Cuts Run Deep by Amber Garza Read Free Book Online

C’mon, give it a try.” Moving closer, he splayed his hands on my car, caging me in.
    My heart kicked up speed. “No, I wouldn’t have said yes and I definitely wouldn’t use a sexy voice. Now back off before I scream.”
    He shoved off the car, an apologetic look in his eyes. “Sorry. I was just teasing you.”
    “And you proved my point.” Yanking my backpack forward, I unzipped the front pocket and fished inside for my keys.
    “Hey.” Jackson placed his hand over mine, and it stilled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this play meant so much to you. I’ll take it more seriously, okay?”
    His words sounded so sincere that I wanted to believe them. I wanted to gather them up and lock them in a glass jar because I knew they were elusive, like fireflies. Tonight they were here for the taking, but who knows where they would fly off to tomorrow.
    “Really?” I didn’t bother masking my skepticism.
    He threw up his hands. “Promise. Tomorrow I’ll be on my best behavior.”
    With my hand free, I snatched out my keys. They dangled from my fingertips, the metal clanging together. “Just tomorrow?”
    He chuckled. “Man, you don’t let people off the hook very easily, do you?”
    “Nope.” I narrowed my eyes.
    “With that attitude, you’re lucky you’re hot.” He smiled.
    My cheeks flushed despite my best efforts. No guy had ever called me hot before. I wasn’t exactly the “hot girl” type. Glancing down at my black skirt, ripped fishnets and Doc Martens, I wondered if Jackson was messing with me. Regardless, the last thing I wanted to do was encourage him in any way or make him think I liked when he called me that. “I need to get home,” I mumbled.
    “Hey.” His index finger tucked under my chin. “I meant what I said.”
    Confused, I pursed my lips. Was he saying that he meant I was hot, or that he meant he would take the play more seriously? I wanted to ask him to clarify, but the words died on my lips. His finger was still on my skin, and my flesh heated up at his gentle touch. Trembling, I stood unmoving like a statue.
    “I told you I would prove that I’m your Romeo, and I will.” His finger left my chin, and he took a step back.
    I sucked in a ragged breath as he walked off. While I watched him make his way toward his car parked at the edge of the lot, I worried about the effect he had on me. No guy had ever made me feel this way. And I wondered if he’d be my undoing.

Jackson
     
    Piper was hard to break down, let me tell you. The flirty banter that had worked for me for years didn’t work on her. Not at all. In fact, it’s safe to say that it turned her off. I was starting to think she hated me, so I knew I had to do something fast.
    There was something about her. Something special.  I didn’t want to screw up my chance.
    And I knew that Romeo was my one chance. My only hope of making Piper mine.
    After that night in the parking lot, I knew it even more. The passion she felt for the play was evident in her eyes as she spoke. They shone under the dim lighting of the sky, sparkling. I’d never really understood that phrase before. I mean, didn’t eyes always sparkle when light caught them? I figured it was because of all the moisture. But when Piper told me how much playing Juliet meant to her, I saw what people meant by sparkle. It wasn’t a physical sparkle so much as an intensity.
    And that’s why I decided to make a change. It was time to set aside my pride and dive into the part of Romeo. No more joking or goofing off. No more trying to steal kisses or touches during practice. I told Piper I’d be more like Romeo, and that’s what I needed to do.
    So I started studying the script every night, working on my lines and perfecting my delivery. At first it kind of sucked, and I prayed there would be a payout at the end of it all. I mean, it would be pretty shitty if I went through all of this and Piper still didn’t want anything to do with me. She was the reason for it,