Page 10 of Guardian
His hand slams on the counter again.“Don’t pretend to be so fucking obtuse.You’re more like your dad than you think.Careless.Just because you’re not an art professor who’s fucking his models doesn’t make that less true.”
Wow.I know it’s rude, but I’m kind of giving him the finger.Mentally.
I grab an orange out of the bowl on the kitchen table and pour myself some almond milk.There’s no point in trying to argue.Once Liam’s sure he’s right, there’s no changing his mind.And Liam is Always Right.
Except…one thing bothers me more and more lately.“I don’t understand why you even care.”
“Your father asked me to look after you.It’s my job.”
Is that all I am, then?A job?
“I’m not a kid anymore.If my parents were still alive, their job would be done.So is yours.Since I annoy you so much, why don’t you let me move back into my dorm room, and then you won’t have to deal with that vein throbbing in your temple anymore?”
It’s admittedly a little bit satisfying when he scowls and rubs at the side of his head.As if that will stop his actual blood from flowing.I may be failing biology, but even I know the answer to that one.
I hook my backpack over my arm and gather up my almond milk and my plate.
I make it a total of two steps before he asks me, “What’s your association with Brennan Doyle?”
I freeze where I am.“How many times are you going to ask me that?”
When Liam picked me up from the hospital a couple of weeks ago, Brennan happened to be in my room.It was nice of him to visit me, but not the greatest timing.Liam’s been like a dog with a bone ever since.
“Until you give me an honest answer.”
Here’s the problem: I’ve never lied.Not about this.It’s not my fault Liam won’t believe me.
I’m pretty sure this is an interrogation tactic.Asking me the same question over and over to see if my answer changes.Too bad for him,I’m not lying.Also, I’ve learned his tactics by now.
“Look, he pays me to dance at parties.Sometimes dinner dates, but those usually go to the taller guys.I’m not having sex with anybody.Even if I was, I’m old enough to have sex with whoever I want.It’s not illegal, and it’s nobody’s business.”
Least of all yours.
Anger and want make my pulse race.There was a time when I’d have given anything for it to be Liam’s business.Maybe it’s a simple fact that teenage hormones caused me to crush on the sentient marble statue who swooped in to rescue me when my world turned upside down?That’s all long gone, though, believe me.
I mean…more or less.
I’m working on it.
“It’s illegal if you’re getting paid for it, kid.”
“I’m.Not.Having.Sex.With.Anyone.”I practically spit each word through my teeth.“One client likes me to hang out and play chess with him.There’s nothing illegal about that.”
I don’t know why I bother.He’s never going to listen.
This is another problem with Liam.When I’m around him, I’m practically a different person.Not at all who my parents raised me to be.
I’m not mentioning the auction.That part is definitely a legal gray area.Brennan is good at getting around these things, though.That’s why I chose to let him handle setting it all up.Sure, he’s going to take a cut of the money, but with that comes security.
Like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I’ll take security where I can.
Yes, Liam tries to keep me safe.Most of the time, though, it feels more like prison than safety.Like he’s my warden, the way PJ said.
There’s a special kind of hurt that comes from knowing the person who helped raise you sees you as a burden.Knowing all I’ll ever be to him is a child?A job?
Itaches.Every time he reminds me, it’s as if he took his favorite knife right to my sternum.
“Brennan Doyle is a lowlife, Ravi.A criminal.Associating with him is going to get you arrested.”
