Page 16 of Real Sexy
“I forgive you, even though there’s nothing to forgive,” Boone says, his voice low and quiet, his gaze drilling into mine.“I won’t let them keep you out of my life.”He releases my wrist and his hand slides around to the small of my back.“We’re just getting started, sugar, and I won’t let anyone take that away from us.”
I try to pull back because his words are all too perfect, designed to make me agree with anything he wants from me, but I can’t buy into it.He doesn’t understand.
“You don’t get it, Boone.This can’t go anywhere.”My voice shakes, and I know I’m about to lose it.
“Who says it can’t go anywhere?”His posture goes rigid.
“Me!Things don’t work out for me.Ever.Ineverget a break.Every time I think maybe something is gonna go right, life smacks me down again, just to put me in my place.Ripley Fischer thought she could have something better?Nope.Not a chance.Let’s make sure that goes to shit too.”
His expression softens.“What are you talking about, sugar?”
“Life, Boone!Not everything works out just because you want it to.If something can go wrong, it will.Maybe not for everyone, but for me, that’s how it works.”
“That’s bullshit.”His blue eyes spark.
“No, that’s the truth.I spent years avoiding getting involved with someone like you, someone with cameras and paparazzi following them everywhere, because of what happened with my mama.She hooked up with Gil Green, and then the next thing you know, they’re both dead.Pop never missed an opportunity to hammer me with what Mama did, and how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.And then on top of all that, I know I have the world’s shittiest luck, and Istilllet myself get involved with you against my better judgment.Now look at the freaking mess you’re in!It’s not just the press calling me a whore, but my cousin lied to the police and got you thrown in jail!Oh, and on top of that, your girlfriend comes back and rescues you.How much more proof do you need?”
“Nothing happened with Amber—”
I laugh, and it comes out sounding maniacal.“I believe you.I really, truly do.But guess what?It doesn’t matter what I think, because the rest of the world believes what they read online and in the tabloids.And that justsucks.I don’t even know why I’m surprised.I never get a break.” My voice rises and I sound hysterical, even to my own ears.“I let myself think for a second that maybe this could go right.Maybe I could finally have something good in my life, and look how royally it got screwed up.So I’m done.Just ...done.I give up.I’m going to walk away before anything else bad can happen.I’ll be back for my bird, but that’s it.”
Boone’s face morphs into a harsh mask.“You had exactly one part right—this is a good thing going between us, and that hasn’t fucking changed.We hit a few bumps in the road, but everyone does.If you expect life to be perfect, then you’re not living it right.”
“Perfect?”I laugh.“Not even—”
Boone throws up a hand and interrupts.“You had your say, and now it’s my turn to talk, sugar.So listen up.What we’ve got isn’t over.Not even close.You can tell me all day long that you never get a break and nothing ever goes right for you, but I’m here to tell you that this is very right.”
I shake my head.“You can feed me a line, Boone, but I’m not buying it.Girls like me don’t get happily-ever-afters.”
“I’m just gonna have to prove you wrong then.”
I should tell him there’s not a chance in hell, but instead I whisper, “I don’t expect anything from you.No expectations is the only way I can put one foot in front of the other anymore.Anything else just leads to more disappointment than I can handle.”
Boone reaches out and grasps my hips, hauling me close to his body.His lips ghost alongside my temple, and I swear he’s breathing me in.
“What if I want you to expect things from me?What if I promise I’m not going to disappoint you?”He pulls back and those blue eyes lock onto mine.
Self-preservation is screamingtell him you can’t take the chance.But another voice, a stupid one, is yellingdon’t you dare tell him no.
Anthony bursts into the room, talking a mile a minute.
“Boone, I just talked to my buddy.He said we gotta get this shit down to the station ASA-fucking-P.They need to log it into evidence and get it in front of the judge.He says the charges could be dropped before the end of the day.There’s a good chance that Brandy could be charged with filing a false police report too.Cops don’t like it when they fuck up big in this kind of case, so they’ll need to cover their asses.And once they see this, they’ll probably be picking up the old man and asking if she wants to press charges against him.”He stops when he finally reaches us.“Shit.That’s your dad.I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
I step back and look away from Boone’s intense stare, thankful for the reprieve.I was on the edge of doing something too stupid for consideration.I need to get out of here.
“It’s okay.I have to go.I need to get back to Hope’s to change for work and head in for my shift.”
Boone’s gaze drops to my feet.My ankle, actually.“You shouldn’t be standing for an eight-hour shift.”His expression turns rueful when he meets my eyes again.“But you know that already.”
My posture stiffens and I cross my arms.“I need this job, and I’m not going to make Hope look bad by bailing again right after she hired me.”
“You’re not bailing—”
I hold up a hand, and shockingly, Boone goes silent.“I need to find another place to live and sort out my life.And both of those cost money, which requires a job.”
His blue eyes blaze even hotter now than they did moments ago.I can tell he wants to argue with me, but he doesn’t.
What Hope asked me earlier comes back.What do I want to do?Who do I want to be?
