CHAPTER TEN
TARA
“Then what?” Sadie asks as we make our way toward our lockers. I’ve been trying to tell her what happened on Friday, but our schedules haven’t been syncing. We were supposed to hang out on Saturday, but I didn’t feel well, and yesterday she had to go somewhere with her dad.
I pop the lock on my locker and pull it open, shoving my books inside as I try to recall where I left off. I think I was at the part where we escaped to his parents living room after my leg gave out. But there’s no reason to go through all that with Sadie, especially when I really want her input on what happened when he dropped me off at the clubhouse.
He was hot and cold with me all day, so his flippant attitude to be rid of me isn’t what bothered me. It was his eagerness to go out with Hawk and Ink that sparked my rage. I know how the guys in my dad’s club get down and I also know it would take zero effort from Capone to pick up a random girl and take her to bed. What I didn’t understand is why that bothered me so much. I spent much of Friday night picturing him with a girl like Wendy from Waffle House, wondering if he took her back to the clubhouse.
It was infuriating.
I was never more grateful to be sick than I was on Saturday because it meant I wouldn’t have to see him.
“Ugh,” Sadie groans. “Heads up. Here comes Mark.”
I close my locker and turn around just as he comes to stand behind Sadie. He moves to her left, but so does she. Then he tries to go right, but she’s too quick, effectively blocking him from advancing toward me. An exasperated sigh leaves his lips as he glares at her.
“Don’t you have some place to be, Sadie?”
She props her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side.
“Don’t you have another girl to rub your dick on?”
I stifle a laugh. Straight and to the point. That’s Sadie.
Mark ignores her, his eyes connecting with mine.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Logically I know the correct response would be for me to tell him to fuck right off, but my curiosity gets the best of me.
“Fine,” I say, hitching my bag over my shoulder as I tip my chin toward the hallway. “You can talk while I walk to my next class. I don’t want to be late.”
Sadie spins around so quickly she knocks my books out of my hands.
“Are you kidding me? You’re going to give this fool a chance to talk to you?”
Torn, my teeth sink into my lower lip. If she thinks I’m stupid for giving Mark the time of day, the whole school will probably think so too.
Mark bends to grab my book, but Sadie catches sight of him, and kicks one of my books clear across the other side of the hall. My gaze shoots back to her.
“Was that necessary?”
“You tell me,.” she spats.
Mark mutters a curse as he tucks my books under his arm. Then, then he rises to his full height and crosses the hall to retrieve the book she kicked away. Alone, I bring my gaze back to my best friend.
“I’m curious to hear what he has to say.”
She rolls her eyes. “I can tell you exactly what he’s going to say, Ta. He’s going to apologize for sticking his dick inside Claudia and tell you it meant nothing. Then he’s going to beg for a second chance.”
“He had his tongue down Claudia’s throat this morning. They looked… happy .”
“Then why was she crying in the bathroom ten minutes ago?”
I stare at my best friend, my lips parting in shock.
“Why didn’t you say something? You’ve been letting me go on and on about Capone.”
She cocks her head to the side and arches an eyebrow. “I didn’t say anything because I knew this is how you’d react. He made a fool out of you once, Ta. Don’t be dumb enough to make him do it twice. Mark isn't your dad, and you're not your mom. This isn’t a great love story gone wrong. He’s a pig.”
Anger slashes through me. Deep down I know Sadie is just being a good friend, but there is also a part of me that takes serious offense to her words.
“There is nothing wrong with me hearing him out, but thanks for your concern. It’s good to know my best friend thinks I’m a doormat.”
Before she can say another word, I push past her, and make my way to where Mark stands. He hands me my book, and I take it from him, acutely aware that everyone is staring at us.
“So Sadie hates me, huh?” Mark says, cutting through the awkward silence as he falls into step beside me.
“She’s not the only one.”
“I deserve that.”
He deserves a lot worse. I rearrange the books in my arms and shoot him an exasperated look.
“What do you want Mark?”
“Let me take those from you.”
My grip tightens around the books. No way. First it starts with him carrying my books, then him taking my hand. I’m not falling for it.
“Did you have something you wanted to talk to me about or should I go back to pretending you don’t exist?”
“Claudia and I aren’t going to work out,” he blurts.
Wow, he really is predictable.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I…well…your dad said something the other night, and it kind of stuck with me.”
I sigh. When Mark and I first started dating, he was afraid to meet my parents—specifically my dad. Like everyone else in Knightdale, he heard the rumors. But my dad was cool as fuck to Mark and only threatened to maim him if he hurt me. I guess my dad reiterated that threat the other night.
