Page 19 of Blood & Honey
“Not exactly.It was my idea.It’s complicated.”
“How complicated can it be, and dude, isn’t he like way older than you?Didn’t he have a baby with your sister?”
“One question at a time.Ash isn’t his.And he’s only ten years older.I think.”
“You think?”She throws her hands up.
“I’ll explain more later.I promise.Just don’t tell Jackson or Brian.Or anyone.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.I knew you had the hots for him, but I assumed it was a crush.A fantasy.How long have you been messing around with him?”
“Since last night.”
I can tell she doesn’t believe me.She stares at me with pinched brows and a tight-lipped expression full of disappointment.
“Promise me this stays between us.”
“Fine.I won’t say anything for now.”
“I swear I’ll explain it all to you.”
“Just be careful.Him and his club are dangerous.”
“I know who he is.”
“Are you sure about that?People disappear around him is all I’m saying.”
“I trust Blood.”
“If you say so,” she tells me, and my stomach sours.
Blood didn’t hurt Shelby.
Did he?
Back at the table, our food has been served.However, I’ve lost what little of an appetite I had.
“Thought we was going to need to call in a search party,” Brian teases.
“We all know Ashley is good at disappearing,” Jackson mutters.
I should feel some morsel of guilt for walking out on him at prom.I don’t.
Instead of giving him any response, I cut into my eggs, watching the yolk soaking into my bread.I can sense everyone at the table staring at me.Waiting for me to give them an explanation.
Taking a sip of my orange juice, I continue with the silent treatment, allowing them to fill the silence if they choose to.I don’t owe them anything.After the shit Jackson has put me through, he’s lucky I went to prom with him at all.
“I can’t do this,” Jackson lashes out, dropping his fork against his plate.“How can you sit here and not even fucking apologize for ruining my night?”
“I’m sure you found someone to occupy my space the moment I left.”
“I don’t get you.Why bother getting back with me?Was this to get back at me for Lulu?”
“You caught me.Everything I do.Every thought I have revolves around you.Get over yourself.”
“What the hell is on your finger?”He grabs my hand, trying to read the tattoo on my finger.
I twist my hand out of his hold.“None of your business.”
