Page 44 of Biker Boo
His jaw works.“I think you wanna believe it was him.”
I stare at him.
“You want it to be Legend,” he says.“Because it’s easier than thinking it might’ve been someone else.Someone who ain’t your golden boy.Someone who ain’t safe.”
“I’m not looking for safe,” I snap.
He flinches.Just barely.Then, quietly, he says, “Ain’t lookin’ period.”
The words hang between us like smoke.
Fuming, I bring up my skirt and show him the name etched into my thigh.“Told you it was Legend.If it wasn’t, why’d he do this?”I lie.
His brow draws together.“Guess you’re right.It was Legend.”
He looks at me one last time, eyes dark and glassy.Then he turns back to his notebook.
Dismissed.
His pen scratches again as I walk out.But I swear, I hear it snap when the door slams shut behind me.
Chapter 13
Royal
She walks away like she always does, back turned, chin high, storm in her hips.
And I just… watch.
Watch her boots kick gravel.Watch her hair catch in the wind like a curse I ain’t strong enough to lift.Watch the last sliver of her shadow slip away and vanish down that same path to Legend’s door.
Like I ain’t just torn myself in half denying her.
Like I ain’t the reason she’s limping a little.
Like I didn’t just press her against a ruined church wall and take her like I was starved, for her body, her breath, herlove.
Let her think it was him.
Hell, maybe it’s better that way.
Let her believe it was Legend who made her feel that way.Let her wake up thinking the golden boy dipped down into the dirt long enough to ruin her for anybody else.
I’ll stay in the shadows.I always do.
BecauseI know better.
Legend gets the girl.
Royal gets the ghosts.
Always has.
I shut the shed door behind me and lean hard against it, heart punching against my ribs like it’s trying to get out.Like maybe it could chase her down for me.Say all the shit I ain’t man enough to.
But I don’t move.
Instead, I go to the desk.My notebook’s still open.That page, the one I wrote last night before I lost myself to her skin, is bleeding ink.
