The Bad Boy's Girl (The Bad Boy's Girl #1)(7)

I slap his chest and push away. “Firstly, I’m five seven, so calling me ‘shortcake’ doesn’t make sense, and second, don’t touch me ever again, Stone, or I will castrate you.”

“Seriously, the only girl who could want harm to come to my balls would be Tessie, but you aren’t her . . .”

“No, I’m her evil Russian twin, Svetlana, and I’m here to kill you in your sleep,” I growl at him.

“The sarcasm, the threat to my balls, and calling me nincompoop when you want to curse so badly. You really are Tessie, aren’t you?” he says like he’s in shock.

In his defense, the last time he saw me I weighed as much as two sumo wrestlers and proudly sported a double chin. My hair had always been stuck in the unfashionable bob while now it reached my waist. It’s soaked and frizzing at the speed of sound, but it’s still long.

“Oh, I’m so grateful that you believe me, now get out of my way.”

“Tessie, you look different,” he says, still looking slightly dazed, turning a deaf ear to all the profanities coming out of my mouth as I realize that my teeth are chattering.

I try not to blush when under his attention, but he’s basically the first guy to notice me and my cheeks can’t help but heat up. I cannot seriously be blushing because of something Cole Stone said. That’s sacrilege.

But he’s here. He’s actually here, in the flesh, and I’m blushing, for crying out loud.

“Well, that’s more than what I can say for you; you’re still as ugly as ever.” I stick my tongue out at him and he smirks, bloody conceited jerk.

“That doesn’t seem to be a popular opinion. In fact, the women I know have referred to me as a god on multiple occasions.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I feel my dinner coming back up.

“Okay, all right, way too much information. You’re making me sick, and I should leave before I throw up.”

“Like you did in third grade during your memorable performance as Snow White?” he says innocently and I glare at him.

“You! You gave me that rancid cupcake; I did not throw up because of nerves.”



Although chances are that the cupcake was perfectly fine and I did throw up because of nerves, but I will never admit that to him.

“Whatever you want to believe, sweetheart.”

I groan and push past him, heading for the door. But it just so happens to open before I can get to it, and with my luck being as brilliant as it is, Jay walks inside. Of course he looks edible in his jeans and muscle tee. I temporarily forget my current state of distress and openly ogle him.

“Tessa?” His eyes widen as he takes in my appearance. Great, just great. The one time I run into him without Nicole standing over his shoulder, I look like a dog that’s just been hosed and then dipped in green Jell-O. Oh, the joys of being Tessa O’Connell.

“Hi, Jay,” I say stupidly and give him a small smile. He smiles back awkwardly and we stand in silence just staring at each other. It’s the perfect silence, the kind that is in all the romance novels I read. It’s the kind that is only interrupted when the guy kisses the girl and everything becomes magical.

However, this one ends because Cole starts making fake gagging sounds.

This is my version of a romance novel, and it would make the publishers of Harlequin shed tears of blood.

“You guys are pathetic.” He pretends to choke, and I wish he really would. Jay glares at him and strides past me to hit him on the back of his head.

“I thought I told you to leave her alone,” he growls, but Cole just rolls his eyes.

“You’re jealous, aren’t you? Christ, what’s wrong with you?” he says to his stepbrother, who averts his gaze shamefully.

“Why would I be jealous?”

I immediately wince at the lack of care in Jay’s voice, but try not to show the hurt.

“You would care or wouldn’t be nearly this blind if you could escape the leash your girlfriend’s got you on.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I see Jay’s temper rising but the conversation has stopped making sense to me.

“I know enough, bro.” Cole pats Jay’s shoulder in fake sympathy.

“Come on, shortcake, let me get you some dry clothes before you become a human Popsicle.” He says this without taking his eyes off his brother. Both seem to be involved in some sort of staring contest, but it’s Jay who gives up first and turns to face me.

“You can come with me. I’ll get you a towel and maybe a different set of clothes,” he says kindly, and I nod eagerly before Cole snorts and destroys the moment once again.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Jay Jay. What will your girlfriend say when she finds out you’ve been spending time with Tessie here?”

I’m about to tell him off and say that Jay isn’t afraid of Nicole and that he can be friends with me without thinking about how Nicole would react. But the hesitation that comes across his face is like a punch to the stomach as I realize that Cole’s hit the nail right on the head. Jay pulls away from me like there’s some sort of invisible force field between us.

A force field named Nicole Andrea Bishop.

Before I know it, Cole’s tugging me by the hand and guiding me up to his room. I keep my eyes on Jay even though he’s trying to look anywhere but at me. I’m in love with the guy but sometimes I wish he was stronger than this.