as if summoned, Rooney rode up next to them in his graduation present: a brand new Dodge Ramcharger with clumps of mud already clinging to the tires. “Hey,” he called through the open window. “My place tonight, right? Our last big blowout.”
“Last? I thought you were going to be around all summer,” Michael said.
Rooney winked. “Yeah, but I invited some girls from the incoming freshman class, and they don’t know that. They think I’m going away to be an admiral next week.” He beeped his horn and saluted as he drove off.
“Now
you’re
the one going to be an admiral, and for real.” Breeze’s gaze remained on the back of Rooney’s departing truck. “Who knew?”
“Admirals are in the navy.” He smiled. “I’ll be starting off as a general.”
“Did you already tell Rooney you’re leaving?”
Michael shook his head. “I figure you give that kid enough weed, he’ll never even know I’m gone.”
“Don’t say that.” She tugged at his jacket sleeve with a frown on her face. “You’re important to us.”
“And you both prove that by nearly sleeping with each other?”
Breeze gave Michael’s arm a slap. “Shut up about that already. Rooney was practically ready to throw himself in traffic that night. You forgiving him probably saved the guy’s life.”
“I do what I can.”
“I mean it, though, Michael.” Breeze took a deep breath. “We care a lot about you. Even if we’re clods who can’t show it.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “You’re not alone.”
Breeze heaved a sigh as she latched onto his belt buckle and led him to where her yellow Firebird was waiting. “Come on, you. I need to start ruining you for other women.”
“Too late.” His tone was easy but he felt anything but lighthearted. Breeze didn’t seem to notice the change coming over him as she busied herself with unlocking her car door.
Michael took advantage of her preoccupation and surveyed the crowd of students and families still milling beneath their umbrellas in the parking lot and on the field. All he could see were people, young and old, hugging and wishing each other good luck. He didn’t see anyone he’d ever remember.
http://www.lyricalpress.com/lux_zakari
Though Lux Zakari derives great glee from torturing her characters, rest assured they’ll always be better off for their agony. There’s a lot to be said for a bad romance—primarily how it often leads to a beautiful one.
She is currently working on a happy ending.
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