Page 77 of Broken By the Bad Boy

Whatever they are saying seems to annoy both of them. Olivia speaks, and Ben does the same. They speak over each other, and I have a feeling it has to do with me. I horn again. Her sharp eyes cut to my car, and I release the horn. The bitch doesn’t scare me.

Ben grips her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. Minutes later, she nods to whatever he says and hugs him again. Their proximity bothers me, and my nails dig into my knees. I need to breathe. They start for the car, and I flip the radio to appear busy. A love song comes on, and I switch it off.

Who wants to listen to a love song after watching their boyfriend comfort another girl?

Olivia hesitates beside the car. Ben comes over to my side and pokes his head in. I do what my fingers itch to do. I run them through his hair. He brings my hand down to cup his face and sighs.

“Sorry,” he says with so much sincerity that refusing the apology feels like a sin. “This was a bit too much.”

I don’t know what he means, but I nod again for his sake.

“Can she come in?” I want to say no. “Please?”

“Sure.”

Ben returns to Olivia, and I catch her stealing glances at me. She is right to be wary. If I were her, I would refuse to be in the same car with the girl I bullied. I fold my arms across my chest as she covers the short distance to the car. Light catches her swollen face, and my breath hitches.

She has black eyes and split lips.

If I know anything from fighting, I know that someone punched her in the face. Someone stronger than her, and it was multiple punches to the same spot. She gets into the car silently.

“What? What are you staring at?” she barks.

Her tone is harsh, but I can’t bring myself to be mad at her. I look at her house. The lights are on.

“Sorry,” I whisper.

“Sorry too,” she says in a small voice that I almost miss. “Didn’t know you two were on a date.”

I don’t say anything, but my heart goes out to her and Ben. Ben stops pacing in front of the car. There’s a sad look in his eyes when they meet mine. I try to smile at him, but I only pull it off halfway before the smile falls. He strolls to the car, wrenches my door open, and hugs me tight.

“Thank you,” he mouths.

Throughout the ride to his house, he never lets go of my hand. Once the car stops, Olivia exits. She stops at Ben’s door, and her lips purse as she contemplates her words. Ultimately, she walks away without a word to either of us.

“Does that happen often?” I ask in a whisper.

Ben shrugs, and my stomach churns. If anyone touched a single hair on my head, they would end up in jail. My parents won’t let it slide. I run my hands over my face. I don’t know what to think. I didn’t even know Olivia’s ‘sweet’ parents were getting a divorce. They always seemed nice, especially Mrs. Beckham.

“Do you know who did it?”

Ben presses the back of his hands to his eyes. “Can we not talk about it? Please.”

I snort, and he peeks at me with one eye. “Okay, Benny.” I retrieve my stuffed lion from the floor of the backseat and dangle it in his face. His lips break into a small smile. “Thank you for Benny Junior.”

A moment of quiet passes between us as the lights in his living room flicker to life. Two shadows rush past the curtain. Asher is home. The knowledge relieves me more than I care to admit, and I feel like such a shitty person for letting my thoughts wander in that direction. Olivia needs his help. The last thing she’ll try to do is seduce my boyfriend. It’s silly, but I keep thinking about it.

“It’s not like I don’t want to tell you,” Ben murmurs. His voice slices through the cobwebs in my brain. His eyebrows furrow, and I reach up to kiss them. “It’s not in my place to do so, Gracie.”

“I understand,” I tell him. His eyes say he doesn’t believe me. “I’m serious. I’m not mad.”

Ben sighs. “Okay. I have to go.” I guess so. This night is a lot. Ben must also think that because he says, “I am so exhausted.” Me too. He steps out of the car before I reply. “Alright, babe. Go home.”

He’s not chasing me, but it feels like it. Either way, I must leave now, or Mom will ground me for the rest of our stay here. Ben waits for me to start the car. I wave, and he waves back. My car pulls out of the driveway. From the side mirror, I see he is still waving at me. My heart gallops.

I love that boy.

Thirty-Seven

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