Page 38 of Bleed for You
“Jinx.”
Jinx stopped and slowly turned around to see Craig standing behind him. The tight blue jeans and blue shirt looked good on him, and Jinx fought the urge to pull Craig into his arms and kiss him. “What do you want?”
Craig glanced away, licked his lips. “How are you?”
“Good.” Liar. “You?”
“I’m…” Craig shrugged. “You know.”
“No, I don’t know.”
Craig winced, looked away again. “I’m moving on.”
“Me too. That’s why I was here. To move on. Find someone and fuck. Like how we met, yeah.”
Craig paled, swallowed. “So you…” he nodded to the club.
“Yeah, I did, and now I’m going home.”
“That was quick,” Craig bit out.
“And you haven’t been with anyone.”
Craig looked away, pursed his lips. With a shrug, he said, “Maybe.”
“You walked away, Craig. I didn’t. I’m single to do as I please and so are you. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To move on like you just told me. You don’t get to judge me for doing what you yourself are doing.”
“I left because you’re not the person I thought you were. Our entire relationship was based on a lie.” Craig looked around. “You hurt people, and you like it. There is something wrong with you.”
“There is, and I know it. I own who and what I am, and I do what I do to satisfy that part of me. I’m not the same as you. I never will be, and I’d rather use that darkness inside me to hurt those who go after kids.” Jinx stepped slowly towards Craig and hid the hurt he felt when Craig backed away. “I know exactly what I am, Craig.”
“You’re sick in the head.”
“Why did you follow me outside, Craig? To tell me how sick and twisted I am? To tell me there is no future for us? I know all of this.” Jinx sighed and looked at the club. “Go inside and fuck as many men as you want. I’ll do the same.” Jinx turned away and ignored Craig calling his name.
“Jinx! Don’t walk away from me.”
Jinx spun around and strode over to Craig. “I get to do whatever I want where you are concerned,” he said in a low voice. “We’re through. There is no us, so you don’t have any right to tell me what to do. I told you how I felt the day you left the cabin, and you never responded. Don’t stand there now, acting like you give a shit.”
“I don’t,” Craig snapped.
“Then why are you standing here? Why did you follow me outside?” Jinx stepped closer, ignoring the way Craig’s eyes widened. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see how you were, but you’ve clearly moved on.”
“As you have, otherwise, we wouldn’t have seen each other in the club.” Jinx shook his head. “What do you want from me? Want to hear how I’ve missed you? How many times I had to stop myself from calling you and seeing how you were? If you were okay? If you needed me in any way? How—”
“Jinx…” Craig opened and closed his mouth, then fell silent.
“You can’t accept all the parts of me, and I understand that. It’s the reason I kept that part of who I am away from you. I love you, Craig. I probably always will, and I only want the best for you, but I can’t stop what I do because it’s who I am. I like who I am, and I like what I do. You can’t accept that.”
“You’re a murderer.”
“Yes, I am.”
Craig stepped back, looked at the ground, then ran a hand over his face. Lowering it, he opened his mouth, then closed it. Sighing, he closed his eyes. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, but I can’t be who you want me to be, and you can’t be with me because of what I am.” Craig opened his eyes, and Jinx reached a hand up, waiting for Craig to flinch away, and was surprised when he didn’t. He palmed Craig’s face and kissed him gently on the lips. “I love you.” Dropping his hand, Jinx turned and walked away.
