Free The Revealed by Jessica Hickam Page B

badly of someone that way.
    “Forget it. It doesn’t matter.” I begin pushing through the stalks of grain. “I just want to go home.”
    “Whoa,” he says, chasing after me, “Lily, just hold up a second.”
    He grabs my arm. “I don’t think you’re a spoiled little rich girl.”
    “Please,” I jerk away from him.
    He holds fast. “I don’t know where you even got that idea.”
    “I got it from you!” Now I’m just embarrassed. I never should have brought this up. I should have ended it before it began. Coming out here with him was a mistake.
    “Me? I—” he stammers, and realization fills his features. “Shit.” He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it back only to have it fall messily around his forehead. “That’s how you knew about the smoking. Are you talking about high school? How did you even hear about that?”
    “I heard you and Micah talking after the election announcement,” I grumble.
    “God, Lily.” He grips his neck as if he’s straining to find a way to justify his words.
    “I really don’t need you to explain.” I step back away from him. “It’s not like you were the only one with that opinion. But you’ll excuse me if I don’t want to be your friend.”
    “I had no idea what I was talking about,” he says, “I’m sorry, Lily, I’m really sorry. It was such a stupid—I just let myself get caught up in that shit in high school—all the gossip and the attention. It was wrong. I was wrong.”
    “High school wasn’t that long ago.”
    “It was for me,” he says. “It feels like a lifetime ago. And you’re right to hate that guy, but this one now, in front of you, wants a chance. A real chance.”
    “No.” I can’t help the suspicion. I can’t just let it go. “You could have any girl you could possibly want. Hell, you’ve had quite a few. I won’t just be the next in line because you’re charming.”
    Okay, that was a rude comment. And it makes him mad. I see the spark ignite in his eyes.
    “You’re the most-stubborn person I’ve met!”
    “You’re the most arrogant!” I fire back. “I see the way people look at you. More importantly, I see the way you look back.”
    “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Who are you to judge how I handle the attention around my family?”
    “I think out of anyone on this planet, I’m the most qualified, actually.”
    “Oh, right, because you handle all of this so well. You hide inside of yourself so afraid of people actually seeing you.”
    “Seeing me? Not everyone can be as good-looking as you, Kai. Not everyone gets to prance around the streets and be adored. You have no idea what it’s like to be—”
    I falter, not just because I can’t say the word. Ugly. But because our faces are so close it’s dangerous. The tips of our noses are a breath away. I can see every small fleck of gold within his irises. My breath hitches.
    I want to reel back inside myself, unable to believe I lost control like that. I’ve never lost control of myself around someone besides my parents.
    His gaze holds me tighter than any embrace. “You have no idea.” He swallows roughly, his jaw stiff and clenched. His words become strained. He’s barely keeping his cool like he wishes he could grip my arms and give me a good shake or two. His eyes register every inch of my face. “You have no idea how I see you. Everything I said about you was a lie. I was lying.”
    I can’t move. So much as a twitch and I think our shoulders would collide. I’m not sure what would happen if we touched. My handle on control is so slight as it is.
    And he’s imploring me with his eyes to let go and break. He’s begging me to snap and give in to him.
    I don’t snap. I don’t allow my guard to fall entirely. But I do lower it an inch or two. “One more chance,” I breathe.
    He nods, and it sends butterflies rattling around in my stomach.
    Cars.
    I hear cars pulling over the dirt.
    “Great,” I mutter, snapping out of the