Very Bad Things (Briarcrest Academy #1)(21)

My face flushed because I had acted inappropriately last night. Like a slut, really. Yet I didn’t regret it. And then there was the bad list. I wanted him for my meaningless sex. Still.

“Because you think I’m too young.”

“Yes, dammit,” he said gruffly. “I don’t have time for any adolescent girl crushes.” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry if I come across as a prick here, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I don’t do serious relationships ever, and you deserve something good, not just a quick f*ck.”

I stared at his full lips, not holding back. “I like it when you say ‘f*ck.’”

His face flushed. “You’re not listening. There will not be anything between us. Yeah, we slept in the same bed last night, but that . . . that was me being comforting,” he said.

Disappointment hit me, remembering how good it had felt to just talk and lie next to him. I wanted more of that. With him.

“You held my hand for four hours to be comforting?” I asked, arching my brows.

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

I swallowed down the bitter pill of rejection and walked back into the music room where I sat down on the couch. So what if he didn’t want me. I had other options. Other guys.

Leo followed me but sat as far from me as possible. You’d think he’d not sit here at all since he wanted us to keep our distance.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by Leo’s actions. It was the story of my life. Even Drew had done the same. One fateful night I’d given him my body, only to have him throw it back in my face when he got back with his girlfriend, Lori. He’d told me he wanted me forever, and I believed him, but he’d lied. I’d thought Drew and I were perfect together. Huh. I should have known better.

I looked around the room to make sure no one could hear us. I didn’t know why I wanted to tell him about my past, but I did. I said, “Truth is I’ve never had a healthy relationship with a guy.” My hand clenched, remembering the pain of being second choice. “This guy Drew . . . we had something good, but it got all screwed up. Before it all fell apart, I’d thought we’d end up together, you know, married someday.”

“They say timing is everything,” he snapped, like he was angry.

What the hell had I said to piss him off?

I ignored him and watched Teddy take pictures of Sebastian and Vixen as they worked on a song together, ironing out the chords. I thought about how Sebastian had accepted me when I told him about my word problem. Would Leo accept me, too? He seemed to appreciate Teddy for who he was.

“Sebastian’s a great person. You’ve done well with him,” I murmured. “Out of all this, I’m glad I met him.”

“Right,” Leo said, his eyes following mine to Sebastian. “Right,” he repeated, but he didn’t sound quite as sure. Something in the tightness of his face didn’t quite fit his nonchalant response.





Chapter 7


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Nora

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“Forget dressing slutty for a guy; just lick an ice cream cone in front of him.” –Nora Blakely

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“How about a unicorn or— Oh, look at this little cutie. A flying baby kitten!” Mila said, pointing to something in one of the tattoo shop’s image books. I looked over to see a tiny purple cat with bright yellow wings.

“A cat with wings? Seriously. That’s just freaky,” I said, shaking my head at her.

She harrumphed and turned the page. “Tattoos are forever, my ink-happy friend. Whatever you get, you’ll have it when you’re old and wrinkly and rolling around the nursing home in your wheel chair. I’d rather have a cute cat than one of those skull and cross bones you’ve been looking at.” She put her hands on her hips. “Plus, it’s going to hurt. It’s a sharp needle poking your skin like a thousand times.”

I chuckled, imagining her nose twitching in the universal sign for danger in bunny language.

“And, I saw this show on True TV about this guy that got a tattoo on his back and then died three days later from ink poisoning,” she added, tapping her fingers against the glass case we leaned against.

I snorted. “Stop watching that crap channel. It’s turning your brain to mush.”

Her mouth opened. “Stop? Are you insane? Cheaters is on True TV! I’m addicted to seeing people screw around on their significant others.”

“And you call me crazy.”

“Yeah, ’cause you’ve taken up drinking and breaking the law. And now you want a tattoo? You’re like this whole other person.” she said, waving her hands at me. “I’m afraid of what’s next.”

Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.

“Decided yet?” the tattoo girl asked us with a bright smile, setting her elbows on the counter to talk to us. With her bleached out spiked hair and the tatted roses and vines she had on her arms, she looked like an exotic bird. I decided tattoo girl was beautiful.

Then I saw the tiny bump underneath her shirt.

“Are you licensed to do nipple piercings?” I asked as Mila let out a loud gasp.

“Yep, do ’em every day. And we just got some new jewelry in. Take a look,” she said, pulling a case of shiny silver jewelry from underneath the counter. She picked up one that had two balls on the sides. “This here is the barbell and the most common for guys. And this here,” she said picking up a tiny ring, “is the silver ring, which the ladies seem to like.”