“So what are you doing out on a night like this?”I closed my eyes. “You aren’t going to leave me alone, are you?”He scoffed. “I mean, I figured you’d be with goody two shoes Allison or some shit like that.”“I was, until our plans got canceled.”“Ah, she busy kissing Michael’s booboos?”I bit down on the inside of my cheek. “If you don't leave, I’m leaving.”“Have a safe trip home.”I crossed my arms over my chest, irate at his ability to completely spoil whatever moment of happiness I found for myself. But I wasn’t leaving. I had been here first, and he was the one that wasn’t wanted in this scenario. If he wanted to be rid of me, then he could leave the same way he came. And if he didn’t want to leave, then I’d annoy the hell out of him until he did.Clint chuckled. “Stubborn, I see.”I shrugged. “You’re the one making this more difficult than it needs to be.”“Not really. You don’t want to be around me, then leave.”“I’m not the one who obliterated the moment with my presence in
“So we’re at your house? Where your father is right now?”“Nah. Dad goes to the casino to blow off steam after we fight. He won’t be back until tomorrow night at the earliest.”“And your stepmom?”He scoffed. “She’s always at his side. If he’s not here, she’s not either.”He helped me off the bike, catching me as I stumbled. I felt myself blushing underneath the strength of his arms, but I tried not to show it. I tried not to give in to it. This was madness. This was Clint Clarke, for fuck’s sake. The boy that had swung on Michael this morning! There was no way the butterflies in my gut were for him. There was no way on God’s green earth I felt the way I did because of him.And yet, when he took my hand to lead me inside, I felt my stomach jump.Turn around. Go home while you still can.I watched Clint type in a password on a keypad that opened the garage. And with the bag of pastries in one hand, he led me straight through a door and into his kitchen. I gawked as I walked inside, too
It felt wrong, for some reason.“So, please tell me you left some marks behind on her body, too. Because that’s a pretty bitch-ass thing for you to be marked up and for her to not be,” I said.He snickered. “She was all over me, dude. I got my marks in, but make no mistake. She couldn't keep her paws and her lips off me. She gobbled my cock down with ease before we even got started. I didn't even have to warm her up.”“Hell yeah, Roy. That’s the way to do it.”“Marina sure is a giver. And I think I’m gonna keep her around for a little while.”I grinned. “Sex really that good?”“Have you been listening to me at all? The sex is fantastic. I mean, yeah, she’s a bit thin. But I like ‘em thin. Less to push away to get to the holes I really want.”I shook my head. “Nope. After I’m done, I want to fall against my girl and feel her catch me with her softness.”“You’ve always been attracted to fatties. I don’t get that.”“Not fatties, Roy. Just those girls with a little more to give is all. Tr
She giggled. “I know one thing we have to figure out, though. And that’s what to do about Clinton come Monday.”“I… I don’t know, Allison.”“Well, let’s start with what you want to do. What do you hope happens Monday?”I shrugged. “I don’t know that either.”“We should figure it out, then. Because something tells me he’s not going to leave you alone. Nothing is ever that easy with him.”“I didn’t fuck him so he’d leave me alone.”She paused. “Then why did you?”I closed my eyes. “Because it felt like he understood me. And I liked that.”Allison took my hand as the two of us stared at the ceiling. The smell of nail polish remover slowly faded away, but the memories of last night didn’t. I squeezed her hand, trying not to think about it. Trying not to root myself in last night. But I couldn't help it. The way I’d fallen asleep against Clint. The way his muscles felt cradling me last night. How I woke up at four in the morning only to realize I’d fallen asleep right beside him. Wrapped u
Rae paused. “No, actually.”I leaned back. “That happen often?”She nodded. “Every time they get into a fight. She rebounds with some guy, they fight again, D.J. showers her with gifts so she’ll come back, then the cycle starts all over again.”“I’m sorry, Rae.”She shrugged. “Shit happens.”“Do you remember anything about your dad?”“Wow. You really just wanna dive in there, don’t you?”“I mean, do you have anyone else to talk about it with?”“Allison and Michael.”“Have you ever talked with them about it?”She shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I won’t.”I quirked an eyebrow, listening to her sigh. “You know I’ll understand.”“Why don’t we start with what happened to your mother?”I nodded. “All right. What do you want to know?”“What really happened, Clint?”I sighed. “I wish I knew. One day she was okay. And the next, she wasn’t. Painkillers are a bitch, but when you put it together with postpartum depression, it becomes a big issue.”“Your mother struggled after having you?”“My mother stru
I swallowed. “Just some privacy would be nice.”“I mean, you did hit the wall pretty hard. You okay?”“I’m not bleeding, if that’s what you’re asking.”I drowned out his voice with the sound of the toilet flushing. I splashed some water on my face, trying to remove the sleep from my eyes. I took the liberty of using what I had around me. Hand soap on my face. Toothpaste on my finger. I used a generous amount of mouthwash, gargling before spitting it out. I picked up the hair-filled brush and said a small prayer, then ran it underneath the water. And as Clint knocked softly on the door again, I groaned.“Can you give a girl a second?”“You aren’t the only one that has to pee, sweet cheeks.”I murmured, “Call me that again and see what happens.”“You know, you could just skip class.”I ran the wet hairbrush through my hair. “Not a chance.”“You could spend some more time with me.”“Yeah, like that’s a smart decision.”He snickered. “Your words would hurt if I thought for even a second y
“Hi. I’m—”Clint cut me off. “None of your damn business.”His father narrowed his eyes. “You wanna try that again?”“No. I really don’t.”I drew in a sharp breath. “Clint, come on. We’re gonna be late.”“Did she just come down from upstairs?”Clint nodded. “Yes, sir.”“And is that fucking allowed in this house?”“Probably not, sir.”His father charged him and I cried out. Clint shoved his ass out, knocking me outside before his father gripped his leather jacket. I reached out for him, watching as his father picked him up onto his tippy toes. And as his father barreled him back into the wall, I cupped my hands over my cheeks.“I’m sick and tired of you thinking you run this house. Shut the damn door,” he glowered.I whimpered. “Clint.”He peeked back at me with nothing but sadness in his eyes. And as his hand reached out for the door, he nodded his head.“Get outta here, Rae. Sorry for making you late and not being able to give you a ride.”“Mr. Clarke, this is all my fault. We just n
“Rae, don’t you dare tell me you told someone at that fucking school what's happening.”“And what if I did?”She tried reaching for my eye again, but I snatched her wrist. If she told anyone at that damn school what was going on and they started poking around, I wasn’t sure I’d survive my father’s assault. I’d kept it hidden from the school this long. And the last thing I needed was someone attempting to upend my life because it was their job to give a shit about me.“Leave, Rae. I’m serio—”“Cleaver!?”I closed my eyes and quickly dropped her wrist. I stuck my tongue into the inside of my cheek as Roy pried the door away from my hand. I sighed as Rae’s eyes flickered over to him, and he pushed his way beside me, chuckling. I’d tried to spare Rae from my best friend, but it had been her choice not to fucking listen.Why the fuck did she never listen?Roy laughed. “What the hell are you doing here, Cleaver Beaver?”Rae rolled her eyes. “I could ask you the same thing, Roy Toy.”He shru