Page 21 of Bad Boy
“Yep,” Grady answers. “My baby sister by five minutes—Sierra Marie.”
She rolls her eyes but can’t stop a sweet little smile from blooming. “Grady, you don’t need to introduce me like that to every new person we come across.”
“But it worked this time. He just asked if we were twins.”
“I apologize for my brother, Remi. I’m Sierra.” She holds a dainty hand out that I shake gently. If I wasn’t into the shy, intriguing boy across the table from me, I might be interested in this new arrival.
“Nice to meet you,” I say with a genuine smile, glad to see Lincoln has some nice friends. I was starting to wonder if there were any. Not that it would matter to me. I’m still going to be his best friend. . . and more.
So much more.
“I saw Brandon stalkin’ away from here. Was he givin’ you both trouble? I swear he’s delusional if he thinks he ever had a chance with me when he treats my brother and friend like crap.”
“He bothers you, too?” I ask, concerned that I now have three friends targeted by the same bully.
She rolls her eyes again like it’s of no consequence to her. Just a minor inconvenience. “Yes. Since middle school. He just can’t take no for an answer lately.”
“What does that mean, Sierra?” Grady questions from across the table, eyes suddenly hard.
“Yeah, Sierra. What the heck does that mean?” Linc parrots. I turn to the beautiful girl in question, who busies herself by opening various lunch containers without making eye contact with anyone.
“Relax, you guys. I just mean he’s always askin’ me out, beggin’ me to come over and chill.” She makes eye contact with her brother and then Linc. “You know Mom and Dad would never let me date him, even if I wanted to. And just to clarify, I definitely do not.” She takes a small bite of some kind of chicken salad wrap.
My eyes flick to each of them, eating with perfect fucking manners, while I stab another oversized chunk of meatloaf and shove it into my mouth. I finish chewing before I speak so I don’t look like a complete heathen in comparison.
“Tell me when he doesn’t back off. I’ll have a chat with him, ’kay? Any friend of Lincoln’s is a friend of mine because. . . Well, did you hear, Sierra?” I face the boy that’s occupied my every thought since I met him yesterday morning. Attraction isn’t a strong enough word for what I’m feeling. I can barely stop myself from reaching across the table and touching him. My fingers twitch just thinking about it. “Linc and I are best friends now.”
His face burns bright, just as I expected. I take a large gulp of strawberry milk, hiding my smile and feeling supremely satisfied by my claim.
“Oh, reeeally,” she says, drawing the word out. “No. I did not hear this. Lincoln, you could have texted me if I was bein’ replaced,” she teases warm-heartedly, and I bite back another grin. I really like her.
Linc once again misconstrues her words and takes them literally. It’s fucking endearing as hell, and I’m sure she thinks the same, judging by the twinkle in her golden eyes. “Sierra, I’m not replacin’ you. Or Grady. I would never. You know me better than that. Remi and I. . .” He trails off and runs his long, slender fingers through the front of his hair, smoothing the already perfect strands back. I’m completely distracted by the movement.
“We met yesterday. But yes, we’re friends now.”
Sierra covers her mouth and giggles softly. “I was just teasin’, Linc. I’m glad you found a new friend.” She bumps her knee into my leg, conveying a world of meaning in one small gesture, but I hear her loud and clear.
Take care of him.
Don’t hurt him.
This is important, and I don’t take my earlier declaration lightly.
Start as friends, then make himmore. Make himmine.
CHAPTERTEN
LINC
Fog hovers above the slightly damp pavement, and the distant mountain peaks hide in the clouds as the cool October wind whips me in the face. I’m traveling at an easy twenty miles per hour along the outer edge of the main road leading from school to home. Early afternoon showers left behind a mist that disperses around me as I cut through it on my moped.
Today was a pretty good day. Having Remi in my classes is going to be. . . interesting, to say the least. And I so desperately need somethinginterestingin my life. A small smile pulls at my lips as I remember him standing up for me at lunch, ready to fight for Grady and Sierra.
I continue down the road, my head in the clouds and my heart fluttering with excited nerves. My smile grows wider, thinking about the weekend overnight field trip to Pisgah. Since Grady and Sierra are juniors, we’ve never had the same classes or opportunities. So I’ve never even asked my parents about a trip before. They’d definitely say no to parties or sleepovers, but since it’s for school, I’m hoping they'll agree. Technically, I’m eighteen and don’t need their permission, but the academy doesn't like to discriminate against those who are still seventeen, so we all have to get parental signatures.
An engine revs, and I’m torn from my thoughts when a familiar, nasally voice shouts, “Thirsty?!”
Before I can comprehend what’s happening, something hard slams into my helmet, jerking my head to the side and exploding into a mess of pink liquid that coats my face and glasses, essentially blinding me. I lose control of my moped, swerving back and forth, and the force of the impact throws me off balance as I struggle to right myself again.
