Toxic Bad Boy(32)

I circled around the block, returning to park my car down the street, cursing its bright red color. Next time I’d switch cars with my mom.

Yep. Pathetic.

The question was, should I try to win her back if she really did love Gage? What if he made her happier than I could? Did I blame her for moving on when I hadn’t been there for her the past eight months since the attack?

It was impossible to be sure of the answers, but one fact was more important than anything else.

No way did Gage love her as much as I did.

My world revolved around that girl. I got locked up for her, I fought for early release for her and I’d keep on fighting for her.

Somehow I knew that no separation could dim my love for her. I could go without seeing her for a decade and one glimpse would have me falling all over again.

I had a whole lifetime with her planned out in my head. I wouldn’t let a sleazy dipshit like Gage steal the love of my life.

I’d even find a way to forgive her if she’d let him touch what was only mine.

But he’d have another beating coming.

The sky had darkened into night when a white Honda pulled into the driveway. I’d been playing a game on my phone, patiently waiting for a glimpse of Gianna. The Honda’s horn honked and she came out the front door wearing a clingy yellow dress that went to her knees. I’d had my hands full of those curves, leisurely licking every inch of smooth skin.

I was hard at the memory. I’d have to take care of that myself again tonight.

Gianna got into the passenger side of the Honda, proving Gage was a crappy boyfriend for not getting out of his car and going to the door. He just sat his ass in the car, waiting for her to come to him.

Our first date after we got back together, I would make sure was amazing. My girl deserved the best.

The image of Gage’s hands on her curves flashed in my brain and I started my car to follow them. It wasn’t sane or healthy, but I didn’t need to feel good about myself, I needed to figure out how Gianna could choose this guy over what we’d shared.

He took her to McDonald’s. Holy shit, the idiot was with a girl like Gianna and he took her to a shitty fast food restaurant? With the money Ian had paid him, he could afford better.

I slouched back against my seat as I waited for them to eat their food. Sure, it was only a weeknight, but if Gianna were with me, I’d have at least taken her to a chain restaurant. Better yet, when I got her back, I’d cook for her myself.

Their booth sat against a window and jealously burned in my veins as she talked animatedly with Gage in a way she hadn’t done with me since last October. He reached out to touch her hand and I had to push down the desire to get the baseball bat I kept in my trunk and take it to the windows of his girly Honda.

After tossing their trash, they stood in front of a Redbox, browsing through the movies. How often did they rent movies and watch them alone in the dark? Dammit! It hit me that compared to the short time we’d had, Gage and Gianna had spent a lot more time together. Was her bond with him stronger than it’d ever been with me?

Psycho Josh and being thrown in juvie had messed up my life in ways I hadn’t expected.





*****





“I’d take ninety-nine problems over bitch problems any day,” Dante grumbled from the passenger seat.

“Amen,” I replied, more than feeling his pain. Although, it was more like I had ninety-nine problems all having to do with Gianna. I should write a list like I made her do when we’d first met.

Gianna still hadn’t responded to the last text I’d sent two days ago. It was bad enough I’d followed her and Gage last night, trailing them back to her house where they watched the movie. Surely Gage was limited with her dad being home?

When Dante called to hang out, I’d agreed to keep myself from driving past Gianna’s house again. I assumed she’d be with her new boyfriend tonight, but Dante thought she was with Cece. Not that he was positive since Cece had been dodging him all week.

“Man, you’re contagious,” Dante said. “Everything was fine with my girl until you came home and got dumped. Now the same thing is about to happen to me.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. “That makes me feel really good about myself. Did you do something to piss her off?”

“Not that I know of. We were fine on Saturday, then she started ignoring my calls on Sunday and texted she’d be busy for awhile. It’s summertime! Until she starts at the ballet academy, she doesn’t have shit to do but be with me. She isn’t even working at her family’s restaurant this summer so she can concentrate on her dancing.”

“So your solution is to get high?”