Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Just… not him,” I point to Rooster, painfully aware I’m not making sense.
Rooster frowns. “Why not?”
“Yes, why not?” Angel repeats, getting right into my personal space. “Why not if you weren’t there? I even cleaned under the bed, because I figured you might crawl in there, and now you’re having a jealous fit? And we didn’t even talk about the licking!”
Rooster whistles. “Oh, wow. Now we’re getting to the good stuff. What ‘licking’?”
I am boiling alive. “None of your business! Fuck off, Rooster, or I promise you, I’m gonna make your life such hell you’ll be begging to end up on a plate next to Cabbage!”
He opens his mouth, as if he’s about to sass me, but then just raises his hand in defeat and walks off. “I’ll see you around, Angel!” he yells without looking back.
Angel grabs the hem of my shirt and tugs me closer. “Nothing to say to me? Have you decided what you actually want?”
Voice dies in my throat. I’ve learned to deal with guys who piss me off all the way back in juvie. I needed to if I wanted to survive. But Angel? A pretty boy I want to wrap myself around? I’m so out of my depth.
“I didn’t want to bother you after what I did,” I mumble, hypnotized by the blue of his eyes.
Angel sighs and places his hands on his hips as he takes me in. “You abducted me. Yes, you did that! I was scared for my life, but then you just deserted me as if I was a broken toy. Do you know how that felt?” Is he… about to cry? But before I can decide, Angel rubs his face and goes on, “I thought you wanted me, but then you just disappeared, and now you’re acting as if you have the right to me and my time? And you know what? I don’t belong to you. Actually, I don’t want to even look at you right now!”
I step back as if he’s hit me. I would have preferred that, because at least he would have touched me then. “Hm… how about I come over next week?” Is that a decent amount of time to wash away some of this pain between us? Or am I misinterpreting ‘right now’ when he means he never wants to see me?
“Are you shitting me?” Angel snaps. “Should I prepare lunch and cover the table with my new embroidered cloth, too?”
Fuck. Wrong again. If I danced with the chicken instead, would he have smiled at me? “I’m sorry about the licking,” I say, trying to somehow put a lid on this situation, because I worry that’s what he’s really angry about.
But Angel turns on his heel and walks off, his thin cardigan flopping behind him like a cape.
He hates me.
He never wants to see me again.
Chapter 11
Creep
As if this day wasn’t bad enough already, my motorcycle broke down as I was about to ride out to sulk, so I’m stuck by the garage while Val takes care of the issue. I can deal with basic maintenance on my own, but since I wasn’t able to work out what’s wrong, her diagnosis is needed.
I replay the conversation with Angel in my head over and over, and it’s reminiscent of the clouds, dark and thickening over my head. I almost wish it would start raining, because I deserve it. Angel… wanted me to visit? And I blew it. I don’t even know what we could have had, but he suggested something.
But since I didn’t show up, didn’t help him get acquainted with the people of Vulture Hollow, he’s fed up with me. Permanently. I can’t believe I failed so damn badly.
The mechanics kept watching me, no doubt already aware of my little abduction adventure and teaching their children that the bad man from the caves will take them too if they misbehave. I ended up leaving the garage and settling on the hood of a car Val has been planning to renovate for so long it’s started rusting. At least here, I can be alone with my grim thoughts and regret my actions so deeply it twists my features.
That is of course until Road rolls up to me with a massive sandwich wrapped in paper, and sits next to me with a knowing smirk.
He’s tall, built like a workhorse, and his buzz cut displays the burn scars he obtained on the night he made his first move on his now-husband. That stunt worked out quite well for him, but Road’s never been anything like me. He’s the kind of guy who always speaks his mind and boldly demands what he believes he’s owed. That is why he has a man and I don’t.
“So… licking, huh?”
I groan and my scowl deepens. There’s lightning speed, and then there’s the speed at which Rooster disseminates gossip. I could walk away now, ignore Road, but other than his husband Clyde, who I don’t know as well, he’s the only gay guy I’m friends with. And he’s in a stable relationship, so if anyone can help me here and offer insight, it’s him.