AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I felt sheepish about bringing it up, but in my tired state, it had seemed like a perfectly reasonable concern. Xavier trusted him in the shop, and I trusted him with my body. In all this time, he’d never given me a reason not to. I had no idea why I’d said something so careless, especially since it wasn’t how I usually felt at all.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I appreciate everything you guys have done. My mom would have loved it here today.”
Even though he nodded and said “Okay,” his shoulders were stiff. I could tell he hadn’t accepted my apology, and I felt terrible.
43
ADRIAN
While Xavier went downstairs to use the gym, Jackson, Emma and I went upstairs.
I was still stewing about Emma’s accusation.
How could she see me that way? After everything I’d done for her? I was used to strangers treating me like a criminal when they’d found out about my past, but Emma? She was one of the few people I genuinely trusted to see me for who I really was.
I was still distracted when we went inside the apartment and Jackson poured us all a stiff drink.
“Cheers to a great day,” Jackson said.
“How many nipples do you think we tattooed?” I asked.
“I did fourteen,” Jackson said. “But I was probably the fastest.”
He looked at me expectantly, but I wasn’t sure — I hadn’t kept count, preferring instead to focus on my work.
“Something like that,” I mumbled.
Emma seemed to sense my discomfort because she sat next to me and wrapped her arm around my back.
“I didn’t mean what I said,” she said. “Honestly, I was tired and wasn’t thinking.”
I stared at my drink.
“I know,” I said, and looked up so I could gaze into her electric-blue eyes. “I just don’t want you to see me that way. I’m not the person the cops thought I was. I would never do anything to hurt you in any way.”
She was quiet for a moment, and for a second, I had the horrible sinking feeling that she was about to disagree. But instead, she nodded.
“I know. I know none of you would do anything to hurt me.” She pulled out a business card and frowned at it. My eyesight wasn’t great, and the text was small, but judging by the books printed in the top corner, it looked like it was for a… library? Before I could ask about it, she tore it up.
“Why did you go to prison?” she asked.
“Wrong place at the wrong time,” I said. “My brother had beef with another guy in the neighborhood, and what started as name-calling turned into something bigger. My brother broke a kid’s arm. My brother fled, of course, and the police picked me up when I was with the kid, trying to do first aid.” Emma’s hand found mine and I squeezed it as I tried not to let her hear the emotion in my voice. “I look like my brother, so the kid got us mixed up and the next thing you know, they’re hauling me into the back of their van.” I swallowed and squeezed my eyes shut. “When it’s quiet, I can still hear his bone breaking.”
Emma was silent.
“Shit, man,” Jackson said. “I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
“Yep,” I said, and picked up the drink Jackson had poured for me, and took a long sip. I didn’t like to dwell on those memories — they made me feel hopeless. “How did you find out I’d been to prison, anyway?” I asked.
Emma’s eyes went to Jackson and I knew immediately.
“Sorry, man,” he said. “It just slipped out. Just like her sayingI love you.”
My mouth dropped open and Emma winced.
“You saidwhat?”
“It’s nothing,” Emma said. “But…” she looked down at her shoes. “Yeah.”
