Read The Promise of Amazing for Free Online

last year.”
    He nodded. “Everyone sort of knows everyone at Saint Gabe’s, right?”
    “Why’d you leave?” I asked.
    The light changed to green, but he hesitated, gripping the wheel, until an insistent beep from behind got his attention.
    “They kind of asked me to leave. Listen, why don’t we go somewhere? It’s not the kind of thing I want to talk about while I’m driving. I can’t see your face,” he said, giving me asidelong glance that made me bite my lower lip.
    “Okay,” I said, trying to calm the hormonal rush that had just surged through my body.
    “How about that coffee? We could grab one and hit the park. It’s warmish. Any place you like?”
    “Starbucks at South Cove?”
    He grunted.
    “I don’t do pretty coffee. I know this hole-in-the-wall deli with the best French roast around. You’ll love it.”
    “Sounds good,” I lied. Coffee—pretty, French roast, or otherwise—tasted like battery acid to me, but I didn’t feel like mentioning it. Especially after he told me about leaving St. Gabe’s. Awkward . I wasn’t sure if the torqued-up feeling in my gut was attraction or a warning sign. I just knew I didn’t want to go home yet.
    A tinny-sounding bell announced our entrance as we walked into the deli. The guy behind the counter beamed at Grayson.
    “My man, where’ve you been?”
    “Spiro, how’s it hanging?” Grayson answered, walking behind the counter to pour our coffees. Spiro clapped Grayson on the back, gave me a once-over, and whispered something to him. They both chuckled. Heat nibbled my earlobes. I waited, expecting some sort of introduction, but Gray handed me the to-go cup.
    “Cream and sugar’s over there if you need it,” he said,turning back to Spiro. I added enough cream and sugar to my coffee to make it taste like Häagen-Dazs and tried to catch what I could of their hushed convo. . . . Tough break . . . brinker . . . a friend . Grayson joined me at the counter to put a lid on his coffee. When I reached into my bag for some cash, he stopped me.
    “Wren, please, a coffee for a life. It’s the least I can do,” he said, pulling out a few bills from his pocket.
    “Thanks,” I murmured, concentrating on clipping my messenger bag closed. My brain completely fogged over with the way his voice wrapped around my name. I stuffed the feeling down. Whether he was hot or not, I still had no clue what he wanted from me.
    “So what should I tell Lenny if he asks for you again?” Spiro asked, handing Grayson the change. Gray shoved it in his pocket and ushered me toward the door. The bell jangled as he held it open for me.
    “Tell him I’m out of the game,” he said, the door closing behind us. When our eyes met, Grayson simply said, “Business.”
    Out of the game? Business? What sort of business could he possibly have at a deli?
    By the time we reached the park, the sun was already setting, casting an orange glow across the horizon. Gray found a spot by the boat pond, and we shuffled through fallen leaves toa vacant bench. Two squirrels quarreled noisily and chased each other up a tree. After their chattering died down, the park was silent except for the occasional footfall of passing joggers.
    “So how did you know where to find me?” I asked, determined to keep my thoughts straight.
    “I have my ways,” he said low, raising his eyebrows a bit. My expression must have showed the ripple of uneasiness I felt, because he laughed.
    “That sounded creepy, sorry. Your mom gave us her card. That’s how I got your last name. I asked around. Not exactly differential calculus,” he said, leaning back and slinging his elbow over the top of the bench so he was partially facing me. I huddled my hands around my coffee cup, letting the steam tickle my nose, wanting to know why he was “asked to leave” St. Gabe’s but not sure how to bring it up casually.
    “You’re too polite. Don’t you want to know why I got kicked out of school?” he asked.
    “I