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“It was lovely meeting you, Mrs. McNeil. Have a good day.”
“You, too.” She points from her eyes to his.
“Oh my gosh,” I murmur, feeling embarrassed.
Brandon only chuckles. When we turn away, he whispers, “I like her.” Then once we’re in the Mercedes and out of earshot of my momma, he asks, “Does it hurt?”
I shiver from the desire in his raspy voice.
Blinking out of it, I calm down and tell him, “I’m all right.”
He pulls onto the road, saying after a minute, “Perhaps you have darkness in you, too. That’s why you enjoy my roughness.”
I fall quiet in thought, wanting to know about the beast he often refers to, and what’s behind his pain. I want to know him.
Eric’s words pop into my head, leading me to ask, “Where did your family move from?” I watch his face.
Brandon twitches his jaw in annoyance. “I asked Eric to take you home, not discuss me with you.”
“He didn’t say much,” I hurry to explain. “Only that you moved to Charleston at fourteen, and that you never mean to hurt anyone.” I pause, still watching him. “Tell me about yourself, Brandon. I think it’s only fair if you want me to be yours.”
He looks over briefly, setting his eyes back on the road to take the exit at the intersection connecting West Heights and Charleston.
Brandon doesn’t say anything as we continue to school. A sinking feeling the depth of a well shrouds my stomach at the possibility that he won’t ever open up to me.
Pulling into a parking space, he kills the engine, and I unbuckle my seatbelt to get out.
Right before I open the door, Brandon affirms, “The day I tell you everything is the day I claim every part of your body.”
The seriousness of the statement stops me from leaving.
I glance at him. Warmth bathes my skin as he absorbs me into the pits of his blue ocean.
“Your first time might not be gentle.” He lifts his thick brows as he asks, “Still want to know me?”
A normal person would be terrified. But clearly, I’m not normal, because his dark demeanor arouses my body.
I gulp and answer him in a near whisper, “Yes. You still don’t scare me, Brandon. Tell me everything.”
His eyes glisten.
It seems he did not expect that reaction.
“Hm. Soon, little artist.” He leaves the car.
I compose myself and exit as well. We walk a few inches apart into the building.
I’m heading to the library during my free period when I come across Rajid in the corridor. I’ve avoided him because of Sam. Knowing he likes me makes things awkward.
Rajid stalls in his steps. “Kayla, got a sec to talk?”
There isn’t anyone around, so I suppose it’s all right, and I would like to erase the unease. “Okay.”
He inhales and exhales deeply, then begins. “So, I’m guessing Sam told you?”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “She’s upset about it. You get why, don’t you?”
He nods. “Sam is my best friend. We grew up together. But I…” He sighs. “I don’t see her in that way.”
