to know exactly what I’m thinking.
Hanging her head, she seems to shrink into herself, pulling the blanket tighter around her frame. “I’ll keep the doors locked.”
“Thank you.” I pause as I’m about to close the door. “You don’t need to take your clothes off to get people to like you, Brooklyn. And if you do, those aren’t the people you need as friends.”
She meets my eyes, her chin quivering. In that one look, I can sense the events of the night are finally catching up with her. “I thought it would help me fit in,” she confesses, her voice catching as she fights back tears.
I crouch so I’m eye-level with her. “What makes you think that?”
“I don’t know.” She sniffles. “Molly’s always hanging out with Brody. You had Mindy. Everyone around me was part of a couple. I felt like a child, until I ran into Damian. Going to the basement with him was stupid, but… I don’t know. I guess I liked that someone finally paid attention to me.”
I brush a strand of hair behind her ear, then run a finger down her face, tilting her chin so her eyes are locked with mine. “That’s not the kind of attention you need, Brooklyn. Those guys… They’re pigs.”
I lean toward her, skimming my lips against hers. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of her kisses. All summer, I’ve imagined how her lips would taste, although I did everything not to. Nothing could have prepared me for how perfect, how sweet, how addicting they are. I don’t know what came over me, what caused me to finally break down and kiss her. My father’s admonition hangs over me like a dark cloud, but I can’t ignore my heart anymore. She’ll be sixteen in a few days. His concerns are nearly moot.
“You deserve better than that.” I’m not sure I’m what she deserves, either, but at least I know I’ll respect her, take care of her… Love her? I press one more chaste kiss to her mouth, then stand up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Lock the doors.”
“Yes, sir,” she retorts, her voice light.
I close the door and dash back up the street, barreling into the house. The crowd seems to part like the red sea as I stride through the packed living room and make my way down the stairs to the basement.
I’d come earlier because I knew Brooklyn would be here. My date with Mindy certainly didn’t go as planned, at least according to her. After my almost kiss with Brooklyn this afternoon, the last thing I wanted was to have a hot and heavy make out session with Mindy. I told her as much, and she wasn’t happy. The date cut short, I headed here. The instant I stepped into the living room, I’d heard one of the basketball players announce that Brooklyn was about to take her top off, then he excitedly clambered to the basement. I’d never been so angry in my life. That was the moment I saw red.
As I step off the last stair into the basement, back to the scene of the proverbial crime, I see red again. It takes all my restraint not to leave every single guy with a broken bone or two. I was warned. I got off easy last time. I doubt my dad has many more strings he can pull to keep me out of the court system, but that doesn’t mean I can just let Damian get away with this.
My eyes narrow on him, my nostrils flare as I stalk toward him. He notices me and jumps up from the couch, letting go of the girl wrapped in his menacing arms. The cocky smirk that had been plastered on his face earlier is replaced with fear. My lip curling, I wrap my hand around his neck, slamming him against the wall. He visibly trembles, clawing at my grip, and I smile at his struggle.
“If you so much as touch her again,” I begin, then glower at the crowd of onlookers. My attention is mainly focused on Damian’s friends, but I address everyone. “If any of you even thinks about it…” I return my eyes to Damian, “I’ll get on the next plane home and make you wish all I gave you was a broken nose.”
With my free hand, I reel back. Damian flinches, his body stiffening. Laughing, I release my hold on him without hitting him. “Pussy.” I turn away, spying Brooklyn’s clothes on the