Excerpt
“Be back in a minute,” Adrian shouted to the guys. Then he escorted Annette to her car. “Make it quick. What about Melody?”
“Don’t act as if you don’t have a clue. You tell me you like her, then you write some stupid song about her and get her upset. What’s going on with you two?”
“Calm down. Everything’s fine. I talked to her after school and I promise everything is great between us.”
“You must think I’m an idiot. Why don’t you leave her alone? Forget about her first day at school and let her live without your vengeance. She’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had and she’s very sweet.” Annette tossed a glance to the girl waiting on Adrian. “She’s not like the trash you’re used to.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Adrian leaned on Annette’s car. Hell, that’s what I like about her—and hate about her.
“Then leave her alone. She’s not your type.”
He winced. Did Annette think he wasn’t good enough for Melody? That all he deserved were the chicks that hung out at the club—the ones who so easily spread their legs for him?
“Will you please stop bothering Melody? For me? You’re family, and I care about you. I care about her, too. I don’t want to see my own cousin hurt my best friend.”
“I don’t want to hurt her,” he admitted, admiring his cousin’s loyalty to her new friend. “I do like her. A whole lot, in fact. But, she doesn’t exactly fit my image, and I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Oh? And is the reputation you’re protecting more important than Melody’s feelings?”
“I don’t know.” Adrian shifted his feet as he grew uneasy with his cousin’s questioning. There were too many unresolved issues with Melody. How could he even put into words the way Melody made him feel? “I like her at times, but sometimes I’d like to slit her throat.”
“Adrian!” Annette gasped as her hands flew to her mouth.
“Come on, you know I’d never do something like that.”
Annette turned away clearly mortified by his words.
He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. “Sorry, I was joking.”
She turned back to him and smacked his chest. “It wasn’t funny.”
“Forgive me?” He stared down at her, pushing his bottom lip into a pout.
“Look, I believe you’re telling the truth about liking Melody.” Annette pulled from his embrace. “I think she likes you, too.”
Annette turned to the girl who was still waiting for Adrian’s return. She was staring at the two of them, arms crossed, rolling her eyes and tapping her foot.
“Be careful with Melody. I’m serious. She’s not like these girls. She went to an all-girls private school. She doesn’t know much about guys and dating.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Adrian scoffed. “She’s always talking like she’s been around. After the scene with her today, I almost believe it.”
“What scene?”
He smiled wickedly. “In her car. She may not know much about guys, but someone taught her a thing or two. She kisses like a pro.”
Annette’s emerald eyes widened. “You kissed her?”
Adrian’s grin stretched wider as he thought about it. “Yeah, and it was fucking amazing.”
“Well, don’t go teaching her anything else.” Annette poked a finger into his chest. “I know you. You’ll have sex with her once, and ditch her.”
“Maybe if I did, I could get her out of my system.”
“If that’s the case, let her stay in your system.”
Adrian laughed, then playfully punched Annette in the arm.
“Hey, if I’m not mistaken—” he said, ducking the punches she began returning in his direction— “you said something about Melody liking me.”
Annette stopped the childish play and opened her car door. “She said she loved your blue eyes, and that you were good looking…in a perverted kind of way.”
“She said that? Cool!” He smiled as he strutted around like a peacock.
“I knew you’d be thrilled.” Annette rolled her eyes. “Look, I’ve got to get home. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“You’ll see me.” He winked. “But I’ll have my eye on Melody.”
Annette shook her head as she eased into her car. “You’re crazy, Adrian.”
“It’s Bolt, remember?”
“Bolt? Adrian? Doesn’t matter. You’re still crazy!”
Adrian watched his cousin drive away. Melody likes me! He pumped his fist in the air, feeling victorious.
He headed back to the van, and saw that the girl was no longer waiting on him. For some reason, he didn’t care. He wasn’t in the mood for another girl tonight. It seemed wrong for him to be with someone else after the kisses he and Melody had shared.
Shit! What am I thinking? He smacked himself in the forehead. When have I ever not wanted sex? Melody is making me lose my fucking mind!
But the kisses they’d shared were hotter than anything he’d ever experienced before. He realized he needed to get his ass in gear and put the wheels in motion. No matter what Annette said, he needed to fuck Melody and be done with her—get her out of his head so he could go back to thinking straight and being his normal self again.
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