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Josie
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
The chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream slid down my throat but didn’t wash away the thick regret resting there.My mother couldn’t just take a hint and leave. She had to prepare dinner for a guy I’d only hung out with a couple of weeks. No, excuse me, the first guy I’ve ever hung out with.I groaned, letting my head rest against the warm passenger side window of King’s pickup. He chuckled. “I told you not to worry about it, Josie. Your parents aren’t the first parents I’ve met.”I sighed. “I know, but we’ve only hung out a few times, the woman doesn’t listen, and when she does, it goes in one ear and out the other.”King smiled—that lopsided one—and reached over to squeeze my thigh. Since he’d basically inhaled his ice cream cone before we made it back inside his truck, he had a free hand.“You can’t be surprised,” he said, turning his cap around backwards, showing his bright eyes. “I’m sure she’s done this before.”I took a bite to give myself a second to think. I didn’t want him
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
My brain pounded against my skull, dehydration danced along my tongue, begging for water. Coach didn’t need to know I’d drank the night before, so I sucked it up and pushed through the pain.When he called practice, I nearly guzzled the entire gallon of water on the sidelines. Jordan snorted, shoving his shoulder into mine. “Looking thirsty, Booker. What’s wrong?”Jordan laid down on his back, hands behind his neck while stretching. “You looked pretty cozy with Josie last night. Do you break all your girlfriends’ furniture?”I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “She’s not my girlfriend.”Jordan rolled his eyes.“Speaking of girls,” I said, grabbing my bag. “Why was Waverly in our apartment? She’s not worth your time.”Jordan wiggled his brows. “She was a pretty good waste of time last night.”I huffed. “Whatever—,”Jordan sat up on his elbows. “You jealous, Booker? Maybe if you’d treat Josie nicely, she’d give you some—,”“Piss off,” I said. “I can get Josie if I want.” Which wa
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Josie
I’m awake when my alarm goes off. Everything from the night before swirled in my head like a hurricane. I knew I had a quiz in Chapman’s Algebra class today, and I needed the rest, but my body refused to shut off.Nothing a giant cup of Joe couldn’t conquer.I peeled myself from bed, grabbing my clothes to make it to the bathroom before the boys. Most days they had football practice before class, but with the game only a day away, I figured they had a day to rest.I walked past Maverick’s door, listening to the silence. I couldn’t sleep in silence, I needed a box fan or rain sounds to get through the night. I slipped into the bathroom, stripped and stood in the hot water.Thoughts of the night before floated in and out of my reach. Besides the obvious make-out session that still had my blood pumping wildly, I’d witness Maverick have a mini panic attack.This wasn’t the person I knew in school. He most likely hid it from everyone. Being the King of campus didn’t come to people that had
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
The heavy click of the clock sent my hair on end. The woman sitting across from me, with large-framed glasses and curly shoulder-length hair, in her early thirties, stared at me with a polite smile that made me cringe.I eyed the white couch in the corner of the room, wondering if I should have sat there.“Would you like to move seats?” Ms. Courtney asked.I tapped my fingers against the arm of my chair and shook my head. “Not really.”“That’s fine,” she said. “So, Maverick, is there a certain reason you’re here today?”Because Josie gave me an ultimatum, and I wanted her to be done with King.Carefully, I sat forward, holding my forehead in my palm. “I—my friend suggested it.”Courtney nodded, slowly, writing something down on her overlarge notepad. I itched to stand up and demand to know what she wrote, but I was sure that wasn’t how it worked.“Why do you think he suggested it?”I sat back, running my palms along the top of my thighs. Could it be any hotter in here? “She witnessed
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Josie
I left Maverick sleeping when I woke the next morning. After his nightmare I’d been shook, him screaming for help, screaming in a way that made me think he was a child. Not the man sleeping beside me.Frankie looked startled at the sight of him sobbing, which made me think something ran deep for Maverick, something Frankie didn’t even know about.When I tiptoed into the kitchen the next morning, I found Frankie sitting at the dining table with an untouched bowl of cereal in front of him. He looked haunted.“Hey,” I said, starting the coffee.Frankie ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and sat back to look at me through heavy eyes. “What is wrong with Maverick, Josie?” he asked.I shook my head slowly. “I don’t know, Frankie. You’ve never seen him do this before?”“No.”I made my coffee and slid onto the chair opposite from him. Jordan’s snores were the only noise between us. “He agreed to go to counseling, but wouldn’t tell me how it went. You don’t know anything?” I asked.Fr
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
I hurt her. More so than I ever realized I did. Sure, I’d shoved her into lockers, knocked her books down, but this—this—I didn’t know when I pushed her against the wall that I’d leave a scar.I’m such an idiot. Would it help to know I’d caused her more pain? Probably not, but I needed to know. How would I make it up to her if I didn’t know the extent of it?I curled my fingers around my steering wheel, trying to block out the image of that night. I’d been so mean, so cruel, because seeing her have fun brought me back to it all.“Maverick,” Josie’s soft voice came from beside me. “I know you bullied me, but we both know you didn’t know that nail was there—,”I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. The hot Louisiana air tried hard to suck the breath from my lungs. Even with my air conditioner on full blast, I felt sticky with sweat and regret. “It doesn’t matter, stop making excuses for me. You’re not like her. You’re not like my mom.”Josie frowned and folded her hands on her la
