AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You know you could come and join us? I’m sure the guys wouldn’t mind.”
“Nah, I’m good.” I preferred my own company. Well, I had until Becca. Now being alone all the time kind of sucked as it was a stark reminder of what I’d lost.
“Suit yourself. You know where we are.” She saluted me and left me alone. I ducked inside the derelict building and headed to the office, immediately assaulted with images of kissing Becca as I pressed against her on the battered couch.
My eyes shuttered, letting the memories wash over me. She’d been so eager, so desperate, and it had taken everything in me to hold back. I knew if we’d gone too far, she would have regretted it. But fuck, I’d wanted her. I’d wanted her so bad. And then she’d said all that shit about herself. Called herself a slut. And I’d wanted to punch something—or someone. Becca wasn’t like that. I sensed it. But she was hiding something, something that put her on edge. I’d sensed that too, more than once, when we were close.
At first, all I had wanted was to keep her out of Kendall’s claws. I’d already watched her destroy one girl. I wasn’t about to let it happen again. Not if I could help it. But then over time, I’d wanted more. I’d wanted to spend time with her, get to know her… taste her. I wanted everything Becca had to give.
And I took it.
In the end, I did the one thing I tried so hard not to.
“Fuck.” My fists slammed down on the desk, sending dust spraying into the air.
For the first time since Eli was born, the chaos around me had quieted. It was all because of her—I realized that now—and I’d blown it.
Maybe for good this time.
CHAPTER9
BECCA
“You look different.”Cindy regarded me, her knowing eyes sweeping over my face. “Wait a minute, did you and Evan make up? Is he taking you somewhere nice?”
“No. I’m going out actually.”
“You are?”
I laughed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Her face softened. “Hey, sugar, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, but where are you going on a school night?”
“Just to see a band.”
“A band, hey? Sounds like my kind of bar.”
My lips tipped in a smirk. “Shame you have to stay and lock up then.”
She laughed this time. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but I like it. You can’t let life drag you down, sweetie. Learned that the hard way one too many times.”
I smiled. If only she knew.
“Well, you have a good night. Don’t go getting into any trouble.”
“As if,” I called out as I made my way out of the diner. The cab was already waiting, and I opened the door and climbed in. “Teller’s Bar, please.”
The cab whirred into motion, and I texted Mom to remind her I wouldn’t be back until later. She hadn’t been too impressed when I’d come home late on Tuesday, but she hadn’t pushed me for an explanation. Not after everything. I guess when your father lied to you, it earned you some level of freedom.
I’d known when Malachi told me that the bar had live music Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays that I’d return to Teller’s. Unlike Tuesday, though, when I’d been in simple jeans and a tank top with diner-scented hair, I had brought a small bag to work tonight. Five minutes in the staff bathroom, and I had managed to tame my ponytail into a messy bun and shimmy into some skintight black jeans paired with a khaki knit sweater that hung off one shoulder.
Nervous energy hummed through me. I’d never been to a bar alone before, except those couple of times at The Vault, but even then, I’d been meeting people. I didn’t even know if Malachi would be there tonight. He’d ignored me all day at school again, so I wasn’t holding my breath.
When the cab turned off the main road and pulled in the dirt parking lot at the side of Teller’s, I paid and climbed out. A crowd of people hung around outside, smoking and drinking, but they paid me no attention as I walked toward the door.
A security guy was stationed at the door, the same one as Tuesday, but he waved me inside without so much as a second glance. A good-sized crowd had already gathered, and my eyes swept the room as I looked for Malachi. He wasn’t here, but it was too late to worry now.
Feeling emboldened, I moved to the bar and ordered a beer, checking my cell phone for reception and battery. I was okay on both counts.
