Free From Gods by Mary Ting

tongue? If you want to make me jealous, don’t dance.”
    Skylar felt her face burn, knowing he knew what she was trying to do, and from his rude comments. “I wasn’t.”
    “Uh, huh…you can keep saying that to yourself. I’m not buying it.”
    “And I don’t belong in a naughty corner,” she added.
    “We’ll see about that.”
    With an infuriated sigh, Skylar’s eyes fell in the same line as Mason’s gaze, noting her dress had gathered up, showing more of her thighs than it should. His eyes moved up to hers again with a slight flush on his cheeks, and he turned away and stood up. His obvious stare made Skylar hot. It had almost the same effect as if he had run his hand up her thighs. She felt her face flush too, knowing that he took notice of her, but she couldn’t help but smile inwardly because he found her attractive enough to look at.
    Skylar watched him enter his side of the car, but just before he entered, she saw him sweep the perimeter with his eyes, as if he was making sure no one was around. Maybe he didn’t want to be seen with her? Mason started the car, pressed the gas pedal, and took off. His hands held tightly onto the steering wheel without a word for several blocks.  Finally, he spoke. “Would you like to hear some music?”
    “Umm…no thanks. You can turn it on if you’d like,” Skylar replied, trying to sound polite. She didn’t know why her heart was beating with nervousness. He was just taking her home and not on a date. He didn’t answer; instead he looked over, gave her a quick sideways smile, and looked straight ahead.
    Skylar didn’t tell him her address or how to get to her place, but oddly, he was going the right direction. She didn’t bother to ask how, though it was creeping her out. Instead, she kept her eyes glued to the familiar streets and the street signs, to make sure he wasn’t taking her anywhere else. Finally unable to hold in her curiosity, she had to know. “Do you know where you’re going?”
    “Yes, I picked up my brother at your cousin’s house.”
    “You did?”
    “The night when you almost drowned, my brother and Kayla took you home in Kayla’s car. He left his car at the beach and asked me to pick him up at Kayla’s house.”
    “Oh.” Now it all made sense. She began to relax, breathing again with ease. “I never got to thank you for saving me.”
    He gave a short laugh and a quick grin, still looking ahead. “Which time? I mean…tonight?”
    Which time? Was there more than one time? “Yes, tonight. Do you remember throwing a guy across the room?”
    “Yes. He deserved it.” Mason sounded angry.
    “And were you at the beach?” She didn’t know why she asked this question. It just slipped out.
    “Nope,” he said flatly, gluing his eyes straight ahead. “Why would you ask that?”
    “Yes…of course. Sorry. Cause I could’ve sworn I saw—”
    “You were delusional. It happens when people are in the state of unconsciousness. But thanks for thinking of me before you almost drowned.”
    What! I didn’t want to think of you. You would be the last person on Earth I would think of before I died . And how did he know I was unconscious? When Kayla found me, I wasn’t. Skylar blazed with anger. Being that his tone was flat, she didn’t know if he was being serious or if he was joking. Regardless, he was arrogant and rude. Not knowing what to say, she didn’t respond. Instead, she looked out the window.
    Hot puffs of irritated breath Skylar blew out her mouth fogged a small section of the window. After she wiped it clear, she focused on the dim streetlights, thinking this was going to be one heck of a long ride.  It was only a twenty-minute drive, but to Skylar, it felt like an hour.
    When he pulled onto their street, it was dark. It was close to midnight, and the streets in their neighborhood had hardly any street lamps. Relieved she was home, she couldn’t get out fast enough.
    Skylar unlocked the seatbelt and pushed the door handle