Page 14 of Bad to the Bone

“They think I am dating Zayne because he parks his car out front every time he comes over. He is here three or four nights a week instead of out with his friends. And when they ask him where he’s going he tells them he’s coming here. When people ask him if he’s dating me he says no. Do you know why?”

“...”

“I’ll tell you why. Because he loves you. He isn’t hiding it. He isn’t denying it. He loves you, whether anybody else understands it or not.”

“He never said that,” I whimper, fighting back the tears in my eyes.

“He doesn’t have to. I sat back and watched that alleged fiancé of yours treat you like left-overs, all the while telling you how much he loved you. His words and his actions didn’t match up, Aunt Kim. But this guy? Zayne? He is the genuine article. He might not tell you he loves you but he sure does act like it. When you went back to the classroom to get your stuff he was really worried about you. Not about my hand or his reputation, but you. He was worried about you. He wants to protect you. He loves you, and if a little Tae Bo in the bathroom is all it takes to keep your relationship under wraps until we can get out of this town, I’m okay with that.”

We hug as she scolds me for being a silly old goat with no insight into men. She’s right, just like she always is. Fucking smart-ass kid.

We order pizza for dinner and watch Hugh Grant movies and by the time Julia Roberts is pregnant in the park in Notting Hill I feel much better about the world. Just before I climb into bed I get a text message from Zayne.

Mayor on the warpath. Watch out. Love you.

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