Veer (Clayton Falls #2)(2)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Yeah. Maybe it’s the accent or something.”

“My accent?” I asked, surprised that he wasn’t talking about my appearance. With my long dark hair and at least five inches on her, Molly and I definitely couldn’t pass for twins.

He turned to look at me. “You don’t think you have an accent?”

“It’s not as bad as yours.” Molly had made fun of my Boston accent more than a few times over the years, and I’d always thrown the taunting right back at her.

“I don’t have an accent,” he said indignantly, as if I’d slapped him.

“Okay, whatever you say, Mr. Southern Drawl.”

“Now I remember why I hate northerners,” he grumbled. His once friendly expression darkened.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. You’re all the same.”

I coughed. “Please tell me you’re joking.” Great, I hoped I wouldn’t be dealing with the northerner junk all summer.

“No. I’m just wondering what made you come down here. You’re going to be a fish out of water.”

“Are you done?” I wasn’t going to listen to more of his condescending attitude.

“Maybe. Are you?”

“What? All I did was mention you had an accent too.”

“Mr. Southern Drawl? That’s just mentioning it?”

“Okay, let’s just agree to drop it. No more talking about accents.”

“Fine by me.” He nodded. “We’ll be there soon, anyway.”

“Good. I just want to get to Molly’s.”

We rode in silence. I still wasn’t sure how I’d managed to set him off, but evidently he was sensitive about the accent thing.

I glanced over at Gavin a few times, but he just stared stiffly straight ahead. For such a good looking guy, he had a horrible personality.

He pulled off the interstate and onto a small highway. With no lights or any other cars, there was something kind of eerie about it.

I felt the urge to break the silence. “You’re not from here, right?” I remembered Molly mentioning something about it.

“Nope.”

Add wonderful conversationalist to his long list of good traits. “Is there any reason why you’re being rude to me?”

He laughed dryly. “Rude to you? I’m giving you a ride, aren’t I?”

“Sure, but you’ve barely said two words.”

“I’ve said more than two.”

“Oh, does everything have to be literal with you?”

“Does everything have to be a question with you?” His hand tightened on the wheel. “Listen, you’re Molly’s friend, so I’m taking you to her place. I never agreed to provide any entertainment.”

“Okay…”

I took out my cell again. This time I had service.

Molly picked up right away. “Becca? Hey, where are you?”

“I’m almost there, but I had to get a ride from someone. I’ll fill you in when I get to your house.”

“Wait, who gave you a ride?”

“Gavin.”

“You’re with Gavin? What happened?”

“I’ll tell you later.” I didn’t want to go into details with Gavin listening. He’d probably find another reason to argue with me.

“Okay, see you in a few minutes.”

I hung up, replacing the phone in my bag. Gavin never glanced over.

Gavin drove around a square that looked as if it came straight out of a 1950s sitcom or something. The stores still appeared to be mostly mom and pop places. I hadn’t thought those stores were still around. We moved into a residential neighborhood, and I looked out the window rather than at Gavin. Rows of modest, but well-kept homes lined the streets.

He pulled into a driveway, and before I could even register we’d arrived, Molly had my door open.

“Becca!” I jumped down and let her pull me into a hug. I heard some light laughter and looked past Molly to find her husband.

“You must be Ben.”

“Yes, and you must be Becca. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He smiled warmly, and I understood immediately what it was about him that appealed to Molly. He had such a genuine feel about him, like what you saw was what you got. I prided myself on being able to read people. Unfortunately, I couldn’t read Gavin at all.

As soon as Molly released me, Ben went to help Gavin pull out my bags.

“Okay, now do you want to explain to me why you’re with Gavin?” Molly asked.

“My car broke down.”

“Old Faithful broke down? Never.” She failed to suppress a smile as she spoke of my beat-up, old VW bug. I refused to give it up no matter how often parts broke. Of course, it had almost stranded me in the middle of nowhere. It might have been time to reconsider.

“And Gavin just happened to come up on you…”

“Come on, Mol, would I ever turn my back on a damsel in distress?” There was an edge to his words, and I didn’t know how much of it was sarcasm and how much was hurt.

Molly brushed off his comment. “Well, thanks. Did you call for a tow truck or should I?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks, man,” Ben said politely. I knew there was no love lost between the two of them. Gavin hadn’t been happy when Molly decided to make things permanent with Ben.

“All right. Good night then.”

“Thanks.” I realized I hadn’t said it yet.

“You’re welcome.” He actually smiled at me before getting back in his dark green SUV. I’d originally thought it was black, but in the light I could see its true color. There was something genuine about the smile that made me wonder if the rudeness was just a knee jerk response.

Chapter Two

Gavin

Becca’s scent lingered in my Yukon as I pulled away from Molly and Ben’s house. Something about that last look she gave me—the small thank you—threw me off. I’d been a jerk to her, and yet she’d still bothered to say thank you. It didn’t fit. It was like her bags: they were all worn and mismatched. They matched her car, but not her. I doubted I’d ever figure her out, but I shouldn’t have cared.

What was it about the girl that I couldn’t get her out of my head? From the north and just in town for the summer, she was the opposite of what I needed in my life. The last northerner I’d fallen for had pummeled my heart into something barely recognizable. I refused to even think about Dawn.

I was running late, but I could still make it to poker night if I went straight over to Matt’s house. I figured a night with the guys was exactly what I needed. Maybe it would at least get me to stop thinking about Becca. I needed to forget her.