Page 30 of Broken By the Bad Boy

The door shuts behind Hayden. I set my phone on the dresser after checking for any messages from Ben. Nothing. I shoot Maria a text while blow-drying my hair to curl it later. A simple:I miss you,and she replies with hearts and crying emojis. I shake my head and tap on my playlist.

Drama queen.

Pop music interrupts the silence. I sing along to the familiar tune, trying a few dancing moves in front of the mirror, mostly moves I will never replicate in the presence of anyone because I look like a stick controlled by the wind. I pause in the middle of dressing and palm my bare stomach.

My eyes lower to the white, uneven patches on my legs and belly, and a smile tugs on my lips. Ben’s words strengthen me. I twirl in a circle and end it with a courtesy. This is my superpower, and I don’t have to be ashamed of it. Olivia can go suck it. Suck what? I don’t know. Something.

Minutes later, I am done and ready to go. I grab my phone and tuck it into a silver purse that matches the beaded neckline of my black dress and wristwatch, beaming at myself in the mirror.

I look fantastic with my hair down, winged eyeliner and a dab of red lipstick. Confidence flows through my veins the longer I stare at myself, and I picture myself on the runaway or TV shows. This is not the face of a loser or a girl with zebra skin. I take a selfie for Ben, another for Maria, and make a video of me whipping my hair slowly like a high-paid model at a hair commercial.

The house is quiet as I walk down the stairs. My fingers run over the railing, and the sound of my heels connecting with the wooden surface rings out in the silence. Maybe I am a bit overdressed.

Maybe not.

Mom left the house looking fancier. Dad was in a suit, so I believe Hayden will dress the same to avoid looking out of place. I halt when I hear male voices. There’s not one, but two of them.

Hayden and someone else. Someone familiar, but I can’t place it yet.

I cover the flight down the stairs as quietly as my shoes allow, and my heart jumps to my throat when I spot the two male figures hanging decorations on the tree. The TV is on. A soccer match is playing. Hayden says something to his partner, both laugh, and my brother slaps him on his back.

They are backing me, so none of them notice me stop at the foot of the stairs. The other guy turns.

Wait, what? I rub my eyes, expecting the person beside Hayden to vanish, but he doesn’t. They plop into one of the sofas arranged in the shape of a U, and my heart slams against my ribcage. My purse drops to my feet. A soft thud echoes, and his head snaps my way.

Ben smiles. I gasp. This is not a dream. I am still processing this when my boyfriend runs around the couch I am leaning on to support my legs that have turned to jelly and pulls me into a hug.

Sweet Jesus.Ben is here. My boyfriend is here.

Ben’s scent surrounds me. I take a satisfying whiff of his cologne and purr. My boyfriend is in my house, hanging out with my brother. We break apart and grin foolishly at each other. I giggle as Ben slides his knuckles along my cheek, too happy in the moment to react otherwise. My heels put us on nearly the same height, so I touch my lips to his in a soft kiss that turns wild and hungry. I missed this guy.

Hayden clears his throat. “Ahem. Kids.”

I wheeze with laughter at Hayden’s failed attempt at being serious. He looks cute with his hands akimbo, hair strewn over his forehead and that scowl. Ben wiggles a brow, and I laugh harder.

At Hayden’s grunt, we turn. The Christmas tree behind him occupies a corner of our living room, with some branches extending to the top of the TV. The lights flicker, and a Christmas song plays. While Hayden tends to the singing tree, I steal a kiss from Ben. It has been too long.

Ben takes my hands and directs me to the couch farthest from Hayden. I glance at him, and my smile widens. I want to jump him. Kiss him until my lips are swollen. One hug isn’t enough. I need more body contact. I want his hands on my belly in silent appreciation of my vitiligo.

We have not seen each other in six days. I have been counting.

Sparks dance where our bodies meet, and my lips remain in a perpetual smile. Ben’s hand never leaves my knee. I am not sure he notices, but his finger randomly moves across the visible part of my skin.

Hayden picks up the remote and flips through the channels. He is still as undressed as he was when I kicked him out of my room. And he didn’t tell me about Ben.

I fold my hands on my knee. “Hayden, why aren’t you dressed?”

Hayden stares at us with a bored expression, then grabs the cookies on the table. “I’m not going.”

“Why?” He shrugs and takes a big bite from the stash of cookies that is slowly reducing. “Hey, that’s for Ben.”

My boyfriend nudges me with his elbow. “I already had some. They are delicious.” I don’t want him lying on behalf of Hayden. Hayden throws him a pack he easily catches. My parents praised the cookies earlier, but hearing Ben say it to me has my heart fluttering. He breaks a piece into two and feeds me the other half. I think I die a little out of excitement. “You did great, Gracie.”

“It tastes better when it’s hot,” I tell him. To my annoying big brother, who’s tapping rapidly on his phone after switching off the TV, I say, “Why aren’t you dressed? We will be late, Hayden.”

And I am yet to inform Mom we have a plus one. I didn’t invite Ben, but he’s here. I peck him again and run my fingers through his tresses, scattering the hair he must have spent time on.

“About that,” Hayden says. I smell bad news. He grins at Ben, and my eyes narrow in suspicion. Ben shrugs. These two just met today and are already ganging up on me. “I kind of lied.”

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