Page 267 of Satan's Spawn

My nostrils flare at her, ready to jump out of my seat but Crayton placing a hand on my thigh awakens my common sense.

Killing the bitch with kindness is even a risk.

The best reaction now is no reaction at all.

Alexis orders a couple nerds to abandon a table, and like flies to shit her posse swarms around her as if no time was lost.

“What are we gonna do about this?” Levi asks Crayton, whose eyes are like paper on Alexis.

Everyone’s attention is shifted to Crayton, fully expecting a plan of attack.

What he suggests next is the complete opposite, shocking everyone but me. He turns in his chair, helping himself to a grape this time. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Nothing?” Saint seeks confirmation, as if in disbelief his best friend would ever choose against violence.

“I said what I fucking said.” He spits. “I got better things to focus on besides some bitch looking to stake a claim.”

Nobody says a word after that, our entire table going back to eating, talking and bickering.

Except me and Crayton, we’re back in our bubble. Him pulling me closer and me sinking into him, smiling as I look up and he presses a kiss against my forehead.

43

BEX

“Tell me something,” I stare up at the ceiling of Crayton’s room. We’re laying side by side in his bed with our hands tucked behind our heads.

It’s been around an hour since Saint took off to grab a pizza, and my stomach rumbles louder the more I think about the saucy, cheesy goodness.

I’ve had pizza in La Jolla, but it pales in comparison to how good it is in New York City. Something I’m reminded of as I wait impatiently for Saint to return.

“What do you wanna know?”

“Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

Crayton stays quiet and pensive, a little too long for comfort, making me wonder if it’s not with me.

“You want my honest answer or the washed out one?”

I turn to him, hands against cheek. “Of course I want the truth.”

He shrugs. “If not dead then behind bars.”

I shoot up, glaring sharp and fierce at him. “Don’t fucking say that, stupid.”

Crayton’s voice remains flat. “You asked for the truth.”

Rolling onto his chest, I hug him as tight as my skinny arms will allow. “You can never leave me.”

“I would never want to, Little Ghost, but the circumstances in my life don't allow me to shoot for that picket fence and five kids. I’ve done a lot of terrible shit.”

And I know all of it, accepted it, and stored it away. Nothing Crayton has done before the night of the dance means a thing because he’s changing for the better.

For us.

“I don’t care. Promise me.”

Crayton sighs. “I can’t do that without lying.”