Grabbing my backpack and some of my books, he paused. “You have your phone?”

I nodded before reaching to get it.

Then he shut my door.

Slinging both backpacks over his shoulder, he threaded our fingers again, and we walked to the parking lot. We were skipping school. Only a few students were in the hallway, but all of them watched us go, their eyes on our hands. No one stopped us.

We were pushing out the doors as a guy in a black bomber jacket came in the opposite way. He had long black hair, dark eyes, and a sneer that turned into a frown when he saw Ryan.

“Hey, man.” He stopped, his hand catching the door as Ryan let it go. “Where are you going?”

Ryan’s hand tightened over mine. His jaw clenched. “The fuck? You’re back here now?”

They knew each other; that was obvious. But there was something else there.

Cousins, maybe? Maybe they were family?

The guy ignored Ryan’s question, his dark eyes sliding over me. He’d been chewing on the end of a pen, and he took it out, pointing at me. “You’re skipping with a chick? Am I in an alternate universe? Did we switch roles?” He looked at Ryan. “Are you the badass rebel and I’m the basketball star?”

“Fuck off, Kirk.” But Ryan seemed to lose his heat. He started grinning and rolled his eyes. “You’re a pain in my ass.”

Kirk cocked his head to the side, popping that pen back in his mouth. “Tell me something different. You’ve been a pain in my ass since we were kids.”

Ryan laughed, and as Kirk held up a fist, Ryan met it with his free one.

They gave each other a sideways hug, and then Kirk nodded at me again. “Who’s the chick? I thought I was the only bad influence on you.”

Ryan lifted our linked hands, nodding toward me. “Mackenzie.”

I waited for more of an explanation. Apparently, so did Kirk. We both looked at Ryan, but his mouth was set in a firm line. That was all he had to say.

Good.

I hid a grin. There she was—my twin speaking in my head like she was with me.

Kirk nodded slowly. “Nice.” He held his hand up, his grin becoming wicked. “Nice to meet you, Mackenzie. I’m Ryan’s real best friend. The others are just posers.”

“Nice try.” Ryan rolled his eyes again, knocking Kirk’s hand down. “What are you doing here for real? You’re coming back?”

The rebel-smooth-Casanova look faded. “Yeah. My folks are divorcing. I’m surprised Nan didn’t tell you. I’m back with my dad.”

“Emily?”

“My little sister stayed with Mom. They’re down in Los Angeles.”

Ryan winced. “I’m sorry, man.”

“Yeah, well . . .” Kirk’s eyes found mine again. A mischievous spark lit there. “Looks like you’ve been busy.”

“It isn’t like that,” Ryan replied. His words seemed defensive, but his tone wasn’t. He spoke as if they were discussing the weather. “We’re taking off for the day.”

Kirk nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll watch over the posers.”

“Be nice to Tom!” Ryan yelled as his friend headed inside.

A hand in the air was Kirk’s response.

Ryan sighed, still watching his buddy.

“I’ll be fine.”

He looked at me, frowning slightly. “Hmm?”

I waved in the direction Kirk had gone. “If you want to go talk to him more, I can head out on my own.”

“I gave you a ride here.”

I shrugged. “I can call a car. That’s no problem.”

He shook his head. “No way. Kirk’s crazy. I’m not this golden boy who doesn’t do anything wrong. You’re my excuse to skip today. I’m actually using you.”

“Are you sure?”

He still seemed worried about his friend, but he nodded with a soft smile. Letting go of my hand, he threw his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “Let’s go before the bell rings and the guys run out here.”

We didn’t quite make it.

The bell rang as we were getting into Ryan’s truck. Students were heading out for lunch as we left the parking lot.

“So.” Ryan glanced over. “Where we headed?”

I couldn’t figure this guy out.

He’d wanted to skip school. I really was his excuse, but then his friend had shown up. The other guys he hung out with seemed like normal, loyal friends. Kirk seemed more dangerous.

Willow would’ve been all about Ryan until she learned that, until she got a glimpse that he wasn’t the pretty boy/good guy she’d made him out to be.

Looking at Ryan, another small thrill coursed through me.

Maybe he was the guy I would’ve gone after in the first place. Willow could step aside.

“I don’t care,” I told him. “Anywhere is good.”

We went to my house.

It wasn’t original, but it made sense. My parents were both in the city at their jobs. They’d be gone till seven or even eight in the evening, and there was no Robbie during the week anymore.

Ryan didn’t have the same emptiness at his place with his mom in and out, Peach coming home after school, and the staff.