Page 16 of Dating the Bad Boy

“I’m not being like anything. I just didn’t expect to find my daughter having explicit conversations in a diner.” Her mouth presses into a disapproving line. “I expected her to be at work on time.”

“I’m sorry,” Leslie cries softly. “I forgot! It’s not the end of the world.”

“It’s my fault, Mrs. Langley,”I say, stepping in to try to smooth this over as everyone in the damn diner goes silent, turning to watch the show. “Leslie doesn’t have her car, and I convinced her to stop for breakfast before I take her to get it.”

Gloria’s gaze lands on me like the crack of a whip. “Why doesn’t she have her car?”

Fuck. I didn’t think this through at all. If I tell her that her daughter left her car at the arena last night because I drove her home and spent the night with her, I’m liable to make this situation a lot worse than it already is. This woman clearly doesn’t like me much right now. Hearing me threaten to fuck her daughter over the table in a diner full of people probably has her ready to strangle me, as a matter of fact.

“I left it at the arena last night,” Leslie says.

Gloria shifts her gaze from me to her daughter, something a lot like worry floating through her eyes. “Leslie, darling,” she sighs. “This isn’t like you. You don’t?—”

“I know it isn’t,” Leslie interrupts. “But this is what I want, Mama. Can’t that be enough for you? It isn’t his fault I forgot the meeting. It’s mine. I’m sorry I disappointed you. I’m sorry I’m not perfect. I’m just sorry, okay?”

“You are perfect,” I growl, cupping her cheek as tears fill her eyes. No one–not even her mother–gets to make her feel anything less than that. Hell no. Fuck that. Not today or any other day. “You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, gorgeous girl. You’re allowed to make mistakes. You’re allowed to forget. Andno oneis allowed to make you cry for being who you are and chasing after whatyouwant. Especially not in public.”

I cut my eyes in her mother’s direction, daring her to gainsay me. But she just stares at me with wide eyes, not saying a word. Good.

“Come on, baby.” I slide from the booth, holding out my hand to Leslie. “I’ll get you home so you can do what you need to do. We can have breakfast another day.”

Her bottom lip quivers. “I really wanted my French toast.”

“I’ve got it right here,” Letty says, swooping in with our breakfast wrapped up and ready to go. The woman is a goddess. Seriously. She shoves everything into my hands, shooting me a sympathetic look.

“Thank you,” I mouth, wrapping my arm around Leslie’s shoulders.

“Leslie, darling, I…” Her mother stares at her, guilt and remorse stamped all over her face. But whatever she wants to say to her daughter isn’t going to be said in front of a diner full of people. She’s said enough in front of them. If she wants to continue thisconversation, she can do it in private. After Leslie has time to regroup.

That’s what she needs right now. Actually, I think what she needs is an honest conversation with her parents about who she really is and what she really wants. Because I have a feeling that isn’t something she’s ever really done. She’s always been the good girl they expected her to be instead of living the life she wanted to live. She’s sacrificed her own happiness for their comfort.

And judging by the look on Gloria’s face as I shuffle Leslie out of the diner, she’s realizing it, too. I can’t decide for Leslie what she wants, but I know what I want.

Her. My fucking heart is hers. I need her to choose me, too. And I don’t think she can fully do that until she breaks free of the good girl persona she’s chained herself into and gives herself the freedom to really be who she’s meant to be.

Not mine, not her parents. But her own beautiful, courageous self.

CHAPTER 6

LESLIE

As Asa drives awayfrom the diner, the tension in the truck feels suffocating. I’m still reeling from the very public argument with my mother, and it was all over the monthly employee meeting, which they don’t really need me for anyway.

“You okay?” Asa asks, glancing at me sideways as he steers the truck down the narrow, tree-lined roads of Silver Spoon Falls.His concern is palpable, and my heart is still beating double time from the way he stood up for me.

“I think so.” I’m not really sure. There’s only one thing I am certain of—it’s time for me to stop hiding behind this good girl image. I glance over at Asa and realize one of the things I love about him is he really doesn’t give two shits about what other people think of him. He lives his life and to hell with anyone who doesn’t like it.

Determination fills me as I glance at my watch and see my parents should be done with the employee meeting soon. Since they’re creatures of habit, they’ll be back at their home to get ready for Saturday afternoon Bridge Club. Now’s the perfect time for me to meet with them and come out of my good girl closet, and then I can work on winning the perfect bad boy.

“Could you drop me off to get my car?” I ask as he turns down the road leading to his home in Midnight Falls. “There’s something I need to do today.”

Asa glances over at me, and I can see the indecision swirling in his eyes. “Sure, if that’s what you want.” He turns around and heads back in the direction of the theater.

As Asa pulls up in the deserted theater parking lot, I can hardly fathom how much has changed since our date. I’m no longer happy with my boring safe life, and I’m ready to jump into a new life with my bad boy. But there’s something I need to do first.

He parks the truck right next to my little blue car and turns off the engine.

“What do you need from me?” Asa asks, turning to me.

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