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“Whatever,” I grumbled. “I’m not fighting with you on this.”
“Because you know I’m right.”
“What’s it to you?” I demanded.
“Nothing,” he hissed, tone laced with venom. “It’snothingto me, Molloy.”
Yes, itwas.
It waseverythingto him, just like it waseverythingto me, but he was too damn stubborn to ever admit it.
“Well then, shut up about it,” I snapped, folding my arms across my chest protectively. “Damn.”
Joey was quiet for about half a minute until he blew out a frustrated breath and said, “All I’m saying is if some asshole treated my sister the way I watched him treat you tonight, he sure as hell wouldn’t be getting another chance to pull that stunt on her again.”
“Wow,” I deadpanned. “Keep it up, Joe, and I’m going to start thinking that you haveactualfeelings.”
“I do,” he shot back, not missing a beat. “For the people Iactuallycare about.”
“Like your sister.”
“Like my sister,” he confirmed without a hint of embarrassment, which wasn’t something most guys our age would admit. “Although Shan’s not thick enough to fall in with a prick like Rice.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Like you’re such a saint when it comes to girls.”
Joey shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve never left my girlfriend alone in a dodgy side of town so I can fuck around with my buddies.”
“Because you refuse to have a girlfriend.”
“Which is a good thing for Ricey,” he snapped. “Considering I seem to spend most of my time looking out forhisone!”
“Oh please.” I rolled my eyes. “So, you’ve walked me home a few times. Big deal.”
“Afew? You might want to count again.” He gave me a hard look. “How many times has your old man had me walk you home from the garage?”
Half a dozen or more.
“How many times has that prick treated you like an afterthought?”
My cheeks reddened. “Oh, shut up.”
“All I’m saying is think about the way he treated you tonight. Especially when he shows up at school tomorrow with some bullshit apology and a flashy new bracelet, or whatever crap he locks you in with.”
“I’m not a magpie, Joey,” I snapped, seriously annoyed now. “I can’t be bought with shiny new jewelry.”
“No, you’re just a doll,” came his hurtful response. “Ricey’s personal fucking mannequin to drape in jewelry and stand by his side, looking pretty and sayingnothing.”
I stopped walking.
I stopped breathing.
His words cut me to the bone.
“Move your legs, Molloy,” he growled, several feet up the road, as he turned back to glare at me. “I’m not waiting around all night for you. I have shit to do after this, ya know.”
“You asshole.”
“Me?”
