Horseplay (Hickville High #2.5) by Mary Karlik

Excerpt #3:

Freeze my ass off or not, I had to get out of the cab and away from him.

The cool air whooshed in as soon as I opened the door. The sting felt good on my face. As I headed for the pebbled bank, I heard the driver’s side door slam. The wind whipped through my sweater and hugged my bare legs, making me wish once again I’d taken the time to grab a jacket before school. I stood facing the water and waited for Ty to catch up.

Over the years, I’d had countless imaginary arguments about that day in the seventh grade. I had mentally practiced the perfect response with which to inflict the same emotional pain I’d felt. This was my chance… and yet words failed to come to me.

Ty stood next to me with the collar of his Carhartt turned up, blocking the cold. “Penny, get back in the truck.”

I faced him and let the wind blow my hair across my cheeks. “I needed you, Ty. You were supposed to be there.”

“I know—but Penny—”

“You were cruel.”

“I was stupid. I tried to call you. I tried to apologize, to make it up to you, but you’d closed the door.”

“So it’s my fault?”

“No, I’m not saying that.” He gave an exasperated sigh. “Christ, Penny, we were thirteen. I didn’t know what to do. I was stupid.”

“Still, you said you couldn’t be friends with me.” Five years of pent-up emotions poured from me. My heart pounded with anger and ached with loss. My chest felt hollow and empty, yet my muscles were tense with frustration. Tears warmed my half-frozen face as they traveled down my cheeks and dripped from my chin.

Ty grabbed my shoulders. “I called you, Penny, I called you over and over. You shut me out.”

I pulled from his grasp and slapped him hard across the face. His gaze bored into mine; his jaw was clenched so tight his lips trembled. His eyes glistened, and I was glad he’d felt the sting I’d inflicted. I waited for him to react, half afraid he was going to slap me back, half expecting him to walk off and leave me freezing in the middle of nowhere.

Instead, he grabbed me and pulled me to him. I wanted to hate him. I tried to push him away. He folded his arms tighter, crushing me against his chest and rocking me while I released a gut-wrenching, soul-cleansing, full-out sobfest.

Ty pressed a kiss against my hair and spoke softly in my ear. “I’m sorry. Sorry about us, your mom…” His voice hitched and I knew he was struggling to keep from crying. I looked up at his face and saw the shimmer of unshed tears.

“At the funeral… I thought if I could just see you I’d be okay, but…”

“I was there.”

“I didn’t see you.”

“I know. I didn’t want to upset you, so I slid in the back and left as soon as the mass ended. I was there.” He cupped my face with his hands. “I was there.” He pressed his lips softly against first my left cheek— “I was there,” and then my right— “I was there,” until he finally captured my mouth.

Join Mary Karlik and the Killion Group as we celebrate the release of Horseplay with this 16 stop Book Blast from March 21^st to 25th. Included in this book blast is exclusive content, a spotlight of the book, and a giveaway. One GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card!