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and leaned over the seat.
    “And who are you?” Sierra asked.
    “Anton McKay.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Our cousin Hayden is up there with the little cousins.”
    “How many McKays are there?”
    Kyler tapped his fingers. “On the bus? Me, Anton, Hayden, Eliza, Liesl, Peyton, Shannie, Gib, Braxton, Miles. So ten.”
    “Holy shit.”
    Boone laughed. “There are at least that many McKay kids that don’t go to school yet.”
    Sierra blurted, “So am I related to you?”
    He shook his head. “I’m related to two branches of the McKay family tree because these guys’ grandmas were Wests. But you and me? Not even distant kin.”
    Thank God.
    When Boone flashed her that mega-watt smile she about died. Had she really said that out loud?
    “So what year are you?” he asked.
    “Sophomore. You?”
    “Senior. I didn’t see you around today.”
    “That’s probably because you were in the principal’s office,” Ky said with a snicker.
    “Don’t make me pound on you, boy. You remember the last time you mouthed off to me.”
    Ky scowled at him. “Didn’t hurt that bad.”
    Sierra bit back a smile.
    Anton rallied to Ky’s defense. “What’re you doin’ up here anyway, Boone? Finding third graders to beat up?”
    “Or smart-mouthed sixth graders. I’m makin’ conversation. Now turn around or I’ll tell Mrs. Craftsman you were looking down Daphne’s shirt.”
    Anton blushed. But he turned around.
    “So how long have you been here?” Boone asked. “I haven’t seen you around town.”
    “Just since Saturday. We moved from Arizona.”
    “You here for good?”
    I hope not. “Probably.”
    Boone rested his forearms on his thighs and leaned closer. “You don’t seem too happy about that.”
    “It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t know anyone.”
    “You will soon enough, trust me. Half the school will wanna get to know you a whole lot better.”
    She wasn’t sure how to take that.
    The bus started to slow down. Boone tapped Ky on the shoulder. “You’ll make sure Sierra gets off at the McKay bus stop?”
    “Duh.”
    “The McKays have their own bus stop?” Sierra asked Boone.
    “The McKays could have their own bus .” Boone stood and slung his backpack over his shoulder, flashing that dimpled grin again. “See ya around, McKay.” On his way down the aisle he lightly tapped his younger cousins on the back of the head. They all complained, but she could tell they were happy to have his attention.
    Aware that Kyler’s and Anton’s eyes were on her, Sierra tried really hard not to check out Boone’s butt.
    Maybe this riding the bus home thing wouldn’t be so bad.

Chapter Six
    September…
    “Now that Sierra has started her second week at school and you have everything unpacked, what will you do this week?” Rielle asked him.
    “Thought I’d try to beat my high score on Grand Theft Auto,” he said with a perfectly straight face. “It’ll probably take more than a week, though.”
    “Oh.”
    “Then I’ll tackle Vision Quest. It’s a bitch to reach the tenth level, but once you do it’s worth it because the reward is an orgy. In full color. Better than porn. Or so I’ve heard.”
    Rielle’s eyes widened. “Sounds…interesting.”
    “It’s awesome to finally have all this free time. I’ve always wanted to sleep in until noon.”
    “Noon?” she repeated. “That’s…”
    Gavin couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Gotcha.”
    She lightly smacked his arm. “Gavin Daniels, that’s just plain mean. As if I’d believe you’d lounge around all damn day playing video games. Aren’t you buying up squares of land and putting houses and hotels on them, monopolizing the market?”
    “But you did believe it, Miss Up-at-the-Buttcrack-of-Dawn-Every-Morning. I thought you knew me better than that.”
    “I do. You’ve blabbed all your secrets to me, remember? Since you’re constantly underfoot pestering me.”
    “No, I’ve withheld a few secrets. It adds to my manly