Page 66 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

He drops another dollar in the swear jar for talking about sex in front of Mom. My hands curl into fists. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

Peter’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and I drop a five in the swear jar. Mom’s making bank today. He snorts. “Pussy. You’re no fun anymore.”

Another dollar in.

“Let me know when dinner’s ready.” I kiss the side of Mom’s head and pat her hand. “I don’t want to deal with this dick right now.”

Peter calls me a spoiled sport as I head up to my room and take my new frustration out on the punching bag.Sky and I agreed to keep our relationship a secret,I remind myself as my knuckles ache.

Which means I can’t defend her or think about what Peter tells her whenever he gets the chance. Not that she’s exactly receptive to him. I’ve worked to get back in her good graces, he hasn’t. And I’ve been lucky as hell.

I grab the bag and press my head against it. I just stand there holding it, panting. I’m supposed to be cooling down until tomorrow at the earliest, but I don’t care about that. Boxing is the only way I know to deal with my anger, my confusion, and all the other shit in my life I can’t change.

And I’m tired of feeling like I’m being pushed around by the ocean. I’m just a jellyfish going wherever the current takes me, wishing I had the power to swim.

My phone buzzes once, then a second time. And continues. I pull it out of my pocket and see Sky’s number. I answer the phone. “Sorry for not answering. I was in the kitchen.”

She’s silent for a long moment, then I hear her exhale. “What’s wrong?”

I blink a few times and look out my window. She’s watching me with her lion’s mane of hair all fluffy, in just a little excuse of a shirt. She scratches at her hair. “I’m serious. What’s bothering you?”

“How do you know something wrong?”

“You’re hugging your bag, not answering me, and … your face.” She says. “I notice shit.”

“It’s almost like you like me.”

“Don’t deflect.”

“My brother popped my bubble,” I say softly. “Want to talk until dinner?”

“I’ll listen,” she says, then I see her tarantula on her chest.

I smirk. “Put Drac on. He’ll sympathize better.”

She huffs and takes a breath. “I want to help.”

Yeah, she doesn’t hate me. Not even close. That wild, pissy lion next door is going to fall for me, it’s just a matter of time. The only question is: what the hell are we going to do when we’re forced to face the bullshit waiting in the wings?

Chapter 20

Sky

Ash and I take a break from the phone for dinner, and I realize I’m not shaking or dying from our talk. I congratulated him on the news about the talent scout—although he says it’s nothing concrete, I empathized with him about his dad’s opinion on his boxing and his dropping out of business school. I listened to him gush about how sweet his mom is and how he’d take on a bear to protect her or his dad.

But he’s over Peter’s bullshit. Apparently, Peter said something, but Ash refused to tell me what. He doesn’t like talking about Peter, which is confusing because I talk about Chase. Maybe it’s an older brother thing.

I try not to think of anything as I lie down to go to sleep. It’s been a good day. Things are fixed with Ash – honestly a miracle and a lot of work, things are good with Bonnie, my hand is finally chilling out, and I feel good.

That’s good, right?

So why do I feel like I’m preparing for a jump scare? A shiver teases my spine, and I toss and turn in bed, then I finally give in to sleep. I wake up at close to noon. Groaning, I look through my photos of Ash and send him a few good ones from his last fight and then sit downstairs, hoping to see my dad.

I keep telling myself that I’m going to talk to him. That I’m going to have at least a conversation with him about him being more present, at least invite him to dinner. But when Dad comes in, he looks at me like he’s forgotten I exist.

“Sky?” he greets me softly, his eyes squinting at me. If he’s drunk, there’s no telling. I can’t smell any liquor on him.

“The one and only, Dad,” I mutter, spreading my arms.

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