“Hi. I’m—”Clint cut me off. “None of your damn business.”His father narrowed his eyes. “You wanna try that again?”“No. I really don’t.”I drew in a sharp breath. “Clint, come on. We’re gonna be late.”“Did she just come down from upstairs?”Clint nodded. “Yes, sir.”“And is that fucking allowed in this house?”“Probably not, sir.”His father charged him and I cried out. Clint shoved his ass out, knocking me outside before his father gripped his leather jacket. I reached out for him, watching as his father picked him up onto his tippy toes. And as his father barreled him back into the wall, I cupped my hands over my cheeks.“I’m sick and tired of you thinking you run this house. Shut the damn door,” he glowered.I whimpered. “Clint.”He peeked back at me with nothing but sadness in his eyes. And as his hand reached out for the door, he nodded his head.“Get outta here, Rae. Sorry for making you late and not being able to give you a ride.”“Mr. Clarke, this is all my fault. We just n

“Can I do anything for you?”“Do you want me to get you some ice cream?”I looked over at Roy and he winked. He was right. Women couldn't resist a guy with bruises on his fucking face. But if they knew how I’d gotten those bruises, it would be a different story. The line of girls coming up to me asked me where I got them, and each time my fight story became a little more dramatic. It went from some kid on the side of the road to some kid picking on a girl on the side of the road. Then, it morphed into some college kid on the side of the road picking on his fiancée before I offered to show her what a real man could provide.It was the first time in my life I ever felt pathetic for it.“Clint!”Rae’s voice pierced through the cafeteria and my eyes fell upon her. She strode with intensity in her movements and a sour expression on her face. The girl at my side, trying to practically spoon-feed me ice cream, got up and stepped off to the side. Roy chuckled and out of the corner of my eye I

I ignored all of their comments and questions as I lumbered into Marina’s parents’ house. I slid the patio doors closed behind me, seeking solace in the ice cold air conditioning of their kitchen. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, chugging it back as it filled my stomach. I backed it up with another. Then another. And slowly, I felt my veins being freed of the alcohol I’d pushed through them.Which freed my mind up to roam even more.“Clint! The fuck!”Roy’s muffled voice hit my ears and I turned around. I saw him banging his fist on the kitchen window before he shrugged at me with an attitude I didn’t like. I held my bottle of water up to him before drinking the rest back, but Roy wasn’t a fan of my actions. He looked pissed. Though I didn’t know why.I mean, did he sell his soul to Satan in order to get me that girl?Terrible exchange.I tossed my third empty bottle of water into the trash can, then grabbed a fourth. And as I cracked it open, I started wa

I brought my knee up into the boy’s forehead, watching him drop to his knees. The crowd erupted in applause as teachers tried pushing their way through, and then I heard it again. Rae’s shrieking voice. Her words were muffled as adrenaline pumped through my veins. I twirled slowly, taking in the three boys who were flat on the ground at my feet.I took a moment to revel in my victory before I felt someone tugging at my arm.“Clint. That’s enough. Stop this bullshit.”I looked over and saw Rae. Her voice pierced through my anger and my red-dripped vision slowly filtered back into regular color. Her eyes stared up at me. Her hands felt soft around my arm. She tugged me away from the circle of assholes I’d laid out on the football field, her eyes filled with frustration and fury.And a bit of worry on the side.“Rae,” I said.She huffed. “Come on. We have to get you out of here.”“What are you doing?”She shook her head. “Keeping you from making anymore dumbass mistakes. Just leave those

I growled. “No. I’m saying you could’ve gotten much worse, and I don’t like the thought of you getting hurt.”“Well, I’m already hurt.”“I mean more hurt, Rae. Stop twisting my words and accept the fact that I give a shit.”She giggled. “How does that feel to admit?”I grinned. “Probably more painful than that wrist of yours.”“You sure about that? Because it’s a pretty gnarly sprain.”“Gnarly? You been surfing lately?”She shrugged. “And if I have?”I smiled. “I’d tell you I’d love to see you in that body suit sometime.”“And here I thought you liked me naked.”“I never said anything about not taking it off.”She blushed again, deepening that color against her beautifully-tanned body. I loved watching it. I adored everything about her reactions. The way she made her hair fall into her face to draw a sort of curtain between us. The way she shivered as I tucked that same piece of hair back behind her ear. The way she turned toward me, begging me silently with her eyes to touch her.I e