Page 48 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
“What does it look like? I’m stopping you from busting your head open. You’re welcome.” Swirling, I pointed to the bush where her useless lover boy waited. “You, out.”
The trees rustled loudly and the kid went flying like a rabbit. Only tripping on a rock slowed him down.
A rangy fuckboy, probably a year or two older than her. Just your average overgrown teenager in a white college sports tee that was a size too big for him.
I’d seen him around town a few times, blustering and making himself out to be the big man with his friends on their skateboards.
When he saw me, his face went white as a sheet in the dim moonlight.
“Shit,” he muttered. “Bro, I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t… Shit!”
His look was almost comical.
I didn’t laugh once as I gave him a quick once-over.
My nostrils flared. Hard to believe she saw anything in a startled buck who just showed zero concern for her safety, but I remembered what it was like being a teenager.
Hormones make you stupid, and stupid gets dangerous fast.
“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Blackthorn!”
I frowned.
Wasn’t the first time I’d been mistaken for her old man or Leonidas himself, and I didn’t like it.
“Jace, what the fuck!” she hissed. “He’s not my dad, he’s—he’s just anasshole.”
My grip on her shoulder tightened.
“Kid,” I told the boy. “Beat it before I change my mind about letting you go without calling the cops. You’re trespassing, and that’s the least of what I could slap you with.”
“Okay, y-yeah! I’m going, I’m going.” He gave Cleo one last startled look and sprinted away, pulling his pants up as they sagged around his waist.
Sorry fucking scene.
Then Cleo slapped my hand off her shoulder, tearing away from me.
“Holy crap. Like are you done ruining my life yet?”
Above us, thunder rumbled in the distance. A split second later, a cold ocean rain began pelting us.
“Hate me all you want, Nile. One day, you’ll thank me.” I pointed up at her room. “Back inside, young lady. Right now. The sooner you get moving, the more time you’ll have to figure out what you’re going to tell your grandfather.”
The violet-blue glint in her eyes dripped otherworldly hatred.
“Oh, fuckyou, Holden Hardass.” She swiped a hand down her face, smearing her overdone makeup in the rain with her tears. “Why are you like this?”
“Why? Because someone has to look after you. We both know Mr. Blackthorn’s too old to catch you falling out of trees.”
“Oh my God, you’re ridiculous. I fell because you startled me! I’m not your freakingprisoner.”
“Choose your words very carefully.” I folded my arms. “I don’t want to explain the part where you were caught sneaking out to meet a boy who wouldn’t even stand up for you. Or thepart where you could’ve wound up paralyzed. Your grandfather thinks you’re smarter than that. Don’t prove him wrong.”
Her cheeks flared.
To her credit, she had the good grace to feel shame.
“That’s… that’s not your decision. You know what? Don’t bother. I’ll tell him myself.”