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Professor Howard’s class consisted of mostly girls, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know the reason. I felt like an intruder when I sat in the corner of the room and helped him with his handouts. Most of the girls didn’t seem to notice me, but the ones that did, tossed me dirty looks.I could taste their judgmental stares and whispers.I watched him carefully, taking notes, even though it wasn’t my class, and tried my best to keep quiet, but it didn’t last long. “Ms. Lee,” Professor Howard said. “Stand up.”Nervously, I stood, pulling at my cut-offs and tucking my hair. I looked relaxed compared to the majority of the class. They wore cute skirts, low-cut tops or jeans that molded to their curves, not to mention a full face of makeup in the evening. Who has time to go home and reapply makeup before class? Not me. Not that I even bother with it most days. “This is Josie Lee, she is going to intern for me this year.”Someone’s hand shot up in the back. He turned his attention t
Last Updated : 2024-10-29BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
I don’t know why I even came. It wasn’t like the counseling from the week before helped. Now I sat in the too silent room, with too bright windows and all white furniture. Courtney cleared her throat after a few minutes.“I’m glad you came back, Maverick. How have you been?”I shrugged. I don’t know why her voice irritated me so much. “I’m okay.”Courtney smiled politely and adjusted her glasses on her nose. “Last time you were here, you had a memory and panicked. Anymore of those?”“No. I had a nightmare the other night.”She shifted her gaze to me. “What about?”“My childhood, one of my mother’s boyfriends beating me.”Courtney put her notepad to the side, and curled her laced fingers around her crossed legs. “Do you often have nightmares about that?”I shifted nervously, looking at the clock, which had hardly moved since I sat down. “Sometimes, yeah.”“Did you ever tell anyone about it?” she asked. “Your mother? The police?”I scoffed, scrubbing my palm down my face. “My mother did
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
Latest chapter
BULLY ROOMATE Epilogue - Josie
His fingers slid against the inside of my thigh, beneath my flimsy black thigh-length skirt and up to the lacy panties, I wore just for him. It’d been four years of this and it still felt like the first time he touched me in the hallway of our old apartment.The warmth of his breath tickled my neck but it felt too good to care. Everything about his rough hands and hardened body pressed against my back taunted me. I leaned forward, catching myself against the doorjamb, leaning my neck to the left for better access.Maverick chuckled darkly into my ear, his left hand rested against mine, his wedding ring shining in the lighting of our bathroom. “Someone didn’t get enough last night,” he whispered.I closed my eyes, knowing I’d never get enough of Maverick Booker, not in one year or forever. My body responded so effortlessly to his touch.After years of looking over our shoulders, and graduating, Maverick drafted into the Kansas City Chiefs and we moved to Missouri. It took a lot to agre
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
The dingy gas station stood attached to an abandoned garage and sat back from the main road meant for truckers at one point in time. After stopping by a drive-thru, India raced down the swirly road out of town toward a forgotten about and hidden garage. I kept my distance so she didn’t get suspicious and parked on the side of the road by the driveway.I only had seconds before she’d be inside, so I hauled ass toward her. A million different scenarios played out in my head, none of them ended well, but I had to try.She heard the crunch of the rocks beneath my shoes, turned and I sideswiped her. I’d never hit a woman in my life, but this cunt needed more than a tackle.“Oh my God!” she squeaked, but stopped when she realized who hit her. Her eyes rounded, and her lips opened in a surprised look.Keeping her beneath me, I entrapped her wrist above her head and noticed her struggle to get a stun gun from her purse scattered beside us. Perfect, now I have some leverage.I snatched it and
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Hope slowly disappeared as the minutes turned to hours. Never in a million years did I think I’d be in a situation like this, but who does, really? The girls across from me didn’t, or the other girls he had chained to some dingy basement elsewhere.My wrists began to burn from the cuffs of the chains, and my shoulders cried out in agony from their position. I didn’t feel like someone that needed to complain considering the shape of the girls across from me. So, I kept my mouth shut, and listened for any activity outside of the room.“Do you think he’ll call the police?” Melody asked.Rain pelted against the roof suddenly, causing my nerves to grow, and my heart rate to spike. “I’m not sure,” I said softly. “If he catches wind of the cops he’ll—I don’t know what he’ll do.”Melody sniffled. “Do you love him?”I smiled despite the feeling of dread in my stomach. “Who Maverick?” I asked. “I do.”Melody shifted, the heavy chains rattled when she moved. “I’ve never been in love,” she whispe
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
