Free The Darkest Lie by Pintip Dunn Page B

question.”
    The crowd titters. Justin’s face turns the shade of a day-old bruise. By outward appearances, the former football player should have the upper hand. Despite his bulk, he could be an Abercrombie model, while Sam’s sweatshirt is torn, and his moon-like glasses slide down his nose. But none of that matters right now.
    â€œCome on, CeCe.” Sam holds his hand out to me. “Let’s go.”
    I take his hand, and he leads me out of there, away from the sea of unblinking eyes.

Chapter 11
    We stride from the bonfire, and at first the adrenaline of what Sam did propels me forward. He faced my biggest bully—and got the best of him. We’re walking away, with Justin looking like the fool, not me.
    Not me. It’s always been me. How could it possibly not be me?
    And then the fear settles in, wraps around my stomach, and jumps my heart forward a few beats. Because if I know Justin at all, there will be repercussions. Big ones. Ones I’m not sure I’m ready for.
    â€œI don’t have a car,” Sam says, pulling me from my thoughts. We’ve crossed half the lawn, and more mud has mucked its way up my legs, so I feel like I’m wearing tights after all. Sludge tights. “Some knight in shiny armor, right? Whisking you off, without anywhere to take you.”
    â€œIt’s okay.” I fish my car keys out of the pocket in my dress. “I drove tonight.”
    We walk to the long line of cars parked on the gravel driveway. I’m not sure why. I can’t leave yet since I’m Alisara’s ride, but at least it gets me away from the party.
    We reach my car, all the way at the end, and I unlock the doors, grab some paper towels, and begin cleaning the mud off my legs. I finish an entire leg before I realize Sam’s staring. My pale flesh gleams in the moonlight, and with my foot propped on the running board, the short dress reveals more than I want of my thigh.
    I stiffen, and my mom’s topless photo floats through my mind. Her sunset hair, the round, heavy breasts. So this is the way it’s going to be, even with him?
    Something hot and fierce moves through my body. All I wanted from this year was to be left alone. Maybe meet a guy who likes me for me. No such luck. My mom’s in the grave, but she’s still here. Still messing things up for me.
    I drop my foot to the ground. “So that’s why you stood up for me, huh?” The laugh scrapes out of my throat. “You wouldn’t be the first. Everyone says we look alike, you know. So if you’re wondering? Yeah, I can confirm that’s exactly how I look topless.”
    â€œCeCe, I’m not interested in you like that.” His Adam’s apple jumps in his throat. “I mean, I am, but your mom has nothing to do with it . . .”
    He trails off, and I yank the hoodie off my shoulders. “Go ahead. Look all you want. Apparently, my boobs are public property, since the whole world’s seen my mom’s.”
    To his credit, Sam keeps his eyes on my face. “I saw the photo, but only for a second. I didn’t stare at it. I sure as hell didn’t get off on it. The only thing I thought was how it would affect you.”
    The hoodie droops from my hands, and I toss it on the trunk. Sam takes off his sweatshirt, too, and throws it next to mine. I realize how warm I’ve gotten. Whether it’s from the bonfire or the confrontation with Justin, my skin’s hot and sticky. Sam probably feels the same way.
    The anger flees as quickly as it came. Sam’s on my side. He didn’t do anything wrong, but I leaped to conclusions. Maybe there are nice guys left in this world, after all. Maybe all the nice ones, I just manage to drive away.
    â€œWhy did you help me out back there?” I mumble.
    â€œI may be the new guy at school, but I’m not oblivious.” His voice stumbles, as if it’s on uneven ground. But like the boy on the