The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,35
but the boys bullied her afterward. Told her she was a cockblocker. Put things on her locker. It ended up a big mess. You know in high school where it feels like everything is a huge deal? You can’t see that there’s life outside of those walls?”
He nods, but that smile that’s been a permanent fixture on his face is no longer there. He huffs and asks, “Would she have bailed you out of jail?”
“Truthfully, I hope I never go to jail. But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to find her. That’s the thing with her—she only comes around when she needs something. She came to me the night before we graduated and asked me to run away with her afterward. But I couldn’t. I’ve always wondered if I had, would that have changed things?”
He stares at me until I look away. But he leans forward and takes my chin and directs my gaze back to him. “I’m going to tell you something you probably don’t agree with, but being a cop, I see people like you all the time. Family members who feel they somehow failed their loved one and that’s why they’re screwed up. Leilani has to own her decisions. Maybe she needs therapy or whatever. But she has to be the one to seek that out. And you have to stop thinking it’s solely that one event that made her like she is. Maybe she just never wanted to settle down.”
He lowers his hand, but his eyes remain on me. I pick up my mug to avoid looking at him.
“You’re a good person, Kamea. But you can’t be everyone’s savior, especially when they don’t want to be saved.”
I nod and lower my forehead to my covered knees. He’s so right. I know he is. I’ve told myself that. My brother has told me. But every time Leilani reenters my life, all I see is the girl who sneaked in my window one night and looked so desperate to catch a bus out of town. And the disappointed look when I said I couldn’t go with her.
Knox isn’t the only one who has regrets where Leilani is concerned.
Chapter Sixteen
Knox
The next day, I’m at Ink Envy, and Frankie and Jax won’t stop arguing about some customer Jax says she stole last night. Poor Dylan. If he wasn’t so close to both of them, I think he’d fire one just to make his life easier.
The door opens and all the girls, including Kamea, come in. After our conversation on the roof things have been easier with us. I feel like we’re becoming friends—although I can’t stop wondering what it would be like if we were more. I meant it when I told the guys I never want her to feel as though she has to have sex with me just to have a place to stay.
Kamea lays a garment bag on the chair next to her.
“You got a dress for the retirement party?” I ask.
“I borrowed one from Sierra. She’s got a nice collection of fancy stuff.”
“And probably a whole other full closet in Sandsal. The girl is definitely lucky,” Blanca says.
If Kamea was mine, I’d buy her a dress, but I’m fairly sure saying that would land on the creepy side.
“And she’s coming over to Rian’s before to have her makeup and hair done.” Blanca points at me. “You’ll pick her up there.”
“Okay,” I say.
“Those are their rules, but I can just meet you in the hallway or something,” Kamea says, shaking her head as though the girls are being unreasonable.
I’m used to the girls being bossy. “No, I’d be happy to pick you up from Rian’s.”
“And my house,” Dylan says from his tattoo station.
“I got some time. Want me to do a decent job on that fill-in?” Jax says.
I look back assuming he’s talking to me, but Kamea stands. “Are you sure?”
He nods. “Yeah, you designed that T-shirt for me and didn’t charge me for your time, so this is me paying you back. I had a customer, but they just canceled.” He puts his chair up and Kamea slides onto it.
“Where’s your tattoo?” I ask.
Frankie laughs. “We’re all professional here, officer,” she says, wiping a cloth down her client’s ribcage.
“Just on my arm,” Kamea says.
“Man, you spoke too fast. I was about to get his jealous side alive and kicking.” Jax shoots me a cocky smirk.
I say nothing. The man knows me too well and sees that I might be into Kamea.