AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your kind?”
“The kind who sweeps the floor with their asses playing video games. They didn’t know I come from a family of boys. Video games were our form of bonding.”
“Not music?” I asked.
“A little. Music is mostly my thing with my dad. One day, if he ever allows you to step foot in the house, I’ll take you out to the garage and you can listen to records with us.”
I brought our joined hands up to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Think your dad won’t like me?”
“I have no idea. The only boy I ever brought home was my prom date senior year and my dad knew him since we were kids. Not sure how he’d feel about my tattooed, rocker boyfriend, but I’m willing to chance it...one day.”
“Movin’ a little fast there, huh, Stripes?”
She breathed a little laugh. “I guess I shouldn’t assume you’d want to meet my family.”
“Assume, ’cause I do. I want to know everything about you.”
“I want to know you too, Jude. Tell me about tonight.”
“I don’t want my ugly shit to touch you.”
Hitting that guy…it’d been ugly. I hated each time my fist connected with his body. The sound it made. The roll of his eyes when he finally went down. I hated it, but I would have done it again and again if Eric hadn’t said enough. ’Cause some of that ugliness was in me, and it felt good to let it out.
“Don’t do that. Don’t treat me like some pristine piece of furniture you’re afraid to sully with your darkness. That’s not who I am, and I definitely don’t want that to be how you see me.”
When I stayed quiet, she got in my face, brushing her nose against mine. “If you don’t talk, I’m reading my sociology book to you.”
Gripping her hip, I pulled her body flush with mine, until the only space between us was the wall I’d put up that Tali was currently smashing.
I’d talk, but not about tonight.
“My dad and I used to have a thing,” I started. “When my parents were together, we’d go play basketball every weekend, just us. It wasn’t until it stopped that I realized how important it had been, you know? We hardly talked, but I guess it was more the fact that he wanted to spend that time with me.”
“Your dad is a dick if he doesn’t want to spend time with you.” Her face pulled into a scowl that was so sincere, yet completely adorable, I laughed. I laughed and coughed, then laughed some more.
Tali pushed at me, but I held her close. “You’re so high,” she said.
“I know, Stripes. I’m done laughing now, though. Let me hold you. I think I could fall asleep just like this.”
She finally relaxed, melting against me, legs tangled, heat mingling. Everything slowed, my thoughts, time, our movements. The night faded, the ugliness not feeling quite as big or horrific.
“Did you quit playing basketball after that?” she asked.
“Nope. I’d developed a love for it, even without my dick of a dad there to watch me.” I pressed a kiss to her smooth cheek, and she nestled closer, sighing with contentment. “Actually, Benny took his place. When he found out my dad had dumped me, he started showing up at my door with a ball every weekend. We never talked about it. He knew without me saying how completely devastated I’d been. So, he showed up. He’s always been the one to show up, no matter what.”
We lapsed into silence, and Tali played with the hair on the back of my neck, making my eyes droop.
“I played basketball until I graduated high school,” she said quietly. “I could probably take you.”
I grinned, eyes still barely open. “You challenging me, Tali Stripes?”
“Oh no, I’m telling you I could beat you.”
“I have no doubt. Now, be quiet so I can sleep.”
She nuzzled closer, kissing my throat. “Good night, grumpface.”
God, I loved this girl.