The dark demeanor that hung over Derek followed him as he walked into the room. A fear I’d never experienced danced along the walls, down my spine and it seemed to consume the other girls. They knew what was coming—I didn’t.It reminded me of the fear Maverick held for him.It cemented me to the floor. I didn’t try to move or jolt as he neared me, and squatted down to get a better look. “You have a little black eye. I’ll get some ice for it. We want you pretty for tomorrow.”My gaze traveled toward the two girls cowering on the other side of the room. They looked feral like Melody who hadn’t said one word since Derek walked inside. I figured I needed to take the hint and not speak, but I couldn’t help it.“Funny seeing you here,” I said. “I guess Maverick was right, you are a piece of shit.”Derek chuckled, reaching out to pinch my cheek tightly between two fingers. “I’ve been looking for someone like you. We’ve had tons of interest in different ethnicities over the last year, and whe
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
Something is wrong.I felt it in my blood before the hour passed and students began to trickle out of the buildings and into the quad. I stood up from where I sat around the fountain, searching overheads for Josie but she didn’t show.Sweat began to build on my hairline from the Louisiana sun, drenching my t-shirt and hindering my breath. Five minutes passed before I walked toward the writing center to find India sitting at her desk.“Where is Josie?” I asked.She snatched an earbud from her ear. “She left about fifteen minutes ago.”I dug my phone from my pocket and called her. It went straight to voicemail. “She isn’t answering.”India gave me a strange look. “She probably went to the cafeteria or ran into someone—,”“No,” I barked. “She was supposed to meet me at the fountain.”India stood up. “She did say she was meeting you to exchange notes. I’ll try campus security, but it’s only been like twenty minutes and she’s an adult—,”I barreled from the room, knowing India was right. I
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Monday morning rolled around, and my nerves fluttered when I walked into the writing center. Even with Maverick walking me to the door, the fact he had to walk clear across campus scared me.“You okay?” he asked.I nodded. “Of course.”Maverick leaned down and kissed my mouth softly. “I’ll meet you at the fountain after this class, okay?”“I’ll be there,” I said.I hadn’t been scared until I saw the fear in Maverick’s eyes. The fear he held for Derek showed me how much I should be scared. I wasn’t there for the beating but I’d seen how he left a thirteen-year-old boy.India slapped her palm down beside my computer and I jumped. “Girl, what happened to your internship with Professor Swoony? It’s all over campus that he’s looking for a new intern.”Great.I started my computer and signed in. “I just couldn’t keep up with the workload.”India eyed me suspiciously. “You couldn’t keep up, Josie? Do you expect me to believe that? Was Boyfriend jealous?"“No,” I said with a laugh. “Maverick
BULLY ROOMATE Maverick
The bittersweet taste of the truth hung heavy on my tongue the next day. After Josie confessed to wanting to bring justice down on Derek, my head spun during all of my classes. I couldn’t let her risk her life for me.I hadn’t seen Derek since that night. He disappeared from my mother’s life and my own. I’d spent most of the next two years looking over my shoulder, scared that he’d try to come back and finish the job. It was the reason I decided to start football and begin working out. To be able to defend my family and myself.After a while, I stopped thinking about him coming back. Which meant I didn’t know what he was into, or what he would do now to Josie or Frankie. If she started digging around in his life, he may hurt her—or kill her. Look what he did to a thirteen-year-old boy who asked too many questions.I pressed my eyes closed on the bus ride back to campus. Most of the guys were sleeping since it was after ten, but sleep hadn’t come as easy to me this time. Every time I c
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
Of course, I remembered that night. The one and only time I’d gathered up the balls to sneak out of my house, I found him. I’d been mad at my mom for telling me I couldn’t take an art class downtown, so I decided to sneak out and bicycle to an abandoned alley where I could spray paint on a vandalized wall. It was stupid, and impulsive, but it saved a kid’s life.The dark night felt heavier than usual, humid and muggy, but I didn’t care. I peddled so fast, tears raced down my cheeks as I dumped my bike and hopped off. The alley was behind a bar that I knew better than to near, but my mood made me angry and careless.I shook the paint I’d found in our garage with my hand, mumbling obscenities I’d never have the nerve to say to my mother in real life, before I heard a trash can lid fall and I dropped my paint.Feeling brave I said, “Hello?”No one answered. It must have been a stray cat. I bent down to pick up my spray paint when I heard a moan. I stopped. Being young, I didn’t think it
BULLY ROOMATE Josie
The art studio was bright, with large glass windows and art hanging on the walls created by Derek’s students. I’d been happy to get an email about helping out with one of his classes during the week.I felt giddy sitting at the front of the room painting for everyone to see. After what my mother said, and how Maverick spent the entire morning holding me, I needed something to lift me up.Unlike Derek’s classes at the university, the ones at the studio were more diverse in gender. I hadn’t realized the hour passed so quickly when Derek tapped me on my shoulder. I glanced up from the distorted mess I’d created based around my mother’s harsh words and into Derek’s dark eyes.“I’m so sorry,” I said. “What time is it? Has everyone left?”Derek chuckled as he grabbed a stool and sat down. “This is different from the ones before. The ones about your … friend,” he said. “Are you two fighting?”I swiped a bead of sweat from my forehead. “No, actually it’s from my mother. She doesn’t understand
