Page 58 of Reaper's Claim

“Doesn’t matter.”

She wanted to twist me around, and I sure as fuck wasn’t interested in that anymore. I wanted nothing to do with the shitstorm she was creating.

“Abby, from now on, shit between you and me is simple. Got it?” I straddled my bike.

“I guess you’re glad I freaked out then.” A hint of disappointment lingered in her voice.

I cocked my head to look at her. She was standing on the footpath beside me now, looking unsure of herself. Her hair blew across her face, and if you didn’t know it, you would think she was innocent. “You didn’t do something you would regret; you should be happy with that.” I kicked the bike to life. “Drake’s inside.”

“Where are you going?” she yelled over the roar of my engine.

I could tell her, but she didn’t really want to know the answer. Hell, she wouldn’t like it. “Be best if you don’t know.”

Her hand covered mine, which was wrapped around the handle. “So are we just going to pretend that everything I said the other night didn’t happen?”

“Thought that was what you wanted?”

“I’ve had a hard week. I’m sorry that I pushed you away.” Honesty coated each of her words. “Look, Kade, if you want to just leave us as friends, I’m ok with that, but I need to know because I can’t keep going on like this.”

We were never friends to begin with. I just wanted to fuck her, and that was what started the sick, twisted relationship that had trailed over many years. How did I put that into words? But if she meant that little to me, why the fuck was I thinking about her and overthinking things she said?

“I need to go,” I grunted.

“Just give me an answer.”

“Answer to what, Abby?”

“Are we... are we going to keep this...” She frowned. “Whatever this is, going?”

“No.”

Her face became devoid of expression. “But I thought you liked me.”

“I do, and that is why I don’t want this to keep going. I can’t promise ya I won’t hurt ya, and so far Abby, that is all I’ve done.” I was no knight or gentleman, and the sooner she moved on from me, the better. “Got to call this for what it is. It’s fucked up, and I’m not ok with it.”

I didn’t just like her, I was obsessed with her. The attraction and feelings I had for her were sure as fuck not healthy.

“Then I guess you’re right; you should go.”

She took one step away from the bike and once she was out of the way, I revved the engine and rode off. I left her standing on the sidewalk. I knew what I said wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but she didn’t know that I was far from good for her. She needed closure. She needed to move on. While a small part of me was happy to admit that she and I were over, a larger part was twisting and spewing that I had been the one to end it.

Abby

I had royally screwed up any chance of Kade and me, all because I got a classic case of nerves. Why did I have to pick that moment in my life to go all girly and scared?

Kade didn’t want a relationship. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted a relationship. All I knew for sure was I didn’t want to be‘that girl.'The one that hovers around blokes who aren’t interested.

Kade had every right to call it. Now I wished I hadn’t shared my inner thoughts with him. I think when it comes to Kade, I regret everything.

I slumped down on the lounge, hanging my legs over the end. Maybe I should just try and be Kade’s friend. I’d rather be that than nothing at all. Maybe that is all we were meant to be.

“Abby, you home?” Drake called out.

“Yeah, in the lounge.”

Drake’s footsteps got louder as he approached. “How is your sister?”

A groan escaped my lips as I recalled why I hated this week so much. Kim had broken up with her boyfriend. I didn’t really see it as a big deal. However, the same couldn’t be said for my sister, who had gone all emo on Aunty Amanda.