I can’t do it?”
“Then are you prepared for someone to swoop in and steal him out from under you?” He points to the library window, and right there are Conner and Aimee again.
“He’s doing her a favor because he’s a good person. But she’s reading too much into it. Are you really going to stand back and—”
“I get your point, Cole.” Irritation skitters down my spine.
“Good. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“Do you think he’s still fighting?”
A tight expression falls over him. “I know he is.”
“When’s the next one?”
“Wednesday, I think. Why?”
“Can you take me there?” An idea starts forming in my head.
“I’m not sure that’s what I had in mind when I said you needed to fight for him.”
I roll my eyes. “Can you help me or not?”
“Fine. Wednesday. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Good. And don’t tell anyone else, I don’t want him to know.”
Cole stands, jamming his hands in his pocket. “That’s the Kenny I remember.”
“My plan hasn’t worked yet.”
“It will. Conner’s worried about hurting you. He’s worried about losing control. You need to show him that it’s okay. That you can handle it.”
I give him an understanding nod.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He steps away but thinks against it and turns back to me. “And Kennedy?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re one of us now, and we always look after our own.”
Cole’s words stay with me long after he’s gone.
By the time Wednesday night rolls around, I’m a nervous wreck. I saw Conner and Aimee together again today. She touched his arm as they shared another joke.
I swear I growled like a feral dog as I watched them. Conner had spotted me and tried to talk to me, but I didn’t stick around.
I needed to keep my resolve if I was going to do this.
Checking my reflection in the mirror, I tighten my ponytail and braid the ends. The leggings hug my legs like a second skin, and the oversized sweater hangs off one shoulder, kissing the curve off my butt where it meets my thighs. I look cute, feminine even. But I’m still me. I still have the tattoos and piercings and the big chunky earrings in my ears.
Butterflies flap wildly in my stomach. This could all go wrong. Conner could take one look at me and tell me to leave.
But Cole is right. I have to do this.
I have to fight for him.
For us.
Grabbing my small backpack, I shove my keys and lip gloss inside and head out to meet Cole.
“This is the master plan?” His eyes skirt over my body.
I flip him off. “It’s an underground fight ring, what would you have me wear?” Yanking open the door, I slide inside his car.
“Something a little more tempting?” He ducks inside.
“Just drive, Cole.”
We ride in thick silence. I feel Cole’s eyes flick to me a few times. He does it again, and I finally cave.
“What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how this happened. Shit, K, you’re so strong.”
“People change.” I don’t look at him. I can’t. “I always thought me and Conner would end up together. It’s all I ever wanted. Then after we slept together, he pulled away.”
“Yeah, because he’s a fucking pussy.”
My lip quirks at that.
“Warren started paying me attention and Conner seemed to encourage it. I thought he wasn’t interested. Then your mom died and everything changed.”
“When did it start... you know... him hurting you?”
I shrug, fighting the wave of emotion rising inside me. “It wasn’t like a switch went off or anything. It was gradual. He was always intense. Didn’t like me being around other guys. Wearing anything too revealing. I thought he was being protective. For a while it was nice, ya know? Like I was the most important person in his life.”
“Motherfucker.” I glance over at Cole. He’s white knuckling the steering wheel, his teeth clenched painfully tight.
“It’s okay, Cole. I’m okay.”
“Nothing about this is okay, Kenny. Not a single fucking thing.” He slams his fist against the wheel, making me flinch. “Conner will fix this, I promise you. He’ll fix it. And if he doesn’t,” his eyes lock on mine, “I will.”
Chapter Thirty
Conner
Sweat trickles down my spine as the guy Daz thought would be a good match for me bounces in front of me, his fists pulled up to his face, ready to make his next move.
I know I shouldn't be doing this. But fuck what everyone else thinks.
That last message I got from Kenny on the weekend repeats over and over.
She wants me to sort my shit