Page 22 of Craving the Bad Boy

Slate nods. “Sorry, boss.”

“Get her out of here! Now!” I don’t even wait for the aftermath. Roxy’s phone in hand, I burst outside, my only thought now on finding Tammy before I lose everything.

There’s only one main road in Chesterville that leads out of town to the interstate. That’s where she’ll be. She won’t be at her apartment. I missed that window of opportunity. She’ll have her things and she’ll be on the road, headed for a new town. Because that’s what she does when she runs.

Just like she should.

Only this time, she’s made a mistake. She has no reason to run from me.

I kick my bike into gear and gun the throttle. My tires spit gravel as I rip out of the parking lot and head for the one road she could have taken.

I’m driving like an absolute maniac, weaving past cars like a teenager who got his first bike and learned about lane-splitting. It’s not safe what I’m doing, but I’m not acting rationally right now. I’m acting like the man Tammy has made me into–a man in love.

Wind whips at my face, and the blood-curdling roar of my engine cuts through the air as I push my bike to its limit, speeding down the only road that leads out of town. The pavement is slick and shiny from the rain that’s just begun to fall. This is dangerous. One wrong move here and I could lose control. End up in the ditch or impacted in a tree.

Finally, I spot her taillights, like two red eyes staring back at me through the mist. My chest tightens and I gun the throttle harder, chewing up the distance between us until I’m close enough to see her hair through the glass of the rear window.

It’s time to make my move.

I don’t think. I act.

Like a madman, I cut in front of her and slow down, forcing her to slam on the brakes. Her tires skid and squeal like the sounds of some dying animal. I glance back and brake with her, stopping just beside her. And before she can react, I’m at her door, tearing it open.

“What thefuck, Saxon!?” Tammy shouts, eyes wide with panic and rage. “Have you lost your mind? I could have killed you!”

“Yeah, I have lost my mind, Tammy,” I reply, my voice stoic and unwavering. “Because I know you’re about to leave me,and I’m willing to put my life on the line to stop that from happening.”

Tears spill from her eyes, causing my heart to ache. She shakes her head. “The pictures, Saxon. I saw the pictures. You lied to me!”

“No, Tammy. No–”

“I told you about my dad!” she screams, the pain of her life soaking the tone of her voice. “About my daddy issues! And then you go and betray me like that?”

“I didn’t betray you!” It’s a struggle to keep from shouting at her. I’m not angry. I just want so desperately for her to hear the truth.

“Isawthe pictures!”

“You saw what Roxy wanted you to see,” I growl, grabbing the phone from my pocket. “Look again.”

Tammy’s gaze falters. Her lips part in a sigh of desperation. She hesitates but takes Roxy’s phone from me and begins to scroll, her fingers trembling. The more she looks, the more her eyes seem to question the terrible lie she’s been fed.

“She faked the photo with AI,” I tell her. “And the texts are all fake. Look at the timestamps. I was with you for at least half of them.”

Slowly, Tammy’s expression shifts. From desperation, to confusion, to sudden realization.

“Shefakedthese?” she asks, her voice barely a weak breath.

“Yes, baby,” I murmur, kneeling down in front of her. I’m starting to win her back, but there’s still a pang in my chest. Like a dagger that must be pulled out. “She faked it all…and you believed her. Not me.”

Tears waterfall down her cheeks, and she snaps her eyes to mine, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God…”

“I love you, Tammy,” I plead. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She searches my face with desperate, hopeful eyes, like she’s waiting for the catch. For me to add on an addendum that solidifies my status as a cheating asshole.

But there isn’t one. Because that’s not me.

Every word I’ve said to her came from my heart.

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