Page 12 of Rough Rider (Bad Boy High)
I blow a stream of air out. “You want me to work the shift for you?” I suggest. That seems easier than bringing Andy home. Julie should be in bed, but if she wakes up in the night and finds a stranger there, she’ll freak out. My little sister has a bad case of stranger danger. She was kidnapped when she was only two, and while she doesn’t have much memory of it, she is terrified of anyone unfamiliar to her.
“No, baby. I’ve got this. Just need you here in case Jules needs someone and to make sure the place doesn’t burn down.”
“I’ve got a friend with me.”
“Bam? I guess it’s okay. Jules has met him before. She likes him.”
“No, ah, a girl friend.” I try to put space between the two words, but it’s not enough.
Mom’s tone changes immediately. “You do? Since when? Oh my gosh, well, you need to introduce her to me. God, what terrible timing. What should we do? I’ll call Stan and tell him I can’t come.”
“No. No, I’m heading for home right now. Don’t worry about it. Give me ten.” I hang up to see Andy with her hand on the door latch.
“What are you doing?” I almost shout.
Bam sticks his head out. “Problem?”
“I heard that you’re needed at home, and I don’t want to be any trouble,” Andy says.
“You’re not trouble,” I tell her.
“Nah, don’t take it personally. Niki’s sister is a stranger hater, and if she’s never met you before, she’ll have a five-year-old meltdown, which if you’ve ever seen one, you know are scary as fuck.” Bam disappears for a second and then emerges from the bedroom fully dressed in sweatpants and a windbreaker. At the exterior door, he shoves his feet into a pair of slides and nudges Andy out of the way. I toss him the house keys, which he catches in one hand.
“I’ll text my mom,” I say. “Thanks, bro.”
“Your mom is hot. Always nice to see her.” Bam shuts the door before I can throw a beer at his head. I know he’s only fucking with me.
“I feel like I’m putting you out.” Andy wrings her hands.
“Nah. It’s all good. Bam’s nothing but talk, and my mom would eat him alive. You want to wash up before bed?”
“No, but I can help you.” She reaches out to touch my cheek, but I back away. I’m not ready for her touching me when there’s a bed so close and the apartment is empty. I’m tired, and my self-control is low. Her soft hand on my body is exactly what I don’t need.
“I don’t usually stay here, so the supplies are limited.” I lead her to the bathroom across from the bedroom. “There are two bathrooms, and this one is mine, but as you can see, it’s just got some mouthwash, a toothbrush, and an all-in-one body wash, shampoo thing. Maybe Bam’s got extra toothbrushes. Wait here.” I hand her a towel from under the sink and then hustle down the hall. Thankfully, Bam does have extra toothbrushes, so I’m able to give Andy a new one. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
We stare at each other awkwardly for a few long seconds while I tell myself that trying to make a move on her after the night we had would be a shit act and that while I beat people up for money, I don’t take advantage of people I care about. Those are some questionable situational morals, but it’s a fucked-up world. I’m just trying to do my best. “I’m gonna sleep in Bam’s room. You go in there.” I point to my room, knowing I sound like a dumb beast but not having the ability to be someone better, cooler, less dense.
She rubs her lips together, and I see she wants to say something, maybe curse me out, but before she lets loose, I retreat to Bam’s room, throw myself on the bed, and cover my head with the pillow. Tomorrow, I’ll fix up her door, replace the lights in the stairwell, and clean up her apartment. She can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous. For her. For me. For both of us.
Chapter Ten
ANDY
Why hadn’t I thought about needing clothes before I’d taken my shower? Not that it mattered. I needed to shower either way. I can’t go to sleep smelling like the diner. I don’t have much of a choice but to use one of Niki’s shirts, though I really don’t want to. It’s pretty clear he doesn’t really want me here. That I’m intruding on his life.
I’m guessing he felt sorry for me after seeing my room and that’s the only reason he brought me here. To be honest, I don’t know what to make of him or why he’s taken such an interest in me.
I grab a plain black shirt out of the closet, slipping it on. I look for some sort of sweats or something, but I don’t see anything but a pair of boxers. They’re huge on me. I have to roll them a million times to get them to stay up on my hips. They aren’t even visible with his shirt dropping almost to my knees. This will have to do, though.
I run my fingers through my hair to comb it as I drop down to sit on the side of the bed. I should go home. My eyes glance atthe door. He’d hear me if I left right now. I’ll wait. I’m starting to think that Niki has a strange hero complex, considering what he does for a living. I snort a laugh thinking of his job like that, but I suppose it is.
This is so awkward. I feel more out of place than I do in my apartment when my mom has strangers over, as I refer to them. I usually hole up in my room so I don’t have to interact with them. I fall back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. My body is exhausted, but I don’t think I’m going to find sleep. There are so many thoughts jumbled in my head at the moment.
Between being where I’m not really wanted, the knot I still have in my stomach about the break-in at our apartment, and the test I have on Monday at school, I don’t think sleep is coming.
I force myself to get up and grab my bag. I set it down at the foot of the bed, pulling out my textbook. If I can’t sleep, I might as well do something that might help all the anxiety bubbling up inside of me.
