Page 89 of Bullied By The Bad Boy

A tap on my window causes me to raise my head, and a smile takes over my lips. Maria whispers, “Behave.” But I don’t want to. I have behaved for so long that I am allowed a break today. Ben slides to the backseat and pokes his head between the two front seats to peck me soundly on the cheek.

My fingers itch to crawl into his hair and kiss him properly, but for Maria’s sake, I behave.

“Hey, you,” he says to me. His tone is less warm when he turns to Maria. “Maria Vega.”

“Benjamin Carter,” she replies. We share a brief look and a warning flashes in my eyes. She shuts her eyes tight and pinches her fingers together. “You know what? Let’s cut this crap.”

This was so not the plan. Ben is not looking at me, so I can’t gauge his reaction. I cross my legs and face Maria, mouthing for her to calm down. When Ben turns, I force a tiny smile to my lips.

Maria’s voice drags his attention back to her. “I am only being nice to you because of Tessa, but if you hurt her…” She leaves the statement hanging for it to sink in, and her finger juts out in his direction. She is in full mama bear mode. I love it. “I’ll hurt you in two hundred different ways. I swear it.”

My hand sneaks into Ben’s hair. I tug on it lightly from the roots, and he moans softly.

“She will,” I add.

The awkward tension between my two favorite people crumbles, and Ben’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “Ouu, I’m scared.” Maria squints, and he lets out a laugh. I hide a smile at his effort to convince her. I’m aware I forgave him a little too quickly, so I’m secretly grateful for her and her attitude. “I won’t hurt her. Contrary to what you think, I’m a gentleman, and I intend to prove it.”

“We’ll see,” I murmur.

“Gotta go, bitches,” Maria says. Ben runs his fingers through my hair and leans in. His lips graze the side of my face. I blush, and Maria strangles the air. “Enough with the PDA, you two.”

Maria throws her arms around my neck in a brief hug, and I thank her silently for being my best friend. Seconds later, we are alone, and Ben takes over the passenger seat. He opens his arms for a hug. I shake my head. This is the first of many punishments to come for being an ex-asshole.

“But why?” he asks with a pout.

I start the car and drive out of school. Since his bike is still at the mechanic, I am his ride home.

“We should go out,” I say once we are at a traffic light. Ben turns off the radio when he doesn’t find a channel to his liking. I push one hand out of the car and retract it once I remember my dad. He will have a fit if he sees me. We need another father-daughter hangout. “What do you think?”

“Out like where?”

“A date.”

The light turns green. I zoom off in silence and connect my phone to the car’s speakers. Maria’s voice filters into the air. I try not to steal glances at the handsome boy in my car, but I can’t help it.

Ben catches my stare once. “When did you realize that you liked me?”

I shrug. I’ve had like an unserious crush on him. It’s like fangirling over Hulk Hogan, well aware you two might never meet. It was the same case for him. “I don’t really know. What about you?”

“When you hugged me the first time. It felt right. The second time was even more perfect.”

I clench the steering tight. “I’ll hug you every day, Benny.”

Ben blushes. “Thank you.”

We fall into a companionable silence. I sing along to Maria’s songs. Electricity zaps through me when his fingertips brush my arm. I slow the car. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his touch.

“Your friend sings good,” he mutters.

“Yes,” I reply, desperate to jump on any conversation. Maria is a great singer. She knows that. She has the voice of an angel and the mouth of a sailor. I love it. Her snarky mouth never fails to come to my defense. “Number one on her bucket list is to sing at America Got Talent and win.”

We turn into the street leading to his house. The streetlight reflects on the hood of the car parked in front of his house. I park a few meters behind the red Volvo.

“Big dreams. She will be popular before you know it,” Ben says. I lean over for a quick hug, pulling back with a smile he reciprocates. “Thanks”

I laugh and position myself at an angle that allows me a full view of his face. “You’re welcome.”

“Your best friend doesn’t know you fight, does she?”

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