Danger! Bad Boy(46)

I glanced around the living room. Gianna was still nowhere in sight. After she got off work at the club, I hopped into my car and followed her and Ian to Jared and Cece’s house. Yeah, so I was a little more than pissed she’d gone with Ian in his car. If she hadn’t been in the car with him, I might have rammed the back of his yuppie black BMW.

My plans for tonight had included myself and Gianna, alone, cuddling on a couch somewhere. Quality time type of stuff. Not me being forced to spend time with her crew, who probably hated me for hurting her and being the catalyst in her dropping them for a few weeks. I was the asshole here.

And on top of it, I had to look at Ian’s ugly mug all night.

I was so close to kidnapping Gianna and taking her somewhere where we could be alone and talk. The talking would involve me outing her mom’s blackmail scheme and telling her she was my everything. That I loved her as much, if not more than she loved me. The conversation would be followed by her showing me how much she loved me back.

Oh yeah, that’d probably be the best part.

I’d thought it before and I thought it again, I should have never brought her back from Las Vegas. We could’ve lived off my savings until we found work. I laughed derisively to myself, imagining what kind of work we’d find there, with no real experience. Gianna would’ve probably ended up as a stripper and me, well . . . nothing legal.

According to haters like Julie, I’d never amount to anything. I was just a juvenile delinquent on his way to being a career criminal. So maybe a place like Vegas was perfect for me, lots of cons and crime going down every day.

Some redheaded slut one of the crew brought back from the club was giving me sex eyes from two sofa cushions over. I’d been doing my best to ignore her, but she was at this time in the process of scooting her unwanted drunkass next to me.

Ian smirked in our direction and exited into the kitchen. I should so sick her on him. The words hot mess came to mind as I glanced sideways at her. I imagined her passing out with her head on my lap at the same moment Gianna walked back into the room. With the way my life had been going, that would be just my luck.

I scooted over the one inch I had to spare before my right thigh was flush with the armrest. She turned her head and opened her mouth to speak; the smell of beer on her breath was strong. “What’s your name, hottie?” With her hand on my thigh, near my junk, I felt kinda victimized.

Seriously? I mean, seriously? Please go away.

I smiled at her blankly. “No hablo inglés.” Good thing I paid attention in Spanish class.

Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

“Usted es una puta.” I smiled inanely at her again.

She gave me a confused half-smile. “Did you just say that I’m pretty?”

Oh brother, this girl was muy estúpida. I cleared my throat and tried not to laugh in her face. “Actually, I just said that you’re a slut.”

I should’ve seen the slap coming, but I was distracted by Ian reentering the room with a beer in his hand. He witnessed the slap, laughing obnoxiously, but I gave him payback. Looking back at the girl, I said in a cajoling tone, “I’m sorry, I’m a jerk.” Then I pointed over to Ian, “See that guy over there?” At her unsure nod, I continued, “Well, he’s a really nice guy. You should go talk to him.”

She licked her lips. “He’s a hottie too.” Oh yeah, honey, eat him alive.

“Sure, if you say so,” I mumbled as she staggered to her feet in her ridiculous platform shoes and wobbled over to bother a person who couldn’t be more deserving of her attention.

Less than a minute later, Ian was getting a slap and a kick from the hot mess. I was almost jealous. Was I not worthy of a kick to the shin also? I almost felt guilty for siccing her on Ian. I’d break a girl’s heart with a smile, but he’d do it with a sneer.

After the girl stomped off in her heavy shoes, Ian sauntered arrogantly over to me, sitting at the other end of the couch. “When have I ever been interested your castoffs, Caleb?”

“Do you consider Gianna one of my castoffs, douche?” I asked him with one eyebrow raised.

Ian’s face became less arrogant and more, dare I say it, soft. “Gianna’s different. Better than all those other bitches.” He met my eyes again. “Much too good for you.”

“Even much more too good for you then, jerk.” I glared at him, resenting everything about him.

“I want her,” Ian informed me as if I gave a crap. As if it settled the matter.

“You want her to piss me off, prick,” I said through clenched teeth.

He looked at me in surprise and I was annoyed that I couldn’t figure out whether or not it was genuine. “This isn’t about you and me, and our childish rivalry, Caleb. I want her for herself, not because it would upset you.” He smiled evilly. “Of course, the fact it would piss you off would be a bonus.”