“I had the music too loud,” he said. “I don’t usually run like that—it’s a good way to get hit by a car. I didn’t even look when I came out onto the main trail. I just . . .” He hesitated.

Layne held her breath. Her dad once told her the best way to get the truth out of a witness was to be patient enough to wait for them to tell you. Everyone likes to talk, he’d said. The trick is letting them talk long enough.

Gabriel glanced over, making a frustrated noise. “You ever just have to do something to get all the thoughts out of your head?”

Layne nodded. That, she understood. “So you ran four miles?”

He shrugged and stared out at the trees around them. “I had to get out of the house.”

The words rolled around in her head for a moment, and she could practically see a construction worker throwing a flag in her path. Proceed with caution.

She went with something safe. “I’m surprised you’re not saving all that energy for tryouts. They’re after school, right?”

He shook his head. “Not for me. You were right. Anderson caught on.”

Layne almost stumbled on the trail. “What do you mean, she caught on?” God, if her dad knew she’d fixed some kid’s test—especially the future felon’s—he’d have her off to an all-girls’ boarding school before she could explain herself.

Yeah, and what explanation would you give? Sorry, Dad. He was hot.

“Not you.” Gabriel’s voice was flat. “She just figured out I was cheating.”

“So you’re off the team? Are you suspended? Are you—”

“A week and a half. She gave me a week and a half to hand in perfect homework and take a unit test—myself. Then I can try out for the team, if I can pass.”

She stared at him. “But . . . that’s great! You can just do the work, and—”

“It’s not great.” His words could cut ice again. “I can’t even do the goddamn homework; I’m not going to pass the test.”

“But I can still help you—”

He put out a hand to stop her. “Yeah? Why?”

Breath fought its way into her lungs. “Because—because—”

His eyes were fierce. “What, you want to put some do-gooder activity on your transcript? Helped the resident fuckup pass a math test? Why do you even give a shit, Layne?”

She jerked back. His chest was rising and falling quickly, and she had a suspicion that if she put a hand against the front of his sweatshirt, she’d find his heart beating every bit as rapidly as hers. Sunlight was pouring through the trees now, and sweat crept along her neck.

Abruptly, he turned away, blowing out a long breath and running his hands back through his hair. “I’m sorry. This isn’t about you.”