Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)(18)

“Since, obviously, you have judged me based on who my father is, I’m going to assume that it’s only fair I do the same based on your parents? Is it fair to guess that you, too, are a selfish whore who would do damn near anything for a man as long as he tosses enough money at you to keep you high and your nails painted? Or perhaps you take after your father and have such a deep gambling problem that you would be willing to sacrifice your children to keep your own ass out of trouble. Or perhaps . . .” She paused to take a deep breath, making it apparent that there was no end to her rant anywhere in sight.

“I got it!” I shouted, not wanting to hear any more.

I knew all about my shitty-ass parents. I had grown up in that hellhole. Never knowing if the power would be on or not, and peeling eviction notices off the front door every other week. It wasn’t anything new. But knowing was one thing; hearing her throw it in my face was a totally different story.

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized what a true hypocrite I really was. I hated her father almost as much as I hated my own. And because of that, I was casting the same judgment I’d been fighting my whole life to escape on her. I wasn’t my father any more than she was hers. Or, at least, I hoped she wasn’t.

“Really? Because I was just getting started,” she snapped, holding my eyes until I sheepishly looked away.

No apology was issued, but I did put the van in gear and head to the burger place. It wasn’t because I felt guilty as f*ck though. I just wanted a milkshake. Well, that’s what I told myself as I silently drove away.





“YOU NEED HELP?” ASH ASKED as I settled into my wheelchair.

“Nope,” I answered. I needed a lot more than help.

“You know this not-walking thing has its perks,” Quarry said, stretching and cracking his back as if the drive over had taken hours instead of minutes. “Front-row parking.”

“You are truly a dumbass,” I snarked, rolling up the short ramp to join him and Ash on the sidewalk.

Using my remote, I closed both of the sliding back doors.

“See!” she squealed, clapping her hands. “Party. Bus. You don’t even have to close the door behind yourself.”

“Riiiight. I can see how you and Q have become such good friends now.”

She burst out laughing, throwing her head back and howling loudly. I wanted to snap at her to keep it down, but it was an incredible sight to see her losing herself in a stupid, sarcastic comment.

She laughed with her whole body; it was both amusing and bewildering. It was so f*cking honest that it made me uncomfortable, yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away. She was a Mabie. I couldn’t even imagine what she had lived through with that kind of * for a father. Her life wasn’t great. I was positive of that. But in that second, I was so f*cking jealous of her. Who in the world got to be that happy?

“Shit!” she yelled, tripping over her own feet and falling into my lap. She tried to jump up but stumbled back down.

“Uh,” I mumbled, helping her upright, but she slipped through my grip as she floundered around like a fish out of water. Finally, I grabbed her arms and placed her back on her feet. I held her for a second longer than necessary to be sure she didn’t fall again—or, at least, that’s what I told myself.

“I’m sorry,” she breathed, and while it was a sexy sound, I just wanted to hear her laugh again.

“So, I see walking isn’t your thing, either?” I joked.

She erupted all over again. I looked away but only to hide the small smile that was growing on my lips.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she asked.

I continued to stare at the ground as I pushed past her. “Nope.”

“Oh. My. God,” Quarry gasped from behind me.

I glanced back to see what was wrong, but he was staring in awe at Ash. She had a huge smile, and her eyes were leveling Quarry in a very proud told-you-so glare.

“I bow to you.” He praised her with his hands. “In-f*cking-credible.”

“You two coming?” I barked for no particular reason other than it was what I did.

“Yep,” Ash said, skipping my way.

We all walked to the counter and placed our order.

“I’ll have the cheeseburger all the way with fries,” I told the cashier.

“Make that two,” Quarry added.

“Same for me. Oh, but add a small onion ring and a vanilla shake,” Ash said, stepping up to the counter and pulling a wallet out of her pocket.

“No. I’ve got this.” I wheeled myself forward and dug into the pocket of my hoodie for my wallet.

“No. It’s fine. I’ve got it.” She slid a twenty out and started to hand it to the cashier, but I tugged her arm down to her side.

“Look, I was an ass earlier. Just let me buy you a burger,” I said, patting my pockets down. “Shit,” I cursed when my search came up empty.

Where the hell did I leave my wallet?

“You don’t owe me anything. It’s no big deal.”

“Well, it’s a big deal to me. I hate judgmental *s.”

“And buying me a burger will somehow mean you’re not one?”

“No.” I twisted my upper body to the side to see if, for some insane reason, I had shoved it in my back pocket when I’d rushed from the house. “But it will make me feel better. Please?” I asked.