Hood River Rat (Hood River Hoodlums #1) - K Webster Page 0,25
gets.
“I could fix your dent,” he says, his back to me.
Fix my dent?
“On my car?”
He nods and shoots me a serious look. “Jordy’s brother owns a garage. Sometimes when they’re overloaded, I go in and help. The money’s under the table, but it helps me save it away for when Roux and I get the hell out of here.”
“Where are you going?”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “Not far since I still need Ms. Frazier to help her. But an apartment of our own.”
“What about your parents?”
“Dad’s in prison,” he states in an icy tone. “Mom is unfit as fuck.”
I think about my mom and how wonderful she is. How she gave up her entire life and marriage to protect me from my father’s anger. It makes my chest ache to think of her not loving or caring about me. No wonder Roan is such a dick.
“So you think you’d be awarded custody?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like Mom would fight me on it.”
Tossing the book to the side, I stand and walk over to him. “I can help you. Here. Whenever you finish what you do for my aunt. If you really are planning to take care of Roux, you can’t fuck up school.”
He rolls his eyes and his jaw clenches. “You sound like Ms. Frazier.”
“Maybe because it’s sound advice you need to hear.”
“I don’t accept help for free. So let me fix the dent and we’ll be even.”
“Deal,” I agree. “But you can’t be an asshole. Let me help you without all this grumpiness.”
“No deal. I can’t change who I am.”
I step closer, drawn to his salty scent. “Then here, when it’s just the two of us, change for me. You said it was neutral ground. Let it be neutral. Drop the tough guy act. I’m not some dick who’s going to exploit you.”
He grits his teeth and pokes my chest. “People aren’t nice for no reason.”
“There’s a reason,” I tell him, my voice husky. “We both know my reason.”
Him.
His lips press together to form a thin line as his copper eyes study me. I take note that his skin turns slightly pink. Beneath all the asshole exterior is a vulnerable boy curious about the one in front of him. It gives me hope. If I can crack him, maybe he’ll let me in.
Why do I want to be let in?
Because he’s different. I’m drawn to him. He’s fucking hot. So hot it hurts a little to look at him sometimes. I want his smiles directed my way. I’ve never wanted a guy in my entire life as much as I want Roan.
“I know you’re not gay,” I tell him boldly.
“You don’t know shit.”
My brow lifts. “Sidney said you two…er, dated.”
“We fucked,” he says bluntly. “Plenty of times. She’s not my type, though.”
“What is your type?”
“Not her.”
“Are you bi?”
“I’m nothing.”
His words, spoken softly and with such pain, cut into me. Not a gory slash. The kind that dives deep, slicing through every internal organ along the way. With every pulse of my heart, I bleed for him.
“You’re not nothing.” I step closer and lift my chin to look at him. We’re inches apart. Any other guy and I would’ve already made my move. I feel the heat that burns hot between us, but he’s too brittle. I have an urge to protect him. Even from me.
He leans in, bringing his mouth close to my ear, brushing it barely. “Careful, rat, I might think you care.”
His awful nickname for me doesn’t feel awful at all. It’s a breathy caress. An endearment.
“Have you ever kissed a guy?” My words tumble from my lips in a whisper.
“No.” Then, in a way meant to hurt me, he says, “Don’t plan on it either.”
I’m not scared away, though. If anything, it makes me want to taunt him further. Make him face what he feels deep inside, because clearly it’s not far off from how I feel. We may hate each other, but our bodies sure as hell haven’t gotten the memo.
“I kissed girls before,” I reveal, my voice low. I bring two fingers to his lips and ghost them over his flesh. “Too soft.”
His amber eyes flare like a ball of flames, but he doesn’t move away. Simply pins me in place with his hot glare.
“But guys,” I murmur. “Guys have just enough roughness. Scruff. Edge.” I lift my gaze from his mouth. “Meanness. They aren’t sweet like girls.”
“I’m not kissing you, rat,” he says in a husky tone. “No matter how much