“You ask a lot of questions for someone so stupid.”
I hadn’t meant to snap, but she’d pried too much. And the awful part? She made me want to tell her, she made me want her pity, and I never wanted pity. I never wanted love or affection, but the way she said things— Damn, I craved it. I wanted to cave. I wanted to fall onto the floor and tell her my secrets. She made me want to trust, and I trusted no one.
“It is the only way to find out how to survive in this place.” She sighed.
“You’ll survive — if you follow the rules. I thought I told you that.” I propped up on my elbow, thankful for the subject change. This I could talk about. “The system works, Trace. I know you think I’m an asshole, but if I was nice, they would eat you alive. Wouldn’t you rather I do the tasting?” I eyed her up and down and smirked.
Her eyes flickered to my mouth. “Why can’t everyone just be nice and get along?”
Ah and sing “Kumbaya” around the Christmas tree? Yeah, just another reminder she didn’t belong in my world, and I sure as hell didn’t belong in hers. Where ponies shit rainbows and guns shot flowers. “Maybe I will wait outside.”
“You do that.”
I walked to the door and paused, thinking that if I alluded to what I was trying to do by being mean, she’d get it. “Has anyone made fun of you today?”
“Is this a trick question?” she asked, jumping off Mo’s bed. “You make fun of me all the time!”
“Other than me.” I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from grabbing her by the shoulders. “Tell me the truth.”
“N-no,” she stuttered. “No one made fun of me today.”
“I guess my point is made,” I said softly.
“The hell it is.” Another pillow found its way into the air, aiming for my face “You think you have that much power? To protect me from them? You think you’re that much better? That what you do is better than what typical college kids could do to me?”
Did she just say hell? And why was I so turned on by it? “Care to make a wager?”
“Fine!” And now she was poking me in the chest. The girl didn’t stop, and if she poked one more time, she was going to have a hell of a problem on her hands, mainly me kissing the shit out of her. The poke, the simple touch, had my knees buckling.
“Please don’t touch me.”
She stopped.
I sighed and leaned in. “I’ll stop bothering you… but when I win — when you can’t take it anymore — when you are living in hell every single day, I want to hear it from your lips. Not Monroe’s. Not Chase’s. I want you to approach me. I want you to tell me…”
“Tell you what?” she whispered. Her mouth was so tempting… just a few more inches and I’d claim it.
“…that you need me.” What the hell?
“When hell freezes over!” she snapped.
Well, apparently our moment was over. “Bring a parka because life’s a bitch, and you just bought a first-class ticket, sweetheart.”
I jerked open the door a bit too hard and left, sending Mo a text once I was safely on the elevator. I’d talk to her on the phone, but waiting in that room for ten more minutes would end in disaster because Trace wasn’t one to just roll over and take things. No, she was a fighter, and it was so damn enticing I wasn’t sure what to do with myself, how to handle her, or how I was going to survive the next semester without claiming her.
Mo texted back right away.
Mo: Please tell me you didn’t off my roomie. I like her!
Me: She’s still breathing.
Mo: So what’s up?
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the text. I could tell her about Tex later. Right now, I just wanted to forget everything that Trace made me remember. Like simple caresses, smiles, love, trust.
Me: Party tonight.
At least if they partied, I could go talk to my father and let him know Tex wanted a meeting. Mo would be at the party, happy as a clam. I wouldn’t have to see Trace’s face again, and I could remind myself why I was boss, why I was protecting my family. The only way to remind myself? See what an ass my father was and get a good dose of reality.
Mo: REALLY?
Me: Invite everyone. It will be at the usual. Free booze. I’ll send Chase and Tex. Have fun.
Mo: I like Tex.
Me: Okay…
Mo: Do you think Dad would… approve?
Me: Dad isn’t boss. I am. And I approve. Go get dressed, have fun. Will text later.
Mo: ;)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Don’t mess with me… or do it and see what happens.
Chase
“AWW, PLEASE?” NICOLE’S FINGER ran up and down my arm as I set up for the party. “We’ll be really quick.”