Page 19 of Forbidden

“I’m taking you to get breakfast.” He kept one hand on my hip and the other on my cheek. “Now.”

“I’m not hungry.” And I really wasn’t. I hadn’t been eating. Only when Layla forced me to. No one else was close enough to realize it. No one else was close enough to see how I was failing at life at the moment.

“I say you are eating.” His eyes ran over me. “I asked Reaper how you were and he said you were fucking fine. Clearly he hasn’t seen you.”

“I am fine.”

“Hannah you look exhausted and there is barely anything left of you.”

“I am fine.”

He scoffed. “Stop lying to me!”

I clamped my mouth shut. If he didn’t want to hear my lies then I really should stop talking.

His eyes softened as he stared into my eyes. “I’m sorry for snapping.” He took his hand off my hip and ran it through his short brown hair. “Do you have plans today?” he asked hesitantly.

I shook my head.

“No schoolwork that has to be finished?” he asked again. Why would he be hesitant about whether to ask if I had schoolwork or not?

I shook my head. “No. Why?”

His eyes flashed to my lips and then he looked me back in the eyes. “I’m heading out of town to pick up parts. Wanna come?”

Brad never sounded nervous. He was always confident and carefree. But nerves were the only thing I heard in his voice as he asked me if I wanted to come or not.

“I don’t want to get in your way.” Now I was the one who was hesitant. I didn’t want him having to put up with me all day just because he thought I wasn’t eating. “Dad doesn’t expect you to put up with me.”

Which was the only reason Brad did put up with me; it was because of Dad. I knew that.

“You wouldn’t be in my way and I’m not doing it for your old man.” The corner of his lips twitched up. “I’m doing it cause I’ve missed you and I don’t want to be by myself today.”

“You just lied.”

“No I didn’t.”

“You did.” I nodded my head. “You love being by yourself.” I knew that about Brad; he would spend hours and hours by himself under a car or next to a bike working on it.

“I’d rather be with you.” His eyes held mine. And it sounded like he was telling the truth. “So, come with me?” He arched an eyebrow, sounding hopeful. “Don’t make me spend the day by myself.”

I smiled. “You sure you want to put up with me? I’m not the best company at the moment.”

He nodded his head. “Trust me, Hannah, you are the best company whether you’re in a bad mood or not.”

“Okay, I’ll come.”

“Good. First stop, breakfast.”

I groaned. “Not hungry, Brad.”

“Like I said, you are eating.” He let go of me, looking annoyed for a second. As if he didn’t want to let go of me.

“Do you mind if I leave my stuff on your workbench?” Everyone knew when it came to the garage it was Brad’s. Sure, it was technically the club’s, but Brad ran it. And lived in it.

“No. You can leave whatever you want in my garage.”

“In that case, I’m good to go. But I’m still not eating.” I was standing firm on that. He shook his head and I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let me off so easy.