Page 10

Chapter Ten

Jimmy picked me up for school, but he’s no longer coming into the building. Instead, he’s parked near where I saw my father. I overheard Mom and Prodigy discussing me. Saying that maybe I made it up or saw what I wanted to. Like I need attention and am acting out because of the whole secret little sister situation. On the way here, Jimmy barely spoke four whole words to me.

He’s wearing the same clothes as yesterday and smells like stale cigarettes and liquor. I guess he’s hungover or something. I tried to talk to him, but he told me he had a pounding headache and could I talk less.

I knew our kiss was too good to be true. He doesn’t want me. I was stupid to think there could be anything between us. I’ll chalk it up to temporary insanity due to all the stress.

When lunch rolls around, I fire off a text to Jimmy.

Want me to try to bring you some food out?

I’m all right.

Are you mad at me?

Why would I be mad at you?

I don’t know? You seem off today.

I’m tired. Been a long coupla days.

Because of me?

No.

Before I can text more, Jonesy takes up the seat across from me.

“Hey.” He flashes his signature bright smile my way. Two days ago, I would have given just about anything for him to smile at me this way. Now I feel nothing.

“Do you need something?”

“Who was that guy yesterday?”

“A friend.”

“Just a friend?”

“Yup.”

“Is he your boyfriend or something?”

“Or something.”

He laughs nervously. “Right, well. I was wondering who told you about…you know?”

“Your kid?”

“Yeah. That.”

“I can’t remember.

“Was it that guy? Does he know my ex-girlfriend or something?”

“No. And no, I won’t blab it around to anyone if that’s what you’re worried about. It’s none of my business.”

“She lied to me.”

“You don’t have to explain. It’s really none of my business.”

“It’s not?” he cocks his head to the side. “Cause I got the impression that you liked me. That you wanted me to ask you out?”

“I did.”

“Great. I was thinking we could go to homecoming together.”

“No, thank you.”

“If you let me explain.”

“Let me stop you. I’m not interested in you in that way. I was. Sure, but now I know what kind of guy you are and, well, I don’t want involved in whatever it is you’ve got going on.”

“You want to meet me in the closet later?”

“You can’t be serious?”

“What can I say? I’m highly ambitious. When I see something I want, I go for it. And well, let’s just say I always get what I want.”

“Yeah, you and me,” I point back and forth between the two of us, “not happening.”

“Was worth a shot.” He leaves with a look of confusion and, for the first time since lunch started, I feel a bit better. I finish eating my meal before heading back to class, my mind still replaying every interaction I’ve had with Jimmy these past few days on repeat. I’m not stressing about my cracked out father or the little sister I’ve yet to meet. Nope. I’m as selfish as they come. All I can think about is the kiss with Jimmy and how I wish he’d break up with his girlfriend.

That’s the fantasy.

Realistically, I know he’s going to stay with her. They have a history I can’t compete with.

When school ends, I find Jimmy waiting across the street, leaning against his truck, smoking a cigarette. A dirty habit, but he makes flirting with danger look damn good. His dark hair slicked back. His leather jacket fitting him just right. Tattoos slightly exposed on his neck. My mind flashes back to my fingers, tracing his girlfriend’s name on his skin. I called it romantic. Now I find it stupid. He broke the golden rule of getting a tattoo. Never get anyone’s name inked on you permanently.

I hate her and her stupid name.

Hate that she met him before I did. That she gets to kiss him anytime she wants.

Screw that.

I strut across the crosswalk, determined to remind him that when he kissed me yesterday, he loved it as much as I did, and he initiated it. That means he does like me even if he doesn’t want to admit it. He pressed his lips to mine and shoved me up against the door like he couldn’t get enough. Like he could become addicted to the taste and feel of me.

He flicks his cigarette to the ground, snuffing it out as I approach him. I shove a piece of strawberry bubblegum into my mouth. “Hey,” he barely gets the word out before I launch myself at him, giving him no choice but to wrap one arm around me while his other braces the door of his truck. I don’t pause or give him a chance to push me away before I go up on my tiptoes and press my mouth to his in a soul searing kiss.

He tenses up, but he also doesn’t deter me when I glide the tip of my tongue along the seam of his smoke tainted lips. His fingers inch up my side, clenching the purple and black checkered flannel with possession. My backpack hits the asphalt, and everything and everyone around us fades into a dull existence.