“My dad says a lot of things when he’s mad. Don’t worry, he won’t kill you.”
“No, that’s not it,” Mark says, pausing for a beat. We round the corner of the hallway and stop in front of my classroom. “Look, I know what I did was wrong. I also know that apologizing won’t do me any good. I spoke to some of the guys on the football team, and no one is going to talk shit anymore. I can’t make any promises where Claudia is concerned, though. Her friends can be vile.”
“Yes, I’m aware.” I stare at him for a moment. “I saw you with Claudia this morning. What changed between then and now?”
He shoves his hands into his pockets and diverts his eyes away from me, the apples of his cheeks going bright red as he does so.
“It’s not that sudden. It started last week when I saw you leave with him .”
The sentence catches me so off guard that all I can do is blink. Mark slowly lifts his chin, and his eyes find mine.
“I didn’t like it,” he whispers.
For a fleeting second a sense of gratification fills me. He cheated on me, it’s only fair for him to feel jealous when he sees me with another guy.
Then clarity strikes.
There is another plausible reason Mark didn’t like seeing me with Capone.
“Because he slashed your tires?”
He shrugs, his eyes darting around the hallway purposely avoiding mine. “Maybe.”
“Right, well, Capone and I are friends.”
His glaze slides back to me and he arches a brow.
“He’s like twenty years older than you, Tara.”
“Ten.”
He scoffs.
“Like that makes a difference.” He pulls his hands from his pockets and crosses his arms against his chest. “He’s going to want something you’re not willing to give him.”
And there it is.
It all comes back to sex.
“Who says I’m not willing to give it him? Maybe I just wasn’t willing to give it to you .”
He rolls his eyes and takes a step closer just as the bell rings, signaling it’s time for me to make my way inside the classroom.
“Don’t be that girl.”
I narrow my eyes as I stare up at him. The fucking audacity on him. “What girl?”
“The good girl who revenge fucks her virginity away just to get back at her ex-boyfriend. You’re better than that, Tara.” He reaches out and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re better than every girl in this school.”
I swat his hand away from me and square my shoulders back. If he truly believed that then he wouldn’t have done what he did. I don’t know what game he’s trying to play, but I’m not falling for it.
Without another word, I step around him and enter my class.
I really should’ve just told him to fuck off.
My last class dragged, and my phone kept going off with texts from Sadie. I got in trouble three times, and when the bell rang, I jetted out of school like it was on fire, making a beeline straight for my car. There was no sign of Capone or his bike, but I didn’t think anything of it. He has a talent for making himself unseen until he creeps up on me. Things have also been weird with the club. Dad has been spending more and more time at the clubhouse, and my mom spent the weekend doomsday shopping. Maybe Capone’s orders have changed and I’m no longer his problem.
I slide behind the wheel and press the engine button. I’m about to reverse out of the spot when I realize there is a sleek, black Suburban blocking me. Pressing my palm firmly against the horn, I wait for the SUV to move out of my way, but it doesn’t budge.
Sighing, I pull my hand away from the steering wheel and reach for the door handle, ready to confront the jerk blocking me. That’s when my eyes latch onto the sideview mirror, and I see the driver open his door. A little voice sounds in the back of my head, reminding me that the club is on a soft lockdown and even though Capone isn’t here, that doesn’t mean I’m not a target. My parents raised me to be cautious and alert, and my dad stowed a metal bat under my passenger seat for a reason. I just never thought I’d use it.
I quickly tear my gaze away from the mirror and crawl over the console. With my ass perched in the air and my upper body curled under the passenger seat, I feel around for the bat. A knock sounds on the window, and I jump, my head hitting my head on the glovebox as the driver’s door swings open.
I’m about to let Mr. Suburban know I’ve got a weapon and I’m not afraid to use it when I hear a familiar voice.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I lift my head from the glove box and peer at Capone. I should be relieved, but his presence annoys me.
“ You’re Mr. Suburban?”
His dark brows pinch together as he scowls at me, but he doesn’t say anything as he leans his upper body inside the cab of the truck and pulls me up by arms, dragging me back over the console so that I’m sitting behind the wheel of my car. I smack his hands away expecting him to retreat, but his fingers wrap around the steering wheel as he continues to invade my space, filling the cab with the scent of his stupid cologne.
Why can’t he smell like sweat and gym socks?
“Thought you were rid of me, did you?”
Huffing out a breath, I meet his gaze.
“I was hoping.”
“Liar,” he taunts, inching back only slightly. “You missed me this weekend, admit it.”
