Page 87 of Bad Boy
REMI
Lincoln agreed to skip first period after everything that happened in the middle of the night. We needed to sleep in and get more rest, so Dr. Benson better not give us shit the next time we see him. Lincoln already told me he warned him away. Told him to find a new friend, someone other than me.
What-the-fuck-ever.
The rest of the short school day flew by, and now we’re stepping into Otto’s gym. The little bell above the door chimes, and Sasha looks over, her smile dropping to a frown as her eyes dart to Lincoln’s bandaged hand, then immediately over to me. Accusing almost.
She’s only four years older, in her final year of pre-med at a local college, but she’s definitely taken on a mama-bear role when it comes to us, especially Lincoln. I don’t really blame her. I’ve also felt the need to protect him since day one.
“Hey,” I whisper into his ear. I don’t want him to hear any of this. “Go ahead and take a seat by the treadmills. I’ll be over there in a sec.”
He nods, adjusting his glasses and messenger bag, scurrying over to the bench by the warm-up equipment. He says a quick hello to Sasha, ducking his head along the way.
“Remi. What the hell happened?” Sasha hisses under her breath. She’s tried to get information out of me ever since I came back from the trip with a black eye. She knows I’ve been fighting. It’s obvious.
“Linc isn’t fighting, is he?”
“No,” I grit out. “Hell fucking no. Look, where’s Otto? He needs to hear this, too.”
“I’m right here. What’s going on?” He strolls over in his usual tank top and joggers, like the rest of his employees. His thick brows are pulled down in the center, and his gray eyes dart between Sasha and me.
I sigh heavily. “Lincoln’s hand is bandaged up because some shit went down with his parents last night—”
“They hurt him?!” Otto shouts a little too loudly.
“What? No!” I peer around him to check on Linc. He’s got his earbuds in.Good.
“Listen. Don’t ask me to tell you what happened. It’s not my story. All I can say is, he needs a healthier outlet for the shit he’s dealing with.”
That’s as much detail as I’m willing to give them, only because I know they truly care. “So when he’s feeling better, we’re gonna start training together. Here, with you.”
That pulls big, genuine smiles from both of them, just like I knew it would.
“But I’m not pushing him to start soon. It’s on his terms. When he’s ready.”
They both nod enthusiastically. “Of course, hun. We would never pressure him. I’ll just keep buttering him up with my homemade protein cookies and winning personality. He can’t say no.” Sasha laughs warm-heartedly, heading over to Linc, where she plops down next to him on the bench. She bumps her shoulder into his and says something before he pulls one of his headphones from his ear and hands it over. She bobs her head to the music, smiling and saying something else to him. He laughs, a slight blush settling on his cheeks. I love that he has another person enamored with him.
He’s remarkable. Something uniquely special. And everyone should know that.
Otto and I stand here for a moment, watching them.
“So, you into my mom or something?” It’s a random transition, I know. But if we’re talking about shit, I’d like to know.
He turns his head, peering down at me from his six-and-a-half-foot height.
“Would it bother you if I was?”
I shrug. “Nah. Not really. I know I’ve given you some shit, but you’re a good guy, Otto. She’s still married to my dad, though. And he’s a shithead. You know that, right?”
He grits his teeth, clearly unhappy with the idea. “Yes. I know. But your mother and I have a history, as I’ve briefly told you. We went to school together. Grew up together. I was devastated when she left, and I won’t let her go again. Not without a fight. And Idon’tlose.”
Shit. That just got deep.
“She knows this?” I ask curiously. Mom can be tough. A little standoffish. And Otto seems a little more in touch with his emotions, although he’s clearly still a badass.
He nods. “She does.”
I hum my response. Guess I’ve been so preoccupied with my new boyfriend and my own issues that I didn’t realize how serious things were getting with them.
