Jaded (Jaded #1)(32)

Corrigan glanced at me sharply, but abruptly straightened and asked, his eyes on my purse, “Are you leaving?”

“I just like taking my purse to classes,” I said dryly.

He smirked and suggested, “Let’s take off.”

“And go…?”

He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his front pockets.

“You want to go and hustle?”

He gave me a sharp glance and retorted, “Already been to jail this week.”

“For me?” I murmured, huskily, and ran a finger up and down his arm.

Corrigan sucked in his breath, but didn’t move away from the touch. He was thoughtful and finally shook his head, “No can do, Shell. I love ya and all, but I know I’ll be sleeping next to some fat guy named Pervy.” He shuddered and said shortly, “Not going to happen.”

By unspoken agreement we turned towards the parking lot. We were outside the door when we heard a shout from behind us.

Turning, we saw Logan at the end of the hallway. She waved with a smile on her face, but she didn’t move to us.

And Corrigan didn’t move to her.

I glanced at him, but he was looking towards the parking lot. He had a stoic expression on his face.

When comprehension dawned, I punched him in the stomach.

Corrigan didn’t grimace, cringe, or laugh. He sighed and moved towards his car.

“You’re a dick,” I declared.

Corrigan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Get in the car.”

Inside, I said further, “No, I correct myself. They’re the dicks.”

“She’s not a dick,” Corrigan said quickly, but seemed to stop whatever else he was about to add.

I grinned now, “So you’re the only one.”

“Come on.” he whined and wheeled out of the parking lot.

“Look, just—why do you have to bring them around?”

Disbelief crossed his face and he asked, “What are you talking about?”

“She knows about my parents. If you were going to drop her, why’d you bring her around in the first place?”

He shrugged, but asked, “Why do you care? It’s not like you’re nice to any of them.”

I laughed, “I just laugh…at them. And have contempt for them.”

Corrigan grinned from the corner of his mouth. As he pulled into the mall’s parking lot, I remarked, “You know, if you were with her to make Becky Lew not your girlfriend, you put her through hell.”

He glanced sharply at me, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m just saying…she put up with a lot. Me. And you know that Lew’s making her life hell. Not to mention, Lew’s mindless bubble-heads.”

Corrigan grinned and said, “Can we not talk about this? This is weird.”

That was true.

“I’m a little off—parents and all,” I relented.

Corrigan glanced at me, closed his mouth, and then wrapped an arm around my shoulder. Instead of the usual squelching hug, it was a gentle touch.

It was gone just as quick as it came.

Corrigan coughed and said, after a brief hesitation, “Yeah...uh…how are you doing with that?”

“Drunken orgies was the way to go.” And I thought, for a moment, that the orgies had gone too far.

“Sweet,” Corrigan remarked suggestively. “That’s what I thought.”

And we were back on familiar ground.

“So tell me—how many times with the latest reject?”

“Six.” The answer was so quick, I was taken back a little.

“Six?” I narrowed my eyes. “You’ve been waiting for that question, haven’t you?”

Corrigan didn’t reply, but suddenly stopped, threw an arm over my shoulder and leapt onto my back.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, but grabbed his legs just in time.

We were the picture.

Corrigan was known as the player with a temper while I was known for having my walls up against people. My second shrink had told me that I set up multiple walls to close myself from others. People needed to break through the walls before they found me, but Corrigan and Bryce had never needed to break through the walls.

I rather thought it was because of this—Corrigan had been jumping on my back since seventh grade. The abrupt piggy-back ride brought a delighted smile to my face. It had been too long. We’d become almost adults for too long.

Corrigan pretended to swap my butt as he laughed in my ear, “Giddy-up, ho-bag.”

“You’re the whore, playa,” I retorted with no heat behind my words. Laughing, I arched my back and threw him off.

He caught himself just before he would’ve fallen and managed to keep one leg around my waist. With my momentum, both of us fell on the cemented parking lot.

Still laughing, I staggered to my feet while I turned and kicked him in the side.

He howled, but lunged for my feet the next instant.

Not wanting to fall on my back, I fell forward onto Corrigan’s stomach.

Corrigan caught me just before my elbow connected with his groin, but he flipped his body as a wrestler and had me pinned to the ground instantly.

“Am I supposed to tap out?” I asked as I panted. I knew that I had a stupid grin on my face, but I didn’t care at that instant.