That night, I was having dinner with my father. It was a rare occasion because he often stayed late at the office. He sipped his red wine, and I, my water.
“So, Darce, how was your first day at school?”
“It was good,” I said, smiling. I remembered the way Dane stood close to me at my locker. I blushed and hid my face with my long dark hair before concentrating on my dinner.
My dad was super perceptive, though. He could read me like an open book. He had been paying more attention since my mom died.
“Oh, you’re blushing. Does that mean there’s a guy involved?”
“What? No! No guy,” I lied, filling my mouth with the pasta I had cooked when I got home after three and dad just before seven. I cooked every night now. My meals still weren’t as good as Mom’s, though. She was the best cook of us all.
“Darce, I know you. It’s okay. It would help if you made friends, even dated. But remember, these people are different than the ones back in Acacia Creek.”
“I know, Dad.”
“You have to be careful. You can’t have anyone getting too close and finding out about your past, our past.”
“I know.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful what you say and who you hang out with. It’s a small town, and rumors spread like diseases here.”
“I know.”
After dinner, I cleared the table while my dad went to sit in front of the TV in his area of the house downstairs. We each had our own areas to give each other space, and I loved it like that. Sometimes, my father could be difficult.
I couldn’t tell Dane about my past. He couldn’t find out what I had done or the truth about my father. And that was why I was reluctant to be close to him, for several reasons.
But Dane O’Connell was like an addictive drug—impossible to stay away from.
I found out the hard way the very next day.
I was sitting in English class like the day before, reading my book when Dane walked in with Ashton and two girls I didn’t know. Probably more groupies. I put my head down for a minute before I felt his presence beside me.
“D! Man, what are you doin’?” asked Ashton, who had just dumped his books and guitar case on a desk at the back of the room. He stared at Dane, who was standing next to my desk, flummoxed.
“I’m going to be sitting with Darcie today, okay?”
“But why?” blurted one of the blonde groupies. “You know she used to be a Creeker?”
I flinched. There it was—the use of my old town name that was like dog poo on the proverbial shoe around here. Creeker was short for Acacia Creek—the wrong side of the tracks. The town of have-nots.
That was when the whispers started.
They weren’t really whispers because they were loud enough that I could hear them clearly.
“Why is Dane sitting with her?”
“What’s going on there?”
“I heard they hooked up at the Circle that night.”
“Did they sleep together in the dunes?”
“Eww, having sex in the sand is so gross. You get sand everywhere.”
And then,
“I heard she killed someone and spent time in prison.”
I ignored them all, and so did Dane. He took the empty seat beside me.
“Rumors do not make a person. Besides, I like Darcie. She’s cool once you get to know her,” defended Dane. I smiled inwardly at his defense of me. But he didn’t have to do that.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“What? I can sit where I want. This seat isn’t taken, is it?”
“No, it’s not that.” I picked up my book and held it closer to my face, trying to concentrate.
“What is it, then?”
I shook my head. Why did he always have to be so close? Why couldn’t he leave me alone?
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“Why? As they said, I’m a Creeker. I’m bad news for someone like you.”
“I don’t care about all that. Your past is your past for a reason. You’re none of those things they said you are.”
I glared at him, shutting my book. “How do you know?”
He let out a breath. It seemed he was figuring out if he should say what was on his mind.
“My mom said she met your dad at a bar in town.”
That was news to me. my eyes widened. “What?”
“You didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “No. My dad is secretive, especially about his personal life. Especially since my mom died. It’s like he doesn’t want me to think he’s cheating on my mom. But I don’t care. He told me to be happy, make friends… date. And so should he.”
He nodded, taking it all in. “Anyway, she said he was a lovely man. Very charming and intelligent, but seemed secretive, like you said. He said he was here for a fresh start.”
I took in his words too.
“So, they’re not like dating, are they?” The horrifying thought settled in my stomach, heavy like a stone. I hoped they weren’t. That would probably mean I couldn’t see Dane.
“I don’t know, maybe. But I told her that she couldn’t. Not him.”
I looked at him, surprised. “Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I like you, Darcie. If they dated, then it might not be good for us to be together.”
I looked out the window and mumbled, “But we’re not together.”
“What did you say?”
“We shouldn’t be together. Tell your mom she’s free to date my dad if she wishes. I’m glad they’re happy.”
I went back to my book and willed him to leave me alone.
“Ugh. But Darcie, you don’t get it. I want to be with you. I told her no, okay? I want to take you to the Halloween Ball.”
I stared at him again. “What? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? I need a date. I don’t want to go with anyone else.”
I had had enough. Why didn’t he get my message? I stood and packed up my books, even though the lesson wasn’t over yet, or the bell hadn’t rung.
“Where are you going?”
“Away. Anywhere but here. please leave me alone, Dane.”
And then I walked out, muttering to the teacher that I felt sick. No one but Dane cared.