Page 6 of Bad for You

“Hang on…”

She ran out.

I strode after her, couldn’t stop myself. My brain roared at me to drag her back into my room, to claim her as mine, to keep hold of the best thing that had ever come into my shitty life and never let go. Instead, I stood there as she got into her car and drove away, because no matter how much I wanted her, she wasn’t for me.

Chapter Two

Lila

Three weeks later

My phone chirped in the darkness.

I blinked up at the ceiling. If it was my sister drunk-texting again, I was going to lose it. Kate was currently at the beach for her wedding anniversary and the daily recaps of her awesome time partying with her man were starting to annoy the crap out of me. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled that she and Eric were still all loved up, that they got to go away kid-free for the first time in a long time. Over the moon even, but right now, I was actively avoiding all happy couples.

I ran my hand over my eight-year-old niece Madison’s mussed, dark hair. She was curled into my side, and my heart clenched. Though, looking after Maddie was definitely no hardship.

You’re being a petty jerk.

Sighing, I snatched my phone off my bedside table.

Unknown: Hate the way we left shit, Bambi. Can’t stop thinking about it.

I stared at the screen, my heart smacking around in my chest as I read the text again. I’d deleted Jesse's number from my phone when I got back from my humiliating night at his house. He hadn’t tried to stop me when I left, and he hadn’t contacted me since.

I didn’t think I’d ever hear from him again.

Deep down I’d known it was for the best.

I’d overheard Dane tell his cousin Bull at The Thirsty Mule, the bar Bull owned, that Jesse was on the road and he didn’t know when he’d be back.

Of course, I’d known he was going away. It was the reason I’d gone to him in the first place. But hearing it from Dane had filled me equally with relief that I wouldn’t see him after what happened between us, and pain, because I wouldn’t see him after what happened between us.

I hated that I still cared.

I stared at my phone. What could I say? What was there to say? The guy I was crazy about didn’t want me. Didn’t find me desirable. Hadn’t even been able to get it up when I’d had my mouth on him.

But what did I expect? He was an insanely sexy, badass biker who’d no doubt had scores of hot women lick him all over, and I was an inexperienced librarian who’d gotten all nervous and wracked with guilt—God, had freaked out—when he’d tried to go beyond second base.

Being with Jarod had given me warped, twisted feelings about sex and relationships. He’d made me feel terrible about myself.

Jesse had made me feel the opposite.

Then he’d hurt me, too.

I curled my fingers into a tight fist. No. I refused to let the hurt creep back in. I was done, so done with letting people treat me like my feelings didn’t matter. Like I didn’t matter.

It had taken every bit of courage and strength I’d possessed to break away from my suffocating, controlling parents. Still, their harsh and ugly words rang through my head whenever I did anything they would have slightly disapproved of.

I fought that almost every day.

Caring for Jesse, wanting someone who didn’t want me, made me feel—weak. Made me feel like that sad, scared girl who didn’t know how to escape the pain.

I didn’t want to be that girl anymore.

My phone chirped again, and Maddie stirred beside me. I quickly put the phone on silent.

Unknown: Bambi?