Page 26 of Brutal Days

My finger hovered over the button to call her when another text came through.You’ve got to be kidding me.Damon was parked outside my house.

I needed to handle it quickly and shoved my feet into my shoes. “I’ll be right back, Mom.” Then I slipped outside and headed straight for his SUV.

Shadows darkened the side yard to an inky void between my house and Gia’s without any of the windows casting light to lessen it. Clouds overhead obscured the stars, and even the sliver of moonlight did very little to dispel the night. Damon’s car was off, his headlights extinguished, giving his presence a necessary clandestine aura, especially if Gia happened to look out her family room window. Good thing her room lay on the opposite side of the house, away from mine.

I went around to the driver’s side, and he got out of the car before I could stop him.

“Ignoring me won’t work, Sky.”

My head snapped back. He was such a demanding baby. “Are you for real?” My hands found my hips and planted there.

“I’m doing you a favor.”

His deep voice grabbed hold of me, but I resisted the pull and gave him another piece of my mind.

“If you’re out on a date with Gia, you should not be texting me. That tells me you’re ignoring her, again, and in direct violation of our deal.”Take that, asshat.

“I paid attention to her just fine. But your friend is not my type, and I’m having to put up with her to get the bare minimum from you.”

“She’s beautiful. And guys like you give girls body complexes because you think only starving girls with big boobs are attractive.”

He huffed. “That’s not it at all. Physically, she’s very attractive. It’s her nonstop talking and attitude that aren’t my thing. I prefer hostile and combative, wrapped in a gorgeous package.”

I sucked in a breath. He confused me too much, and I couldn’t determine whether I should be offended or turned on.Maybe both?

“But this isn’t worth it. You’re too much effort to pin down for the favor I’m doing you regarding your friend.”

I shrugged, too heated to try to fix it. “Then quit.”

Damon hauled me against him. He tangled a hand in my hair, and the other wrapped me tight so I felt every inch of his hard body. Then his mouth slanted over mine. I couldn’t think, only feel. He took control, demanded, and I was helpless against the onslaught of sensations.

Kissing Damon was earth-shattering, and I was quickly growing addicted. When he broke the kiss and put distance between us, I was more than flustered.

“Why do you keep doing that?” It slipped out before I could stop myself. My brain wasn’t engaged yet. He’d turned me upside down with one touch.

A slow grin transformed his face into pure gorgeous corruption. “Because I like it.”

“Fine.” I was rattled, and a thrill raced through me because I liked it too. “But you can’t keep hurting Gia. You have to be the guy she thinks you are.”

“That’s ridiculous. The entire school knows I’m not the docile fantasy you’re portraying.”

“I don’t care. Be attentive to her. And that means”—I ticked off the list of behaviors on my fingers—“no ignoring her. Treat her with respect. Be caring, and do all the senior year milestones I told you she wants.”

A storm brewed on his face like I’d offended him.What did he expect?He was an asshole and should be the first to admit it. Why my telling him to be something different was such a big deal confounded me. But I was done trying to figure him out.

“You can be your usual asshole self with me, but be better with Gia.”

“Fine, if you’re willing and accessible when I call you.”

What choice do I have?The jerk had me backed into a corner. “Within reason. I can’t drop everything for you.” I spun on my heel and rounded the truck, then walked backward to the house, needing to put distance between us. “This is one of those times. I’m watching a movie with my mom.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DAMON

#Secrets

It was late, but Sky was on my mind. In my room, because I was avoiding Dad and Raelyn, like usual, I sent Skylar a message asking if she’d gotten in trouble with her mom. It wasn’t long until the three dots appeared with a single word—no.

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