Hard Bastard(171)
“She just wants what’s best for you.”
“Maybe, but her best isn’t mine. I’m leaving. You can avoid your fight.”
He sighed and shook his head. “No. I’m telling her what I’ve decided no matter what. You can stay or leave, but you’re welcome back whenever you want.”
I nodded, even more impressed. “Okay, Frank.”
“Okay.” He turned and left without another word.
I liked him. As much as I didn’t want to, I liked him. I thought he was an idiot for marrying my mother, and maybe a little gullible, but he seemed like a decent enough man.
I finished packing and stood up, tossing my duffel over my shoulder. The house was comfortable, by far the nicest place I’d lived in a long time, but I had to be moving on. I had my bike, some stuff in storage, and some cash in savings. I was going to be fucking fine.
But for some reason I didn’t want to leave. Pride or not, part of me wanted to drop my bag and take Frank up on his offer. I wanted to stay next door to Alexa, to flirt with her mercilessly until she eventually gave in to herself and her needs.
But fuck that. Fuck weakness. I pushed open my bedroom door and went down the steps.
Outside, I found my bike parked where I’d left it. I sat down on the seat, grabbed the clutch, and started it. The engine roared to life as I gave the house one last look.
And then Alexa came out the front door dressed in short shorts and a tight as fuck T-shirt. I knew I should have gotten out of there, sped away, signed her papers through the mail and forgotten the whole fucking thing. I should have concentrated on my fighting. But I didn’t.
“Hey,” she yelled over the engine. “Where are you going?”
“Leaving,” I yelled back.
“Can you turn that thing off?”
I grinned at her. “I could.”
She rolled her eyes. “Be mature. For once.”
I laughed and killed the engine. “What’s up, Alex?”
“I just wanted to say . . . you know.”
She looked so damn uncomfortable that it was sexy. I loved how sheepish and embarrassed she could get. The girl was incapable of saying exactly what she wanted.
“You wanted to say that you’re desperate for me to come inside for one last goodbye fuck?”
She made a face. “We haven’t even had a hello fuck, in case you forgot.”
“I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t stopped thinking about fucking that perfect little cunt of yours since I got here.”
She blushed. “Okay, well stop. That’s not what this is about.”
“What’s it about, then?”
“I just, you know.” She looked frustrated.
“Spit it out, wifey.”
“I just wanted you to stay. You should stay.”
I grinned at her. “I know you want me to.”
“Don’t be an ass. You think that’s easy to say to you?”
“I guess not.”
“I know my dad said you don’t need to leave, and I’m saying it too.”
“What’s in it for me?”
She blinked at me, surprised. “What do you mean? Free room and board plus meals, I guess.”
“I don’t give a shit about that. What do I get if I stay?”
“Why do you need to get something? I’m just trying to be nice here.”
“You want me to stay. I want something to make me stay.”
She bit her lip, looking frustrated, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. She was wondering if I meant sex and couldn’t decide if she would do that, if she could promise she’d fuck me if I stayed. Even though she wanted to, she knew it would be weird, or bad, or whatever she thought.
“What do you want?” she asked finally.
“Come to my fight. It’s in a few days.”
She looked surprised at that. “Wait, you just want me to come watch you fight?”
“That’s it. Come watch me fight and then decide if you want me to stay or not.”
“I can do that.”
“I’d be careful, sis. You might not know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I’ve been to a fight before.”
“Maybe, but you’ve never seen someone you know put their life on the line.”
She shrugged, not sure what to say. “Well, fine. I can do that.”
“One more thing. Come alone. Don’t bring your friend.”
She opened her mouth, shut it, and nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll text you the details.”
“Okay.”
I grabbed the clutch and started the engine again. She stepped back away from the bike, blinking.
“Later, wife,” I yelled.
“Stop calling me that,” she called back. I began to pull out into traffic. “And sign the papers, you asshole!” she yelled as I roared away.