“About as much as you missed me,” I retort. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him how he made out on Friday night, but I manage to refrain. I really don’t want to know the answer to that question.
He hums thoughtfully. “That much, huh?”
Ignoring the smirk that teases his lips, I cross my arms against my chest. “Are you back to following me around, or do you need another present wrapped? You do know that they offer giftwrapping services at the mall in exchange for a small donation, don’t you? Seems like a better option for you, that way you don’t have to be bothered totting around someone you can’t wait to get rid of. I wouldn’t want to infringe on your precious time.”
He bites the inside of his cheek, then shakes his head.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a brat?”
“Just you,” I retort cheekily.
He stares at me for a beat before straightening out and leaning against the open door.
“I figured you’d be difficult,” he says, reaching into his vest. He pulls out a jar of Nutella and hands it to me, like hazelnut spread is some kind of magical peace offering. “There’s more where that came from.”
“Oh, yeah?” I quirk a brow. “You hiding a loaf of bread in your kutte too?”
He rolls his eyes and drops the jar onto my lap. “Everyone knows Nutella is best served with pretzels, unless of course there are zeppoles on hand.”
I don’t know what a zeppole is, but I decide to fuck with him because he’s right about one thing, I am indeed feeling a bit bratty.
“I’m allergic to nuts,” I deadpan.
His face blanches and I have to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing in his face. I mean you would think he’s a five-year-old boy and I just told him there is no Santa.
“Relax, Gianluca, I’m only messing with you.” I lift the jar of Nutella from my lap and examine it. I’ve only ever had it on white bread, and it’s not my favorite, but as much of a brat as I am, I don’t want to break his heart. I honestly don’t think he can take it, he looks a bit off kilter today.
“I need a favor.”
I lift my gaze back to him and sigh.sigh. “What’s the favor?”
He bites the inside of his cheek and looks away. “We promised Sophia we’d watch The Little Mermaid with her, and she called me about fifteen times this weekend to remind me. My sister is dropping her off at my apartment. I subscribed to Disney Plus, there’s a version of The Little Mermaid streaming on there, so I think all bases are covered. I even loaded up on snacks and I’ll order a couple of pizzas too.” He brings his eyes back to me, an unreadable expression filling his face. “The only thing missing is you.”
I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, but that certainly wasn’t it.
“Don’t look so shocked, princess. You leave an impression.”
“Maybe on a three-year-old, but Friday night you made it seem like you rather poke your eye out with a meat skewer than spend another second with me.”
He shrugs. “You’re not that bad.” He cocks his head to the side as he cups the back of his neck. A conflicted expression flits across his features. “My job is to follow you around and make sure you’re safe. I shouldn’t be hanging out with you. More than that, I shouldn’t fucking want to.”
“Afraid your reputation will be ruined?”
He releases his neck and narrows his eyes.
“Let’s get something straight, princess. I don’t give a fuck what people think about me. But even with that bratty little mouth of yours running, I don’t look at you and see a seventeen-year-old girl, and that is where the problem lies.”
My pulse quickens at his words, and my head spins with all the possibilities of what those words could mean. I lick my lips desperately trying to find a witty comeback for that, but sparring with an older man isn’t exactly one of my talents.
His gaze drops to my mouth, and his jaw clenches visibly.
“What do you see?” I squeak.
As soon as the question leaves my lips, I wish I could take it back. If I’m reading this whole exchange wrong, I’m going to look like a giant fool.
He lifts his eyes back to mine. “Too much. I see too fucking much.” He takes a step backward and taps the hood of my car. “Follow me to the clubhouse. We’ll drop off your car. I already called Holly and told her the plan.”
“I didn’t say yes.”
He stares at me quietly for a beat, then clucks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
“Oh, but you did, princess. Maybe not so much with words, but rest assured it was written all over your pretty little face.” He pauses, his tongue sneaking out to wet his lips. “I told you I see too much when I look at you. Way too fucking much.”
Without another word, he leans forward and reaches for my seatbelt, dragging it across my body and securing it into place. My breath hitches at the proximity, and I swear he groans in response. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but it feels like I’m out of my realm. Like whatever is transpiring is bigger than I’m used to. More complex.
His fingers linger for a moment before he takes the jar of Nutella from my lap and sets it inside the cup holder beside me. Then his eyes slowly lift and lock with mine
“Drive safe, yeah?”
Feeling dumbstruck, all I do is nod. He unfolds himself from the cab of the car and gently closes the door. My gaze follows his form in the sideview mirror as he retreats to the Suburban, involuntarily dropping to his tight ass. Catching myself, I close my eyes.
What the fuck just happened?