Page 32 of Brutal Days

Tomorrow is another day.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

DAMON

#Done

Gia had no idea she was a fake girlfriend. The chick was clingy. I clenched my jaw, my only outward sign of annoyance, as she hung all over me, blabbering about something I didn’t pay attention to.

We had an at-home football game the next day and a fight Saturday night. And on top of all that, I had a crazy amount of homework due Friday. I shouldn’t be out, but I couldn’t concentrate knowing Sky was at Chicks-N-Wings, working, so I’d dragged Cole, Riley, Phoenix, and Shane along. My brother and Riley were home for reasons I hadn’t bothered to find out. I was just glad to see them. And as a bonus, Tracey hadn’t joined us. She and Riley didn’t get along, probably because Tracey was scared of Riley, which was another thing I liked about my brother’s girlfriend—who was also my stepsister, since her mom had married my dad.

None of that mattered. What did was watching Skylar interact with her customers. I was beyond irritated by it. And if any of the guys at the table she served got handsy, I would slam my fist into their faces.

Sky looked incredible in the tight, tiny shorts and shirt. All black fit her personality. Her dark hair was in a high ponytail, not something I’d pictured for her because she usually wore it down. It accentuated the graceful curve of her neck. What I didn’t like about everything I had just admired were the guys around her doing the same thing.

A week had passed since I’d talked to her. She had switched her schedule around, so we weren’t in chemistry together as another attempt to avoid me. During that time, I hadn’t taken Gia out either, which meant I’d had no excuse to get my hands on Skylar or even message and call her.

We were seated in her section, but she’d passed us to a different waitress. After placing our orders, I shrugged Gia off—who clung to me like a cheap suit. Her cloying perfume gave me a headache, and how she grabbed my arm was awkward and unwanted. I bet she’d never given a guy a hand job in her life—probably never kissed a guy either. The mention of a blow job would probably make her crazy blond hair explode.

I couldn’t take being ignored anymore. “Skylar.”

My voice boomed across the restaurant, making her turn in our direction. I left her no choice but to come to our table.

“Hi, guys.” She pasted on a fake smile, stood by Gia, and pretended I didn’t exist. “Need anything?”

“I need to know how you like being objectified.”

Finally, she looked at me, cold fire and hatred pouring from her tightly clenched lips. “No one’s objectifying me.”

I snorted. “Bullshit, your table of five over there is staring at your ass. Or do you like that? If that’s the case, bring it on over here.”

She placed her hands on the table and leaned toward me, a storm darkening her blue eyes. “Fuck you, Demon.”

Her use of my nickname was a nice touch. “No thanks. Looks like you’ve got plenty lined up and willing since they’re already checkin’ out the goods.”

Her hands balled into fists, and she physically jerked away. I laughed, but it sounded hollow even to my ears. The girl had fight in her. If she weren’t at work, I had no doubt she would have tossed one of the many drinks at our table in my face.

Gia, for once, was quiet. That didn’t sit right with me. All the shit Skylar was willing to do so her friend could have the senior year she’d dreamed of, and not once had Gia defended her. It only drove home how much the chick wasn’t my type. Our table was quiet. Phoenix, Cole, and Riley glared at me. Shane watched Gia.

“You need to chill,” Cole said.

I could tell Riley and Phoenix wanted to lay into me, and it pissed me off. I nudged Gia. “I’m outta here.”

When she stood, I guided her out of the restaurant and into the car.

She remained silent on the drive home, which only made me angrier. “I won’t be able to meet you tomorrow night after the game. I need to get some sleep.”

Big brown eyes collided with mine when I pulled up to the curb in front of her house. She looked like she was about to cry. Why, I had no idea. Because if it was about me not wanting to hang out as opposed to what I’d said to her best friend, she needed to get her head on straight.

“What about Saturday?”

“I might have some family shit to do.” It wasn’t true, but I wouldn’t share that with her.

Cole might’ve caved about Raelyn and Dad, but I hadn’t, and I wanted nothing to do with them.

She hesitated, unsure. I knew what she wanted—me to kiss her, which she hinted at by leaning forward. When I didn’t, she sat there for another few seconds, probably waiting for me to walk around and open her door. I wasn’t doing either of those things. Instead, I turned up the music, a rude hint for her to get out of my SUV. When she finally did, I pulled away, not even checking to see if she made it to the front door.

I had a game to concentrate on.

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