Slade (The Protectors #6)(18)

“Tomorrow?” Jill moved and sat cross-legged on the end of the bed, facing Slade.

“Yeah, tomorrow.” Slade started to say more, but Jill’s door flew open and had him on alert.

“Hey you don’t have to take that test.” Steve burst into her room then stopped, his eyes widening at seeing Slade on her bed. “Ah, damn, my bad. I didn’t know you guys were…well, you know.” He turned around quickly.

“Slade is helping me study for the driving test.” Jill rolled her eyes at Steve, who turned to peek over his shoulder.

“Oh, well ah…” Steve turned back around, his eyes going back and forth between the two.

“Steve, what the hell do you want?” Slade glared at him, not moving an inch from his position on the bed.

Snapping his head back to Slade, he raised his index finger before reaching into his back pocket. Pulling out a driver’s license, he handed it to Jill. “Problem solved.”

Jill stared at the driver’s license then back to Steve. “Ah, this isn’t me.” Jill looked back at the license. “Who is this, Steve?”

“Maria Hernandez,” Steve replied, looking proud of himself. “I got a deal on it.”

Slade waved his hand, wanting to see the license. Jill handed it over and Slade stared down at a Mexican woman who was at least ten years older than Jill and looked nothing like her. “Jill isn’t Mexican.”

“No.” Steve frowned, then gave a nod as if he just solved the world’s problems. “But she’s got dark hair.”

Slade flicked the license back at Steve. “No.”

“Ah, man.” Steve caught the license, looking down at it. “I mean, it looks something like her. In a dark nightclub, no one would know the difference. Those guys don’t check that close.” He held the license up, looking from it to Jill.

“And if she gets pulled over by the cops?” Slade questioned, wanting to smack the kid upside the head, but in a weird way, he was trying to help Jill and that showed he cared.

Steve thought for a minute, then put the fake license back in his pocket. “Guess I wasn’t thinking about that since I had mine to get into bars,” Steve sighed. “I just know you have a hard time reading and wanted to help.”

“Who told you that?” Jill frowned, shifting nervously on the bed.

“Adam.” Steve walked over to sit next to Slade on the bed, but stopped half bent when Slade growled. Giving a nervous smile, Steve walked back over to where he had been. “He said you have Dys…ah…”

“Dyslexia,” Jill finished for him, her voice tinged with a nervous edge. “And does anyone else know?”

“No, I mean I haven’t said anything to anyone,” Steve replied, shaking his head. “And I won’t and I know Adam won’t either.”

“Sloan can’t know.” Jill bit her lower lip. “Or Jax. None of them can know.”

“Chill, Jill.” Steve snorted at his rhyme. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“It better be or I’ll kick your ass,” Jill warned, giving him a glare.

“Hey! Trust me…babe.” Steve pointed at himself, then grinned at the look Jill threw his way at being called babe. “So you guys need help? I’m an excellent driver.”

“No.” Slade stared at Steve, a small tick in his jaw. Steve calling Jill babe made him want to kick the shithead through a wall so it was best he leave and soon.

At first, Steve looked confused at the refusal of his help, but then a slow knowing grin spread across his face. “Ah, okay. I get it.” He winked at Slade. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Obviously, I do,” Slade murmured, wondering if Steve would walk out of the room in one piece. The kid’s mouth just kept going and going.

“You kids have fun.” He winked again at Slade.

“Why do you keep winking?” Jill frowned. “You got a problem or something?”

Steve laughed. “Slade knows, don’t ya, bro?” He winked again.

Yeah, he was going to have to kick the kid’s ass. “Get the f*ck out of here before I throw your ass out.” Slade started to stand.

A comical look of horror flashed across Steve’s face as he turned to head out the door; instead, he ran into it since it was still halfway open from when he flew into the room. “Ahhh…dammit.” Steve grabbed his forehead. “Son of a bitch.” He continued his cursing, holding his forehead while stumbling out the door.

“Shut the door!” Slade ordered loudly as Steve disappeared.

Steve reappeared, not looking at either of them, but moved his hand to close the door and a large red bump stood out on his forehead.

Once the door closed, Slade glanced at Jill who had her hand across her mouth, her eyes squinting in laughter. Slade’s deep laughter filled the room and Jill’s soon followed.

“He means well,” Jill smiled.

“He’s a pain in the ass.” Slade growled, but with a grin as he opened the book once again.

“So am I,” Jill countered, eyeing Slade under lowered lashes.

Slade looked up from the book, his eyes meeting hers. “Yes, you are.”

******

Jill did her best to concentrate, but how in the hell was that possible with Slade lounging on her bed as if he belonged there. She had worked up enough nerve to lie across the end of the bed, her head resting on her hand as her eyes feasted on the large Warrior who read the questions and answers to the test she had to take tomorrow.