I pull away first, needing to catch my breath. “Hi,” I whisper and grab my backpack as he stares at me with an amused smirk.

“Kiesha….”

I press two fingers to his lips. “Shh. Don’t talk about her. I know.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“Can you give me this for right now? Let me have this happy little bubble when I’m with you. One where my troubles and yours don’t exist. The outside world can’t touch us, and we can pretend.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I know what I’m asking is a lot and that it could blow up in my face at any second. I know the risk, but I’m willing to take the chance.”

“Not here. If Link or Prodigy think I’m taking advantage of you, this won’t just end badly. They’ll kill me and my chances of making the cut.” He opens the door for me, and I scoot to the middle, placing my backpack in the passenger seat.

The corners of his mouth twitch, but he doesn’t tell me to move when he climbs in and starts his truck. He steers with one hand and places his other on my knee. I bite the inside of my jaw to fight the big grin trying to form.

“Let’s get some food before I drop you off.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Cookout?”

“I do love their shakes.”

“Text your mom and tell her so she doesn’t worry. They’re still doing roadwork on that street.”

“Speaking of…” I glance down at my buzzing phone. “Hey Mom.”

“How did school go?”

“Slow and boring. We’re gonna go to Cookout. Do you want something?”

“No. Ask Jimmy if he can hangout for an hour or two until I get home, or your sister gets off work. Unless you want to come help out at the daycare?”

“No thanks. I’ll ask.” I mute my phone. “Mom wants to know if you can stick around the house until someone gets there. Please say yes even if you can’t. I don’t want to go to her work.”

“All right, but you’ll owe me.”

“I’m sure I can think of something.”

I unmute the call. “Yeah. He says it’s no problem.”

“Great. See you soon. Love you. And Kiesha, keep the doors locked and don’t open the door for anyone.”

“I won’t. Love you.”

“Come on. You’re hogging all the boosts.” Jimmy bumps me with his shoulder, and I fall sideways onto the floor.

“You ass. You made me miss the ball. We’re supposed to be on the same team.”

“Hold up, there’s someone by the door.” I pause Rocket League and Jimmy shoves up off the floor to check it out.

Anxiety bubbles in my throat as I wait for him to peek out the window.

“Only the delivery guy with more shit for Fireball. You’ve only had her a day, and she has more toys than a toddler,” he teases.

“That’s all my mom’s doing. She puts on like the cat is for me, but this morning she was all about some kitty snuggles. Just watch and see when she gets here. She will go straight for her before taking her shoes off.”

“I mean, FB is pretty dang cute.” He pets her behind the ears, and she raises her butt up in the air, loving the attention.

“See. No one can resist her cuteness. Not even bad ass bikers.”

Jimmy smiles big. “You think I’m bad ass?”

“You gotta be, right? Or else you wouldn’t be my personal bodyguard.” I flick the tip of his nose, but all I really want to do is kiss him senseless.

“Is that all I am? Your protector?” He leans over and cups the side of my face, pulling me in close. Heavy breaths pass between us.

“What do you want to be?”

“Kiesha. I’m home,” my mom calls out from the kitchen and Jimmy jumps to his feet as if the floor is lava. “Where’s my little cutie patootie?”

“She means the cat. Not me,” I point out. “We’re in here. I was just kicking Jimmy’s butt at a racing game.” I stick my tongue out at him.

“You wish.”

I wish a lot of things when it comes to him.

Mom enters the living room right as I punch Jimmy in the shoulder. She’s already scooped the kitten up and is cooing at her. “Is that any way to treat our guest?”

“He started it,” I mutter, but her attention has already returned to Fireball.

“Who’s a sweet girl?” She scratches under her chin and the cat responds with loud purrs.

“See. Told you,” I tell Jimmy. “My cat, my butt.”

He laughs as Prodigy yells for him to come help with groceries.

“I’m going to change. Do you have any homework?”

“Nope. All done.”

“You seem to have changed your tune about Jimmy. Is there anything you want to tell me?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. The two of you seem chummy.”

“Would you rather I be mean to him?”

“Of course not. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You remember he has a girlfriend.”

“It’s not like that.” It’s exactly like that but I’m not about to tell her that so she can complain, and I get stuck having someone like Crawl drive me around.