Runaways by Nicole Dykes
“I’m thirsty.”
“I’ll get you something.” I start to stand up from the couch, but Rae pushes me back down and stands up herself.
“I can get it. You want anything?”
“Sure. I’ll take a soda.”
Her bright smile is almost too damn pretty before she bounces out of the living room and into the kitchen. We walked to my house after school today after her driver dropped her off at Richard’s. She’s pushing it with her mom and her douchebag stepfather, but she didn’t want to go home.
And she said her mom has been fine with her hanging out at Richard’s after school as long as she keeps her grades up. Thankfully, Da Silva hasn’t fought her on it.
Not yet.
But if he knew she was at my house?Yeah, that would be a problem.
“What’s Rae doing in our kitchen?” Nash plops down on the couch next to me. He’s clearly in a shitty mood.
“Getting something to drink. Why?”
He looks back over the couch toward the kitchen and then turns back to me. “You need to be careful.”
I fight rolling my eyes. “I’m pretty sure I can take her. She’s feisty though.”
He slaps the back of my head. “You know what I mean. That girl is trouble. I can’t imagine her mommy knows she’s here right now.”
I scowl. “She thinks she’s at Richard’s. And it’s pretty well-known that we’re friends.”
“And I’m sure Da Silva isn’t thrilled about that fact.”
I fold my arms and slump back into the couch. “It doesn’t matter. We’re friends.”
“But that’s not even true.”
I turn to face him, dropping my hands to the side. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. I just mean . . .” He sighs and sits up a little straighter. “You like her.”
“Well, duh.”
I think he’s going to smack me again, but he just laughs. “No, idiot. You like her, like her. Like more than a friend. And that’s dangerous.”
I hate that he knows me so well. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, but I’m not stupid. I know I’m sixteen, and so is she. She’s used to nice, shiny things, and I barely make minimum wage working on weekends at the construction company where my brother works full-time.
She’s bound for big things, and with my meager beginning, I’ll be lucky to have a mediocre ending. But still . . . She’s my Rae.
“She’s not dangerous. She’s just Rae.”
“She’s a rich girl with an asshole for a stepfather. You’re going places, Law.”
I snort, and he grabs the back of my neck, not hard but making me focus. “I’m not leaving Texas.”
“No one said you have to leave Texas to be someone. And you’re getting that scholarship. You’re going to art school.” He leans his forehead against mine, still holding my neck. “You’re getting out of this town.”
I know he wants that for me, more than anything. He’s only five years older than me, but he’s the closest thing I have to a father. “Nash . . . Nothing is going to ruin that.”
He releases me and stands up. “Make sure. I know she’s pretty, but she’s not worth wrecking what you have. You’re too smart to let a girl mess up your head.”
“Jesus, tell me how you really feel.”
He looks like he wants to say more, but Rae bounces in happily with two sodas and a bag of chips. “I raided your pantry too.”
I take the soda from her and pop the top. “Sounds good to me.”
She sees Nash and offers a bright smile. “Hi, Nash.”
Please be nice to her. I never want to have to choose between Rae and Nash. “Hey, Rae. You two have fun.” He starts toward the front door, calling out over his shoulder, “But not too much fun.”
I roll my eyes and toss a Cheeto at him before he closes the door. Rae laughs and grabs a handful of the orange cheesy snack. “What was that about?”
I don’t want to lie to her, but I don’t want to repeat his words either. “Just Nash being overprotective, as usual.”
“I think that’s nice.” She slings her bare feet up on the coffee table, and my eyes spend a little too long lingering on her bare, tan legs. It’s the beginning of March, but she’s already in shorts.
“Yeah. I guess. But it gets annoying.”
“It’s good to have someone looking out for you.” She looks almost sad when she says this. I place my soda on the coffee table, turning my body to look at her.
“Is he still giving you shit?”
She doesn’t like talking about her stepfather. I’ve tried to get her to tell me more about him, but she doesn’t want to. The day she told me he constantly calls her a slut had me wanting to hunt his ass down in his office, where he likes to hide, and give him the beatdown of his life.
But I know that would only add to the negative Davis reputation. Nash has been in juvie a couple of times. Petty stuff. Stealing when my mom didn’t have enough money to pay the electric bill, let alone feed us, and getting into a few fights in school.
He’s really cleaned up since he got out the last time when he was almost seventeen. He graduated from high school and then started working construction. He put the utilities in his name and pays our rent. But it doesn’t leave much for him.
“It’s fine.”
She looks away, and I hate it. “Rae.”
Her eyes meet mine. “It’s fine. I still get to hang out with you and Tammy. I’m happy.”
“Except when you’re home.”
“Stop.” She puts her soda down and then lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m okay.”
“Has he hurt you?” I hate asking, but I have to.
“No,” she answers a little too quickly. “He’s just an ass. I’m okay.” She pivots her head up to look at me. “I want to ask you something.”
“No, I won’t marry you. Not yet.”
She rolls her eyes, sits up, and shoves my chest with a laugh. “How will I ever come back from this rejection?”
I laugh because when it’s just Rae and me, everything is easy. “What do you want to ask?”
“Will you go to the dance with me?”
I raise an eyebrow, looking at her like she’s insane. “What?”
“Come on. It’s the Spring Fling. You wouldn’t go to homecoming.”
“Because school dances are lame.”
She closes her hands together in front of her chest like she’s praying. “Please. Please, Lawson. Go to the dance with me.”
I chuckle at her over-the-top antics. “You’re a dork.”
“Duh.” She drops her hands, her eyes searching mine, and I realize how good she smells. Like citrus and mint. “Please?”
“Fine.”
She hugs me excitedly. “Yay!”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her in place, hugging her small body to mine and then reaching up and swiping her hair out of her eyes. “You’re so pretty.”
She laughs shyly at that. “I . . . Thank you.”
“I mean it, Rae. And you don’t have to beg me.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Because I’m pretty?”
“Because you’re Rae.” I lean in, my lips tentatively brushing over hers, waiting for permission.
When she presses against me with her hands resting on my chest, I give her, her first real kiss. I’ve been thinking about this moment since the day she told me she hasn’t kissed anyone else. I’ve wanted this. Dreamed about it.
But nothing fictional could ever live up to the real thing.
Her lips are soft, and she gives a part of herself to me as we kiss on the couch in my living room.
I’m starting to understand how Nash could think she’s dangerous.
Because she’s wrecked me. Just not in the way Nash was talking about.
She’s ruined me for anyone else.
