Crave Me (The Good Ol' Boys #4)(13)

“I know. I love you, too.”

She was the first to pull away, shyly smiling.

“You ready to go, baby?” her mom asked, walking up with Lucas’ mom and baby sister Lily beside her.

She nodded.

“Hey, Austin. Jesus, boy, you get bigger every time I see you. To think you used to be the smallest one,” her mom chuckled. “The boys are inside playing pool. I’m sure they’re waiting for you.”

I smiled.

Lily just stared at us with a gleam in her eye. Even at the age of six, she was smarter than all us boys put together.

“I’ll see you later, Austin,” Alex said.

I watched them leave, knowing that the next time I would see her...

She wouldn’t be the same girl.





<>Briggs<>


“Can I play, too?” I asked the boy with the friendly smile.

My uncle had changed my school once again. In three years, I'd been to four different schools. I would start at one and be moved to the next with no warning. He never gave me an explanation, just that I would be attending a new school. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t like I made any friends.

“No,” he simply stated.

I frowned. “Why?”

I was a nice girl. My mom and dad told me all the time. My teachers back home all loved me, and I had lots of friends.

“Because you’re that new girl Daisy and my parents said that I can’t play with you or talk to you. I’m supposed to pretend you don’t exist.”

I jerked back, surprised by his response. I peered at all the kids that were standing around him, looking at me with the same expression. They were playing dodge ball, which happened to be my favorite game. I was really good, too. I could help them win since they weren’t doing a great job at that.

“None of us are allowed to talk to you. You should just go back to where you came from because we don’t want you here! You’re a bad apple!” he shouted too close to my face.

I don’t know what came over me, but fury rose from deep in my belly and my skin burned all over. Before I knew it I was raising my fist and punching him right in the nose. My eyes widened, shocked by my own outburst. I didn’t have a violent bone in my body. I instantly felt awful when he leaned over and blood came gushing out of his nose. It was the first time I didn’t use my words like my parents had taught me.

Shame replaced the angry feeling that had just taken over me in that moment. This wasn’t who I wanted to be. My parents would be so disappointed in me, and that alone made me feel worse.

I heard some kids gasp and then others went running towards the teachers. I was going to be in so much trouble.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, scared of the repercussions from my uncle. “Please, don’t get me in trouble,” I pleaded, trying to help him, but he shoved my hands away.

“I’m going to tell everyone! You shouldn’t be here! You don’t belong in this school! Your family, they aren’t good people! That’s what my parents told me! That’s why we’re supposed to stay away from you, and you just proved them right!”

I fervently shook my head. “That’s not true! I’m a good girl. I’m sorry!” I yelled back, hoping he would understand.

“Get away from me!”

“Daisy!” Miss Anderson scolded, running up to us. “I saw you hit him, young lady. That is not acceptable behavior. You need to come with me to the principal’s office.”

I bowed my head, tucking my chin up against my neck. The tears were already forming in my eyes as I trailed behind her to face my punishment.

Except in that situation, the principal wasn’t who I was concerned about.

They called my uncle a few times to no avail. The principal said I was suspended for a week. There was a zero fighting tolerance and my behavior would not be accepted at the school. I pleaded with him to give me another chance. I tried to tell him that this was the first time I had ever acted out like this, but he wouldn’t let me explain. He didn’t care that I wasn’t the one who started it or that the boy was being mean to me.

Esteban picked me up shortly after. The school must have called him when my uncle didn't answer. They handed him an envelope with a letter that explained I wasn’t allowed back on school property for an entire week after telling him what happened. Embarrassment couldn’t even begin to describe how I felt about the whole situation.

I gazed out the window the entire car ride back to the house that wasn’t my home. Never had been, never would be. I could sense Esteban's stare through the rearview mirror a few times, but I ignored every last glance.

“Well if it isn’t my little fighter,” Uncle Alejandro’s rough voice filled the foyer when I walked into the penthouse. I immediately froze in place, not knowing what to expect.

I peered up at him, trying to keep eye contact like I was required to do. I stood there not saying a word, swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat.

Esteban closed the door behind him. The latching noise startled me.

“I’m… I’m sorry… Uncle,” I stammered.

He folded his arms over his chest, cocking his head to the side and arched an eyebrow. Only emphasizing his tall, huge, intimidating stature.

“What exactly are you apologizing for, Briggs?”