The next night, Delaney snuck out of her bedroom window for the first and last time of her life. She could have asked Henry to use his car, and he probably would have let her, but she didnt want to ask him for anything. She didnt want to tell her parents where she was going, who she was going to be with, or what time shed be home. She didnt have a plan, just a vague idea of doing something shed never done before. Something other eighteen year olds did. Something reckless and exciting.

She curled her straight blond hair on big fat rollers and put on a pink sundress that buttoned up the front. The dress reached just above the knee and was the most daring thing she owned. The straps were thin and she didnt wear a bra. She thought she appeared older than her age, not that it mattered. She was the mayors daughter and everyone knew how old she was anyway. She walked all the way into town in pair of huarache sandals and carrying a white cardigan. It was a warm Saturday night, and there had to be something going on. Something shed always been afraid to do for fear of getting caught and disappointing Henry.

She found that something outside the Hollywood Market on Fifth Street where she stopped to call Lisa from a pay phone. She stood beneath a weak light screwed into the front of the brick building. “Come on, she pleaded into the receiver she held to her ear. “Meet me.

“I told you, I feel like my head is going to explode, Lisa said, sounding pathetic with a bad summer cold.

Delaney stared at the metal numbers on the face of the phone and frowned. How could she rebel by herself? “Baby.

“Im not a baby, Lisa defended herself. “Im sick.

She sighed and glanced up, her attention drawn to the two boys moving across the parking lot toward her. “Oh, my God. She hung her sweater over one arm and cupped her hand around the receiver. “The Finley boys are walking toward me. There were only two other brothers who had worse reputations than Scooter and Wes Finley. The Finleys were eighteen and twenty and had just graduated high school.

“Dont make eye contact, Lisa had warned, then lapsed into a coughing fit.

“Hey there, Delaney Shaw, Scooter drawled and leaned one shoulder against the building beside her. “What are you doing out by yourself?

She glanced into his pale blue eyes. “Looking for fun.

“Huh huh, he laughed. “Guess you found it.

Delaney had graduated from Lincoln High with the Finleys and found them slightly amusing and somewhat dense. Theyd kept the school year interesting with false fire alarms or pulling down their pants to show their very white butts. The Finleys were big on mooning. “What did you have in mind, Scooter?

“Delaney—Delaney— Lisa called into the receiver. “Run. Run as, fast as you can away from the Finleys.

“Drink a little brew, Wes answered for his brother. “Find a party.

Drinking “brew with the Finleys was certainly something shed never done before. “I gotta go, she said to Lisa.

“Delaney—

“If they find my body floating in the lake, tell the police I was last seen with the Finleys. As she hung up the receiver, an old convertible Mustang with rust spots and rustier pipes pulled into the parking lot, the twin beams spotlighting Delaney and her new friends. The lights and engine died, the door swung open, and out stepped six feet, two inches of bad attitude. Nick Allegrezza had tucked an “Eat the Worm T-shirt into a pair of old jeans. He looked Scooter and Wes over, then turned his gaze on Delaney. In the past three years, Delaney had seen little of Nick. He spent most of his time in Boise where he worked and attended the university. But he hadnt changed that much. His hair was still shiny black, cut short at his ears and the back of his neck. He was still breathtaking.

“We could have our own party, Scooter suggested.

“Just the three of us? she asked loud enough for Nick to hear. He used to call her a baby, usually right after hed thrown a grasshopper at her. She wasnt a baby now.

A frown pulled at the corners of his mouth, then he turned and disappeared into the market.

“We could go back to our house, Wes continued. “Our parents are out of town.

Delaney returned her attention to the brothers. “Ah ... are you going to invite anyone else?

“Why?

“For a party, she answered.

“Do you have any girlfriends you can call?

She thought about her only friend home sick with a cold and shook her head. “Dont you know some other people you can invite?

Scooter smiled and took a step closer. “Why would I want to do that?

For the first time, apprehension fluttered in Delaneys stomach. “Because you want to party, remember?

“Well party. Dont you worry.

“Youre scaring her, Scoot. Wes pushed his brother and knocked him aside. “Come back to our house and well call people from there.

Delaney didnt believe him and lowered her gaze to her sandals. Shed wanted to be like other eighteen-year-old girls. Shed wanted to do something reckless, but she wasnt up for a threesome. And there was no doubt thats what they had in mind. If and when Delaney decided to lose her virginity, it wouldnt be with one or both of the Finleys. Shed seen their pale butts—and thank you, no.

Getting rid of them was going to be difficult, and she wondered how long she would have to stand in front of the Hollywood Market before they finally gave up and went away.

When she looked up, Nick stood by the side of his car shoving a six-pack of beer in the backseat. He straightened, rested his weight on one foot, and pinned his gaze on Delaney. He stared at her for several long moments, then said, “Come here, princess.

Thered been a time when shed been both frightened and fascinated by him at the same time. Hed always been so cocky, so sure of himself, and so forbidden. She was no longer afraid, and the way she saw it, she had two choices: trust him or trust the Finleys. Neither option was great, but despite his nasty reputation, she knew Nick wouldnt force her to do something she didnt want to do. She wasnt so sure she could say the same for Scooter and Wes. “See you guys around, she said, then slowly walked to the baddest of the bad boys. The leap in her pulse had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the smooth rich tone of his voice.

“Wheres your car?

“I walked into town.

He opened the drivers side door. “Climb in.

She looked up into his smoky eyes. He wasnt a boy anymore, no doubt about it. “Where are we going?

He nodded toward the Finleys. “Does it matter?

It probably should have. “You arent going to take me on a snipe hunt and dump me in the forest, are you?

“Not tonight. Youre safe.

She tossed her sweater into the back and climbed across the console and into the passenger seat with as much dignity as possible. Nick fired up the Mustang, and the dash lights flashed to life. He backed out of the parking lot and pulled onto Fifth. “Are you going to tell me where were going now? she asked, excitement tingling her nerve endings. She couldnt believe she was actually sitting in Nicks car. She couldnt wait to tell Lisa. It was just too incredible.

“Im taking you back home.

“No! She turned toward him. “You cant. I dont want to go back there. I cant go back yet.

He glanced at her then returned his gaze to the dark road before him. “Why not?

“Stop and let me out, she said instead of answering his question. How could she explain to anyone, let alone Nick, that she couldnt breathe there anymore? It felt like Henry had his foot on her throat, and she couldnt get air deep inside her lungs. How could she explain to Nick that shed waited most of her life to break free of Henry, but now she knew that day would never happen? How could she explain that this was her way of finally fighting back? Hed probably laugh at her and think she was immature, like Henry and her mother did. She knew she was naive, and she hated it. Her eyes began to water, and she turned away. The thought of crying like a baby in front of Nick horrified her. “Just let me out here.