Tempting Faith (Indigo Love Spectrum) by Crystal Hubbard Read Free Book Online Page A

answer.
    “Dot’s a small town, Al,” Leland said. “Between the diner and the ding shop, you gotta know everybody’s business. Who’s Faith screwing? Jefferson Winslow?”
    “I’ll bet she’s doin’ Hardy Ketchum,” Ritchie said. “He’s a senior, he’s always had game and he’s got a thing for black girls. Remember when he got busted last year, driving ninety miles an hour into Comfort to see that black girl at Stonewall High?”
    “He got some comfort, all right!” Leland laughed. “I’ve got a thing for hot girls, and little Faith Wheeler’s all grown up and fine! I’m gonna talk to her after the game.”
    Alex made a sound that was something between a laugh and a snort.
    “Something funny to you, man?” Leland asked coolly.
    “I’m just minding my own business,” Alex said through a long exhalation of smoke.
    “Ignore him,” Ritchie said.
    Leland lowered his voice, and muttered something to his friends, who laughed. “…loser…”
    Up until that word reached his ears, Alex had been able to ignore them. “What did you say?” he asked, his eyes pinned on Leland.
    “Nothing, man,” Travis said quickly. He put a hand on Leland’s shoulder. “Come on, guys, let’s show the Black Bears some support.”
    Travis began clapping, and other spectators joined in, but Leland was still trying to win a staredown with Alex.
    “I said you’re a loser, Al,” he taunted. “I thought you were rock bottom in high school, but you’re even more of a loser now. I’d kill myself if the highlight of my life was watching high school girls cheer at a football game.”
    “Guys, it’s freezing out here,” Travis said, again putting his hand on Leland’s shoulder. “Let’s go back to my house and catch a game on television.”
    Leland shook off Travis’s hand. “I was never scared of this stupid thug in high school and I’m not scared of him now.” Sneering at Alex, he said, “What are you doing for dinner today, Al? Gonna get drunk with your pa over a bowl of corn nuts at Buzzy’s Tavern? Or are you gonna be taking your ma to the vet’s office in Charleston to get stitched up, like last year?”
    Ritchie snickered, pretending to hide it behind his hand.
    “Quit it, Leland,” Travis urged. “We’re not in school anymore.”
    Alex calmly ground out the butt of his cigarette under the heel of his heavy black boot. “I never beat your ass for you in school because I didn’t want to get expelled. You might want to listen to your buddy Travis, because he’s right. We’re not in school anymore.”
    Leland laughed. Ritchie scooted a safe distance from him, no longer amused. Travis continued appealing to Leland, looking anxiously from his friend to Alex.
    “I’m not scared of Alexander Brannon,” Leland announced, drawing the attention of their nearest bleacher mates. “What’re you gonna do, Al? If you lay a hand on me, I’ll have you arrested for assault.”
    “Dang it, Leland, can we all just watch the game in peace?” Travis pleaded.
    Throwing off Travis’s hand, Leland stood and approached Alex. Leaning over him, he jabbed a finger at Alex and ranted, “I’m not backing down from Al Brannon. What’s he gonna do in front of all these people? Nothing! A loser like—”
    Leland’s fingertip brushed Alex’s forehead, and Alex heard nothing past that moment. The sudden rush of blood to his ears deafened him to Leland’s taunts, the roar of the crowd cheering Rafe’s latest touchdown pass and Travis’s attempts to pull Leland back.
    Alex’s left fist was connecting with Leland’s jaw before Alex even knew what he was doing. His blow sent Leland hurtling over the back of the bleachers, and his momentum carried him after him, and both young men fell eight feet to the frozen ground. On his hands and knees, Leland tried to scramble away, but Alex grabbed his ankle and yanked him back, flipping him over. Straddling him, Alex let his fists speak for him, finally answering every