Page 3 of Bad to the Bone

“But you don’t. You have to tell him you’re just friends!” The panic in my voice makes me sound like a hysterical thirteen year old, but I don’t care. Shannon is the only family I have left. She is the only thing of Mia’s that I have that’s good and full of great memories. Whatever game Zayne and his father are playing, Shannon can’t be a part of it.

“I made a mistake. I made a big mistake doing this. It’s my fault. I led you on. I made you think this could be a thing. I’m the grown up here and I take full responsibility for it. I’m sorry,” I turn my back and try to walk calmly towards the building.

“What are you saying?”

I ignore him and keep walking.

“Kim! What do you mean you’re sorry!” I can hear his footsteps behind me, but there is no point in running. He’d catch me, or worse yet, being chased across the parking lot by an angry teenager would only attract attention and then I’d have to explain to somebody how we know each other at all. In seconds he has my arm in a vice grip and spins me around.

“Please, Zayne-” My words fall on deaf ears as he drags me into a recess on the side of the building behind the woodshop.

“What do you mean it was a mistake? Was what happened at the lake a mistake? Was kissing me a mistake?”

“Yes, yes, all of it. You’re too much. You’re too impulsive and reckless. Real life isn’t like the movies. Real people can get hurt. And Shannon, she’s all I have. I have to protect her.” I blink back my tears and try to sound much more decisive than I feel.

“You have me!” Anger makes all of the beautiful lines of his face look savage. “Am I NOTHING to you! Damn it woman, don’t you FEEL anything? And I’m not reckless or impulsive. I’m decisive and I’m not afraid to get the things that I want. But for some stupid fucking reason all I want is you! And I’m willing to take risks if it means that you will stay with me, all you have to do is trust me just a little fucking bit. Just be a little fucking brave!”

“You’re shouting,” I warn.

“So fucking what!” He gets louder, waving his hands in the air and looking wild eyed.

“I’m not as brave as you are,” I yell, feeling ashamed and unburdened at the same time. “And, I have a lot more to lose. And I don’t… I can’t take another loss like that.” The tears begin to fall.

“Just trust me, Kim. I can protect you,” he says, sounding as desperate as I’ve ever heard him sound.

“It would be a whole lot easier to trust you if you were just a little more cowardly.”

We both chuckle a little.

“Sorry, no can do.”

“I figured. But, for the record, I like my men ordinary and predictable.”

“Then you’ve never actually had a man, you’ve had eunuchs and assholes. Which makes you virgin territory,” he shoves his hands in his pockets and puffs up his chest. “I do love a good virgin.”

“Asshole,” I punch his chest lightly, fighting the impulse to lean into the warmth of his chest and let the sound of his heart beating sooth away my fears.

“You know it.”

“So why is your dad on our backs?”

“He thinks I’m trying to screw Shannon and for some reason he is totally against the idea. He wasn’t this upset when I was fucking his opponent’s daughter, or the pastor’s daughter, or anybody’s daughter for that matter.”

“Maybe he just doesn’t want you to ruin his chances with me?”

“What?”

“The rumor is that when I applied and came for my interview I got marked or something. Anyway, everybody thinks I’m one of his special lady friends, or at least somebody he wants to bang. But, since it hasn’t happened yet, they figure I turned him down and now I’m on his shit list. Either way, nobody is willing to get near me.”

“Good,” he says smugly. “I’m’ all you need.”

“You sound like a stalker.”

“See you tonight?”

“What?”

He doesn’t answer. Before I can ask again he leans over and kisses me and then saunters off as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. And now I’m absolutely sure, I am in way over my head. Zayne Turner is ruining my life, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

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