Page 15 of Malice and Surrender
“Bitch, I think you broke my dick,” Dennis groaned, still in the fetal position on the ground.
“Consider yourself lucky that’s the only thing she broke, asshole. Don’t touch my girlfriend again,” Avro said, his voice as hard as steel.
Excited energy fluttered in my chest at the word girlfriend. Of course, just like another time in my life, it was said to get rid of a scumbag, but I couldn’t help feeling that this time, it meant more. I took the red drink from his hand, and Avro immediately put his arm around my shoulder as he guided us away from Dennis and the crowd he was drawing.
“Why did you say that?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Unfortunately, guys like that only respect one thing, and that’s a bigger, meaner guy. Sexist? Yes, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Besides, you already embarrassed him in front of all those people.” Avro leaned closer to my ear, and a shiver traveled down my spine. “And, if I stayed any longer, I was going to punch him. No one touches you…”
My mouth ran dry, and I quickly sipped on the cold slushie. It almost sounded like Avro was saying that I was his. My body heated all over, and it felt like a million degrees.
“And then everyone wonders why I don’t people,” I said and looked over my shoulder, but there was no sign of the jerk. Sighing, I played over the interaction and decided my mistake was turning my back on him. No matter how stupid I looked, I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off him.
“Hey, are you okay?” Avro asked as the silence stretched on between us.
“Yeah, I’m just not feeling the fun beach vibe anymore. I’m sorry, that guy gave me the creeps, and I keep playing it over in my mind, trying to figure out what I could’ve done to avoid it altogether.” I glanced up at him, and he was frowning.
“Raine, there is nothing you should have to do. That’s the point. He shouldn’t have touched you at all, and that’s not on you.” Avro pulled me closer, and I sighed, feeling completely relaxed with him around.
God, that felt good. To be touched and not be afraid. I didn’t want the day to end, but I’d lost the mojo.
“Would you mind if we just headed to the club now? I really should make sure everything is set for tonight.”
“Of course, but, Raine…try not to let that loser get to you. Jerks like that are a dime a dozen, and they win if you let them stop you from doing what you want. Don’t give them that kind of power.”
Avro smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. Was he just sad about the day ending early, or was there more under the hooded stare? I suddenly wanted to know everything about him. Things I’d never asked to keep myself from falling more than I should. Wrapping my arm around his waist, I hugged him.
“Thanks, I needed to hear that, and thank you for an incredible day.”
Kaivan
“Wake the fuck up, man,” Roach’s annoying ass voice penetrated the furthest reaches of my sleep-induced brain. I kept my eyes closed and prayed that he would go away. His boots stomping up the stairs to my bedroom echoed through the old house.
“Hey, Snake, wake the fuck up. We need to get ready to go,” he hollered, louder this time. I sighed as my bedroom door slammed open and rattled the walls that needed repair. “Dude, are you deaf? Let’s go.”
Rolling over, I blinked as I looked out the window. It was light out, but the sun was in the wrong direction. I grabbed my phone to check the time and saw that it was six o’clock at night.
“What the fuck do you want, man?” I asked, dropping the phone onto my chest and closing my eyes again.
“This girl is going to be the death of me. I swear I’m gonna have to lock her ass up in a cage somewhere,” Roach said, like that comment was supposed to make sense. Something landed on my face. I grabbed it and stared at my T-shirt.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I glared at Roach as he rifled through my closet. “Come on in, why don’t you? Go through my shit, why don’t you? Did you even bring me any fucking coffee?”
“Here.” Jeans sailed in my direction, and I caught them out of the air. “Coffee and pizza are downstairs. We need to go soon before they open the doors and don’t let us in. You can eat on the way.”
“Is someone dying?” I asked as Roach continued to stomp around my room like a cave dweller. I was expecting him to scratch his dick and grunt at me.
“Not yet, but I may be before the night is through,” he mumbled, making me shake my head.
“Am I getting to kill someone?” I still didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about, but I pulled the T-shirt on over my head, thankful I’d taken the time to shower when I got in.
“You really need to paint or something. This place looks like hell,” Roach mumbled and tossed me a pair of socks from my drawer.
“I’m not going anywhere until you explain what the fuck is going on. You’re not making any sense, and get out of my drawers. Shit, man, what are you, the warden?” I growled at my friend, and he slammed the drawer shut.
“I’ll tell you when you get downstairs,” he said, disappearing out the door.
“Hey?” I called out.
