“Expect what? To sell something, after five years of trying?”
“Look, I don’t want to fight you on this, but driving across country to figure out your life is crazy. We’re talking three thousand miles. And my beautiful blond girlfriend who always seems to attract the creepiest of men when out alone.”
Samantha laughed, staring out the window to the street below. “Yeah… Well, I’ll keep the doors locked.” She walked toward the closet and pulled more clothes from the hangers. “Besides—my mind’s made up.”
“Sam…”
“I’ll be fine. Really.”
“Why don’t you drive with Tristan? He’s leaving tomorrow, and I’m sure he could use the company.”
“Ha!”
“What’s so funny?”
“I am NOT driving with your brother.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’d rather eat poop.” It was a gross analogy, but it was mostly true. “I can think of a million other things I’d rather do than be held hostage with Tristan. It’s bad enough you invited him to the wedding.”
Renee laughed. “He’s my brother. Or course he’s going to be there. And he’s not that bad. He’s had a rough year—I think he’s finally growing up.”
“Tristan Montgomery, grow up? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Good. I’ll have him pick you up tomorrow at ten.”
“No no no, that’s not what I—”
“I have to go.” Renee sing-song yelled into the receiver, “Be ready by ten! I LOVE YOU!”
CLICK.
Samantha looked at her cell, her eyes bulging with shock and terror before redialing the number.
The line went quickly to voice mail. “Hi, this is Renee. You know what to do. BEEEEEP.”
“Shit!” Samantha hung up the phone. An image of Tristan popped into her mind and she closed her eyes. “Like hell!” She moved across the room, pulled her chair from her desk, and sat down upon it. If Renee wasn’t going to answer, she’d be forced to send an email.
Renee,
I’m sure you’re expecting this email. I mean, why wouldn’t you, after dropping that bombshell of a bad idea in my lap? Tristan? Really? REALLY?
And since when is he “Not that bad?” It’s hard to believe those words actually came from your mouth!
Samantha paused in her typing, drumming her fingers on the mouse pad before continuing.
Tristan Montgomery was that guy. The guy every girl wanted and every guy wanted to be. The boy who made even grown women blush when he walked into a room.
He was also the guy who was handed everything on a silver platter. The one who worked hard for nothing, yet had everything. Tristan was everything she stood against, yet girls used to befriend Renee just to get closer to him.
Everyone except Samantha.
In fact, Renee and Samantha’s relationship had blossomed over their mutual hatred for Tristan Montgomery. Samantha was the only girl outside of Renee who didn’t like him. No, correction, didn’t LOVE him.
There wasn’t anything in particular about Tristan that left a bad taste in Samantha’s mouth, it was everything. The fact that teachers turned a blind eye so he could stay on the varsity football team. The fact that he said nothing, did nothing, was no more than a high school jock, yet every girl in high school bowed at his feet.
You’re worried about my safety Renee, and you think driving with Tristan would make things better? He had his license suspended senior year for too many speeding tickets. He jumped off your parents’ roof and into your neighbor’s backyard pool on a dare! This isn’t a guy who makes the best decisions regarding safety. He doesn’t think about how his actions could affect other people.
She closed her eyes as memories flooded her. Tristan was a risk-taker and never thought about the consequences of tomorrow. He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, without thinking about the future. And he was the only boy who held one of Samantha’s firsts outside of Steven.
She cringed.
He was the only part of Samantha’s life she couldn’t share with her best friend… and that scared the shit out of her.
3
Chapter Three
Six years earlier
Samantha adjusted the pillow behind her head, glancing up the stairs at the sound of Renee’s cough rattling from the loft of the cabin. She cringed at the wicked sound of it, certain the Montgomerys should come home from their party to take her to the hospital—but as soon as she sat up to reach for her phone, the dull snore of her sleeping friend came drifting down to comfort her.
She smiled, sure it would keep her up all night, and picked back up her book. She’d been reading all week, catching up on her ever growing list. This was their last trip before junior year, but poor Renee was stuck in bed with a bout of pneumonia. Fevers, body aches, and a prescription for antibiotics and rest. The trip had become remarkably uneventful as a result, but Samantha really didn’t mind. She was just happy to be away. From chores, too much heat…and Steven.
Mostly Steven.
The pressure to become his girlfriend was beginning to annoy her. He’d been at her house almost daily, hinting about needing an answer before school started. It was no secret that he loved her. He’d confessed to as much in front of their entire sixth grade band class. Everyone knew how he felt, but until now they’d been just friends. The best of friends.
Samantha loved Steven with all her heart, but she didn’t like him that way. He was her best friend outside of Renee—and she was determined to keep it like that. Dating him would only mess things up. But how could she tell him no without hurting him? To say no, and not have him push her away completely? It was a catch twenty-two in the worst kind of way. No matter which way she said it, her words would be a rejection. A rejection she wasn’t sure their friendship could recover from.
She nestled down in the couch, determined to get lost in her book and not think about tomorrow, but bits of sun steamed in through the tall picture window, reminding her that the day was almost over. That they’d be returning home in the morning. To school, to homework, and big fat decisions.