Pleading the Fifth (The Lawsons #5)

Chapter 1

Chapter one

Lard Ass!

Beau

Fifteen years ago…

Being the new kid in school is hard enough. Being the new kid in school in a small town is even worse. I got bullied back in Portland, but here in Lilly Leaf Falls, it’s on a whole new level.

Being a tall, lanky nerd isn’t doing me any favors. Fifth graders are way meaner than you’d expect.

As I’m walking out of school, Jerry Adams comes lumbering over and knocks the stack of books out of my hand.

As I bend over to pick them up off the concrete, he says, “Oh, sorry, Stephenson. Looks like you should hold on tighter to your books.”

I don’t say anything because I know it’ll make things worse. Jerry loves a target who engages with him. I just try to grab everything as quickly as I can so that I can get out of here. So far, my home is the only place in this town I actually like.

Before I can walk away, a couple of Jerry’s friends join him, forming a small circle around me.

Crap.

Feeling like I have no other choice, I ask, “What do you want, Jerry?”

He grabs the comic that sat on top of my school books. “Maybe I’ll just take this.”

“Come on, Jerry,” I say, knowing I mowed lawns all summer to be able to buy all my comics. “Give it back.”

He takes a step toward me. “Are you going to make me, nerd?”

Although he and I are about the same height, Jerry has got a good fifty pounds on me. There’s no way I could take him in a fight.

I could probably outrun him, though. I think about doing just that, but when a few more people join into the circle, I realize it’s not going to be an option.

Just when I’m about to give up and take my beating quietly, someone else pushes her way into the circle. She’s a petite thing with long, shiny black hair, and big brown eyes.

“Hey!” She practically screams. “Lard ass!”

It’s not directed at me but toward Jerry. She steps right in between the two of us.

Jerry stands at least a foot taller than her, but she doesn’t seem the least bit intimidated.

This isn’t going to be good. Jerry will eat her alive. He may even do it literally.

She says, “The new kid is with me.”

I’ve never talked to this girl to even know what her name is, but I’m not about to argue.

“Oh, yeah?” Jerry asks.

She takes another step toward him. “Yeah.”

“How do I know that’s true?”

Before I know what’s going on, she turns so that she’s facing me. She stands on her tiptoes, grabs me by the collar, pulls me toward her, and plants a big kiss on my lips.

I’ve never been kissed before, so I’m not really sure how to describe it. As weird as it sounds, I feel tingly all over. Right now, it’s like she and I are the only two here, not surrounded by a bunch of kids who hate me.

This isn't how I pictured my first kiss, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s damn near perfect.

When she pulls away, she turns back to Jerry. “If anyone has a problem with him, you have a problem with me.”

I expect them all to start laughing at this tiny girl with the loads of confidence, but they don’t. It’s almost like they’re scared of her.

That’s further confirmed when she asks, “Anyone got a problem with that?”

Every one of them shakes his or her head and walks away.

Before Jerry gets too far, she stops him. “Hey! Give the kid back his comic.” As he hands it to me, she adds, “I’m a little surprised you can read.”

What the heck just happened?

She turns back toward me and pushes a strand of hair out of her face. “They shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

“Uhm, thanks,” I reply. “Not that I’m complaining, but why’d you do that?”

She shrugs her shoulders while wiggling her mouth back and forth as she thinks. “I don’t like it when people are jerks just because they can be. There’s no reason for them to be mean just because you’re new. Plus, Jerry bugs me.”

“Well, thanks again.”

She looks up at me with those big eyes. “What are you doing right now?”

“Uh, I was just going to go home. Why?”

“I’m on my way to volunteer at the animal shelter. I go and walk the dogs. Do you want to come with? We can get to know each other better.”

“Sure. Sounds great.”

She smiles. “Okay, let’s go. I’m Jo by the way.”

“Beau.”

“Ha. Jo and Beau. I like it.”

As we walk and talk, I only have one thought.

One day, I’m going to marry this girl.