Page 15 of Always Love You More

Does she want me to be?

“I have to go check on a couple of things.”

“Like my brother?”

I run a hand through my hair. “Yeah, like your brother.”

“And then?”

“And then I’ve got some work to do.”

“I’m guessing it’s not homework,” she deadpans.

I actually laugh, and she lowers into a chair with a satisfied smile.

“No,” I tell her. “It’s not.”

She watches me with newfound interest. “Well,” she says, relaxing back into her seat, “I’ll be here.”

Chapter 5

Sam

Jamesonleaveswithoutanotherword, and once again, I’m alone.

I was starting to get worried earlier when Johnny was taking so long inside. Levi Baxston has a reputation, and so does his son. I’ve heard stories about Jameson but never met him before. Our school is huge, and he’s a grade above me, so our paths have never crossed.

Until now.

All the girls talk about him, and after meeting him, I can see why. I’ve heard he’s an underground fighter, and he definitely looks like one—tall and muscular—but it’s the energy he gives off more than anything else. He’s the kind of guy you know you shouldn’t want, but it only makes you want him more.

Except, the boy I just met doesn’t exactly match all the stories. He’s different than I thought he’d be. I’ve heard he’s mean andviolent. That he never talks. There are lots of rumors about the things he’s done. I wonder if any of them are true.

He’s definitely … intense, but there’s something about him that makes me feel almost comfortable. I’ve been around enough bad people that I feel like I’m pretty good at picking them out, and Jameson doesn’t seem bad to me. He’s intimidating, for sure. I mean, you’d be stupid not to see that. But … I don’t know, there’s just something about him. Something that makes me want to keep being around him.

I push back from the table and pace around the small break room, needing to do something other than just sit here. After glancing over at the door Jameson closed when he left, I look through all the cabinets and drawers. I find an ashtray and set it on the table, wishing I’d found some food hidden away, too. Going over to the fridge, I open the door and lean into the coolness. Johnny’s AC is out, and it doesn’t seem like this place has any either.

I grab a couple more cans of soda, reorganizing them so you can’t tell, and put them in my bag for later.

When I’ve finished snooping through everything, I open the small corner window then slide back into my chair. At this point, I’m not so sure if Jameson is actually coming back, so I decide to get comfortable.

Taking a sip of Coke, I rifle through my bag and pull out my copy ofJane Eyre. I grab the pack of cigarettes Johnny gave me earlier and a lighter. Shuffling the bag around, I find a half-eaten pack of M&Ms and set that in front of me, too. Then I drop my bag down by my feet, pop an M&M into my mouth, and crack open my book.

I startle when the door pushes open. Looking up, I see Jameson standing in the doorway with his eyes trained on me. They drift over everything I have spread out on the table then back to my face.

“I see you’ve made yourself right at home,” he quips, settling into the seat across from me.

I flip over my book, setting it on the table to save my place. “That a problem?”

He huffs out an amused breath. “No.” He lifts his hand to his hair, and I trace the movement as he brushes it through the dark strands a few times then runs it down his face, flinching when it passes over his bruised lip.

I take him in and notice another faded scar that runs through his eyebrow, right above his hooded brown eyes.

He looks exhausted.

“You gonna share?” he asks, and I realize I’ve been staring.

“Huh?”