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I drop my head back and sigh. “Are you always this difficult? Just unlock your fucking phone, Cora.”
Growling, she snatches it from my hand and slides her finger across the screen before handing it back to me. I find her contacts and punch in my number, leaving her a bit of a surprise when she goes searching later, then hand it back to her.
“I put my number in your contacts. If that fucker shows back up, or if you need me for absolutely anything, you get hold of me right away. Text or call.”
“Why would I do that?”
I inch closer to her, just enough that I can hear her sharp intake of breath.
“Because you might be tough, sweetheart, but nobody should be fighting all these battles on their own.”
CORA
I slip far enoughinto the crowd that TK can’t see me anymore, but I’m close enough to watch as he rejoins his buddies. A pretty brunette with a pixie cut runs up and wraps her arms around his neck, pressing her tits against him as she sways, trying to get him to dance with her.
Why had he done that? The guy had been an asshole for sure, but I could’ve gotten away. I’d done it before, and I’m pretty sure that last guy who messed with me had to get a testicle surgically removed.
I don’t know why I even came here. Curiosity, maybe? It had been a long time since I’d been home for bike week, and when I’d heard that Rock Townsend was playing tonight, I’d made sure to take this one night off to check it out.
My mother hadn’t been too happy when I told her where I was going, especially when I’d mentioned coming here with Rachel and Nicki, because she’d never liked them. I don’t like them much either sometimes, but this town isn’t exactly overflowing with possible friendships for me. And even if Rachel and Nicki were world class bitches, at least they were familiar bitches.
“Who was that guy?” Rachel asks, sliding up beside me, her overly made-up eyes trained on TK. Part of me wants to punch the admiration right off her stupid face.
“Just a guy from the bar.” I move to walk away, but Rachel and Nicki stay rooted to their spots.
Grinning over at me, Nicki grabs Rachel’s hand. “Come on, Cora. Introduce us to your sexy friend.”
The two of them giggle and stumble as they make their way toward TK and the other Black Hoods. I knew I shouldn’t have come with them. I hadn’t hung out with them since before I’d had Harrison, and in this instant, I remember why. The only thing they understand is partying, meaningless sex, and keeping me firmly in my place as the DUFF in our trio, the designated fat, ugly friend.
“Nicki,” I call, hurrying after them, desperate to intervene before they get anywhere near him.
My fingers catch the back of Rachel’s shirt when we’re just a few feet away.
“Where’d your lady friend go, TK?” Priest inquires loudly over the music, but I’m close enough to hear him. I know he’s talking about me.
TK responds, and I hear his voice loud and clear.
“There’s lots of free pussy around here, man. You think I’m gonna go chasin’ after a fat, mouthy bartender that would probably bite my dick off if I even tried to get near her?”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I freeze. Rachel heard him as well, because she claps a hand over her mouth and shouts giddily, “Oh my God, that’s hilarious!”
My heart squeezes in my chest, and the pain in my belly grows, as if his words were splitting me wide open.
Rachel’s high-pitched squeal gets Priest’s attention, and his surprised eyes soften as they meet mine. I watch his lips move, but I can’t hear his whispered words. And then, in slow motion, TK turns and sees me standing just behind him.
“Oh, fuck,” a buddy of his mutters, causing Nicki to giggle along with Rachel.
I know the instant our eyes meet that he knows I heard him. His face blanches under the strings of lights, and his mouth drops open.
Without a word, I run.
I run from TK, calling my name, and Rachel and Nicki’s howling laughter, toward the exit.
Why did I ever agree to come here with those bitches? They’d never done anything but make a fool out of me at every turn, so why did I think after a few years had passed, they’d changed?
And TK… Why did his words hurt so bad? It’s not like I haven’t been called worse. Some of the drunks at the bar have gotten pretty creative with their insults when I cut them off from their alcohol, or break up a fight they’re itching to get into.
But those guys were always drunk. And though their insults were shitty, they were said in anger, in the heat of the moment. They weren’t personal. Yet TK had said them because he meant them. He may have been nice to me these past few days, even helping me out with that handsy prick a few minutes ago, but it’s clear he doesn’t see me in any sort of positive light.
