Sizzle (Bad Boy Rockers) (Volume 1)(30)

Liam took hold of my hand and pulled me up from the ledge. We quickly crossed the road and were walking down the sidewalk when Mia came barreling out from a boutique with another girl.

“Liam and, oh you,” Mia said as though I was an insect on the floor.

“Yes me,” I replied and felt Liam tighten his hold on my hand.

Obviously remembering her manners, she turned to her friend. “Rebecca, this is Liam’s little friend, Thalia. Thalia, this is my best friend, Rebecca.”

I wanted to scream. The bitch had the guy that I couldn’t get out of my head and she was also one of the rudest people I’d ever met.

“Thalia, that’s me. If you’ll excuse us, we were just about to go and find a secluded spot in the forest to make out.”

With that comment, I dragged Liam in the direction we were already heading, leaving Mia and Rebecca on the sidewalk in shock. I grinned, because that had felt damn good.

Liam had a frown on his face when I glanced at him. “That was a good one. I can’t remember the last time someone spoke to Mia like that,” he said, grinning.

“It felt good. You’re going to have to carry on leading the way though, because I have no clue where we’re going.”

“Head through the gap in the trees up ahead.”

Once we started walking through the forest I let go of the death grip I had on Liam. “Sorry.”

“I’m fine, but you do realize that she’s going to go and tell Jack what you said about making out in here.”

Crap. I hadn’t given much thought to anything getting back to Jack. I chewed my lip wondering how he would react if he thought I’d been making out with his brother. I mean my thoughts had been running rampant these past couple of weeks imagining him with ‘her’. Perhaps he’d crack and come see me. I could dream.





Chapter 23


Jack


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It had been two weeks and ten hours since I’d been sitting on the porch with Thalia in my arms, and I’d missed her like crazy, which was totally insane considering I’d only known her for a short time.

After she’d gone upstairs to dress, I’d hurried to my room and packed a bag. On my way out, I’d bumped into Liam and when I told him I was bunking with Donovan for a while, he’d shaken his head. He’d known the reason I was leaving, although it stayed unspoken between us.

I’d thrown myself into work, which had given me headache after headache thanks to the couple who wanted a divorce one day and to live happily ever after the next. Then back to square one the following day. They had basically driven me crazy and my dad had told them not to enter his practice again until they were one hundred percent certain it was what they wanted.

Donovan, Reece and our music had prevented me from going completely mad. Ryder had decided that we made the most money for him so he’d keep us for Wednesday and Saturday evenings, which suited us fine.

A couple of days after I’d moved in with Donovan, Mia had come paying me a visit, wanting to know what was going on. Mia had looked – odd – and I still couldn’t put my finger on what had been wrong with her.

It was nearly four weeks to the wedding and it was creeping closer and closer to d-day. I needed to put a stop to it once and for all, but yeah, I kept putting it off.

Donovan had said I could stay with him for as long as I wanted too, so at least accommodation wasn’t a problem. If I was honest no matter how much I hated them occasionally, I didn’t want to lose my family. My mom wouldn’t be too bad, but my dad would be pissed to hell and back and I wasn’t too sure he’d come round, and carry on paying my tuition.

“I’ve been sitting in front of you now for about five minutes and not once have you acknowledged me.”

I blinked in surprise, ran my hands through my hair and looked at Donovan. “My life is so f*cking screwed up. Have you got any idea how bad Mia is going to react when I tell her the charade is over and the wedding is off? She’s going to be so pissed. I just pray my dad doesn’t react the way he said he would if I don’t go through with it.”

Sitting back I looked out into the forest, spotting a squirrel, which I watched for a short time, munching on some berries.

“Do you want some advice?” Donovan broke the silence.

“Do I get a choice?”

“Wear body armor,” Donovan suggested as we heard a car pull up outside the cabin.

Neither of us moved, but hearing the beep from the lock engaging I knew it was Mia and by the look Donovan threw at me, so did he. She was the only one I knew who locked her car.

“I’m inside if you need me. Get it over with before it’s too late.” With that he disappeared through the door.

“Jack, what the hell are you doing living in this dump?” she asked marching up the steps.

Why she always insisted on calling Donovan’s home a dump, I had no idea because it was always spotless. His parents had been killed in a car accident two years ago, and for some reason Donovan always had to keep the place neat as a pin, like his mom used to keep it.

“Nice to see you too.” I tried to ignore her, but no such luck. She was standing with her back against the porch railing, after testing it to make sure it was secure.

Yeah, I hid a smile.