Page 14 of Broken By the Bad Boy

“Oh. I think my mom’s home. You brought me right on time,” Gracie murmurs. She kisses my cheek instead, and I pull her in for a proper kiss. “Um, I don’t… I don’t want to bother you—”

Seated on my bike, I take both of her hands, bringing them up to cup my face.

“Please bother me, Gracie.”

Her brown eyes smile before her lips do, and she giggles. “Okay. I just wanted to remind you about the dinner tomorrow. It’s okay if you can’t come. I just want to be sure so my parents—”

“I never forgot.”

“Okay.”

But her tone is doubtful. I retrieve my phone and open my calendar. She is not the only one who marks important dates. I show her the dates on my screen that are in red. Tomorrow is marked.

“You saved our anniversary,” she comments. Twenty-fifth November.

“Of course I did. And the date with your parents,” I add, tapping on the date beside today’s.

Tears fill her eyes. “Thanks. Don’t forget to tell them happy Thanksgiving, okay?”

“I won’t.”

“I have to go,” she says.

“Yeah. You have to.”

But I don’t release my hold on her. It’s like the first night I dropped her off, and the thought of letting her go stung so hard. I didn’t understand why back then. Now that I do, it stings more. I wish I could always take her everywhere I go, cuddle and kiss her face. Or do as little as hug her.

“Benny.”

“Okay.” I raise my hands. “Okay, you can go.”

Gracie backs away from me slowly, and her reluctance to see me leave helps to handle the ache building in my chest. She races back to me for a brief hug and chaste kiss, then runs to the door. Before she opens it, she blows me a kiss. I like her very much. I like her in a way I’ve liked no one.

Moments later, I’m still standing there. A whistle from the side of the building catches my attention. Gracie’s head pokes out of her window, and she gesticulates wildly. I cross over to the other side.

She curves her hands around her mouth. “Goodnight, Romeo.”

“Goodnight, Juliet.”

“Call or text me when you get home.”

“I will.”

I wait until she shuts her window, then begin the ride to the villa. Halfway to Josef’s place, I stop. If she’s in town, then she’s staying at the mansion. I make a U-turn for my house a second too late. A Toyota stops in the middle of the deserted road, blocking my main exit with her car.

It all happens so fast. One second, she’s in the car. The next, she’s standing in front of me in her nightmarish glory. Her hand reaches for my cheek, and I jump back. My scream dies down in my throat, and I almost laugh at my pathetic self. Badass Ben, who? She still has that power over me.

Nodding, she keeps her hands glued to her sides. “Ben,” she calls. “Can we please talk?”

My jaw clenches. I bite into my lip so hard it draws blood. I can’t look her in the face.

“I don’t want to talk to you!”

“Benjamin.”

“Stop. And stop coming to Asher’s school.”

I jump on my bike and drive around her car. Dark thoughts and memories consume me. I have no idea where I’m headed until I park behind the house I was raised. My safe place. She can’t come here.I shouldn’t be here, I tell myself that over and over, but my feet take me toward the back. I squat to pick the lock. The tremors in my arms intensify, but the door gives way after three tries.

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