Page 11 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
"Don't."
"Please—"
"Stay behind me," he whispers. "Not leaving you out here." I nod my head quickly, wanting him to go.
My mom drives me insane, but I don't want to think about anything happening to her. Hell, that's why I'd gone and gotten her drugs. I couldn't watch her lie there and suffer.
Niki slowly pushes the door open, stepping inside, right into my small living room. He glances around, each step he takes calculated as he moves through my home, opening all the doors and checking anywhere a person could be.
"Is your mom's room always this messy?" he asks quietly. I know what he's getting at; it appears ransacked. I nod. The last door is to my room; he pushes it open. My stomach sinks; my room is destroyed.
I step back, not wanting to see it. It's too much. I pull my phone out of my back pocket, calling my mom. She doesn't answer. I try again and again. Niki disappears through my bedroom door.
Finally my mom texts me back saying she's busy and the bar is packed. That she'll see me later. I'm relieved that she's fine. It could have been a junkie searching for money.
"You're not staying here," Niki says, his hands fisted at his sides. His reaction is making me think my room is a whole lot worse than I realized.
Chapter Nine
NIKI
“You can’t bring a girl here.” Bam sounds scandalized, as if a female has never stepped over the threshold before. My sister has been here a few times.
I frown at his outfit of gym shorts and sports tank that is open on the sides. I had to stick Andy in my bedroom because Bam is walking around half nude.
I turn away from him and stare into the empty fridge. “We don’t have any food in here.”
“No, because we don’t know how to cook.”
Bam’s always delivering the truth bombs.
“I can cook,” a soft voice interrupts.
We both turn toward the bedroom door where Andy’s small face appears. The yellow light from the nightstand next to my bed casts a golden outline, making her appear almost angelic. My chest tightens. I thump on it to release the tension, but nothing happens.
I turn to Bam. “Hit me.”
“Huh?” His jaw flaps open.
“Hit me.” I tap my left pec. “Hard. Right here.”
“Fuck you, man.” He snorts and jerks his head toward the door. “It’s because of her. That’s why you don’t bring girls home.” He shuffles off to his bedroom, muttering something under his breath about pussy ruining a good soldier. Thankfully, his room is on the opposite side of the apartment from mine, so I don’t think Andy heard him. I gesture for her to come join me in the kitchen.
“We’ve got beer, energy drinks, and some cheese slices.”
“There’s ramen in the cupboard,” Bam yells from his room.
“And ramen. Bam likes to put cheese on the ramen.”
“It’s superior, that’s why,” Bam shouts.
“Not my thing,” I say, shoving the cheese aside to see if something else will miraculously appear on the shelves, but they stay empty. I let the fridge door slide shut. “I could run to the store.”
“I’m not hungry. I ate at the restaurant during my break. Bobby made me some fried mozzarella sticks. You should try them the next time you come in. I mean, if you’re in the area. I’m not assuming anything.” Her words trip out as if she’s trying to cover something up.
“Yeah, I’ll be at the restaurant again. Let me know your schedule.” My phone beeps, and by the tone, I know it’s my own mother. “Give me a sec.” I answer the call. “You need something?”
“Stan called, and one of the night staff didn’t show up. He’s offering me double if I work tonight. Can you be home soon?”
