Page 27 of Knuckles

I look at my stereo in shock. “What?” I splutter, “What would make you think that?”

Like seriously, where on earth did she get that idea from?

“Well, he uh, I mean, he stares at your butt half the time,” she stutters in return, and I scrunch my nose up.

“He’s an egotistic pig that my dad is trying to push me towards because he can control me. I’ve never even allowed the man to put a finger on me.” I choke, then mindlessly say, “Besides, I’m seeing someone…”

I clamp my mouth shut and widen my eyes.

Crap, why did I just say that?

“You are?” she gasps, “Who?”

Oh, double crap.

“I, um, uh,” I stutter before I sigh, “I’m not ready to say anything yet, so please don’t use the friend code against me.”

Clark’s quiet for a moment before she starts laughing as my phone beeps and I roll my eyes at her.

Friend code means, if she asks claiming it, I have to tell her, it’s something we’ve done since we were kids, and it’s how I knew she actually had a thing for Trick before she even realized it. After she admitted she’d marry him if she had to marry anybrother when I used the code after she hesitated, while of course Belle chose Crash after Belle asked the question to begin.

I didn’t say to anyone, which in Belle’s eyes meant I wanted Crash when I didn’t. I was just focused on my art, so no one was on my radar.

Shaking my head at my cackling friend, I check my phone and swallow hard as my stomach sinks.

My Fighter:

The gym is empty. Fireball, get your sexy ass here, then we’ll head to the motel afterwards.

I’m in love with him, I know I am, but, I don’t see a future with him because I know he doesn’t see one with me, that this arrangement is just for now, I mean it’s been nearly three months and the man hasn’t even kissed me, something he made clear he’d only do when he believes he can promise me forever.

I don’t want to stop what we’re doing. I’ve come to realize that I need him to breathe, and that love with the right man can be epic, but we’ve got an end date, I have an end date, four weeks kind of end date.

How do I tell him that I applied for a job at school in Boston and got accepted?

Crap, how do I tell Clark?

I meant when I said I couldn’t stay around here. Dad is slowly killing me, and him hitting me and not feeling any remorse… My brother is even now siding with him about me becoming the deputy, despite knowing the role belongs to him and dating Masters… it’s too much.

I need out, but needing out means leaving my pregnant friend, whom I can admit I haven’t been there for over the years because of Belle’s jealousy, and leaving the love of my life.

“Okay, okay, I won’t friend code you,” she chuckles, and I shake my head as I pull out onto the road and head in thedirection of the gym, already fully aware I’m being followed by one of Dad’s lackies.

Dad has someone follow me every single goddamn day, and even though he knows I’m at the motel, he has no idea what room I’m in because I always go in through the backway where full-time customers park, which is fenced and gated. It also helps that the room is under Liam’s name not mine….Liam is his legal name, Knuckles is what I still call him since he hasn’t given me the green light to use Liam.

“Did you ever hear back from Belle after the wedding?” Clark asks as I indicate right, but go left to throw off the police cruiser, who goes left, and I quickly pick up my speed before going down different little roads so he can’t catch up, and I tense at Clark's question.

“I well, uh,” I stutter, and she quickly interjects, “Friend code,” and I groan.

Dammit.

“She called screaming down the phone at me, calling me jealous and a friend stealer. Claimed everything is my fault for not getting in touch with her sooner to tell her about the surprise wedding so she could plan it her way,” I reluctantly admit, especially when she didn’t use it a moment ago, and she gasps in shock.

“It’s fine, Clark,” I try even though I know it isn’t fine.

I don’t know what it is about me, but Belle has never liked me and only pretended for Clark's sake. The woman is very territorial over the people in her life, and Crash is going to need all the luck in the world to keep her happy.

“It isn’t fine. It’s not your fault that she decided to blame my husband!” Clark snaps, and I wince.