thought.
“I’ve seen that piece of shit hurt more people than I care to count, Bam Bam. When I saw him looking at you like that. Saying those things...I don’t know. Something snapped.”
She doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with narrowed eyes like she’s not really understanding what I’m saying. Fuck. I’m not understanding what I’m saying.
“I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he’s hurt other women. And I wanted to hurt him for even considering it. I wasn’t going after him because of what he did to my mom. I hit him because of what he said about you.”
“Oh.”
She doesn’t say anything else, just gets to her feet.
“You taking off?”
She starts walking, nodding her head. “Yeah, okay.” Then, instead of heading for the door, she moves toward the kitchen.
I stand up and hurry after her. “I meant what I said earlier, if you need to go. I’m a big boy, contrary to what you may have seen last night.”
“Angel,” she sighs, “I’m not leaving. And not just because Eda would kick my ass if I did. You’re my friend. More than that. We’re like fucking family. And you got fucking arrested last night, for getting in a fight with your father over some noble idea you had about protecting me, so there’s no way in hell I’m walking out of this house and leaving you alone, big boy or not.”
I nod. “Okay.” I want to smile, but my face won’t fucking do it. “Thank you. For last night. For staying. For now.”
The corner of her mouth quirks up into a smirk. “Save your thanks until after you’ve had my breakfast. I got all my cooking skills from Eda.” Then she places both hands on my shoulders and pushes down until I’m sitting in one of the barstools at the counter. From there, I watch as she gets to work, first on a search for coffee, which I’m pretty sure happens on instinct for every Jenninson woman, and then when that doesn’t pan out, she moves on to something I think is meant to be scrambled eggs, but I’m not about to put a title on it out loud.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll eat it either way. Not because I’m hungry, but because I know I need to, and, since my taste buds are currently dulled like the rest of my senses, I even manage to get everything down without a problem.
“Satisfied?” I hand her my empty plate.
“Almost.”
I frown. “Why? What’s next?”
Her eyes roll toward the ceiling and likely the second floor above it. “Shower. You look like shit.”
“Fair enough.” I slide out of my seat. “But you for damn sure aren’t running my water for me or soapin’ me up. I know I’m not coming across as super competent at the moment, but I got this.” I can feel my face do involuntary things. I don’t even know why I’m so opposed to having Bam Bam near my shower. I’m not exactly shy when it comes to women. But then, she’s no woman. She’s Bam Bam. And associating her with my naked dick in any way feels dirty. And like it could get me arrested. Again.
“Um, I wasn’t planning on assisting you.” She arches her brow and her full lips purse in a sweet pout while she waits for me to leave and head upstairs.
I stop in the doorway. “You’ll be here when I get done?”
Her lips smooth out into a reassuring smile. “I’ll be here.”
And knowing that, it helps. I don’t know why. But it does.
She’s been around long enough to remember. She knows what growing up was like for me same as I know what shit was like for her. And somehow, that sort of stuff, connects people. It connects us. And so, I believe her when she tells me I’m not like him. Because she knows him. And she knows me. And she has to know the difference.
It’s stupid. And I’m sure when I’m not so fucking drained I’ll realize that, but for now, it feels real. And it feels important.
I’m almost halfway normal again when I get out of the shower and put on some new clothes. The sensation is short lived when I hear Bam Bam arguing with someone as I come
“I’ve seen that piece of shit hurt more people than I care to count, Bam Bam. When I saw him looking at you like that. Saying those things...I don’t know. Something snapped.”
She doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with narrowed eyes like she’s not really understanding what I’m saying. Fuck. I’m not understanding what I’m saying.
“I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he’s hurt other women. And I wanted to hurt him for even considering it. I wasn’t going after him because of what he did to my mom. I hit him because of what he said about you.”
“Oh.”
She doesn’t say anything else, just gets to her feet.
“You taking off?”
She starts walking, nodding her head. “Yeah, okay.” Then, instead of heading for the door, she moves toward the kitchen.
I stand up and hurry after her. “I meant what I said earlier, if you need to go. I’m a big boy, contrary to what you may have seen last night.”
“Angel,” she sighs, “I’m not leaving. And not just because Eda would kick my ass if I did. You’re my friend. More than that. We’re like fucking family. And you got fucking arrested last night, for getting in a fight with your father over some noble idea you had about protecting me, so there’s no way in hell I’m walking out of this house and leaving you alone, big boy or not.”
I nod. “Okay.” I want to smile, but my face won’t fucking do it. “Thank you. For last night. For staying. For now.”
The corner of her mouth quirks up into a smirk. “Save your thanks until after you’ve had my breakfast. I got all my cooking skills from Eda.” Then she places both hands on my shoulders and pushes down until I’m sitting in one of the barstools at the counter. From there, I watch as she gets to work, first on a search for coffee, which I’m pretty sure happens on instinct for every Jenninson woman, and then when that doesn’t pan out, she moves on to something I think is meant to be scrambled eggs, but I’m not about to put a title on it out loud.
Doesn’t matter. I’ll eat it either way. Not because I’m hungry, but because I know I need to, and, since my taste buds are currently dulled like the rest of my senses, I even manage to get everything down without a problem.
“Satisfied?” I hand her my empty plate.
“Almost.”
I frown. “Why? What’s next?”
Her eyes roll toward the ceiling and likely the second floor above it. “Shower. You look like shit.”
“Fair enough.” I slide out of my seat. “But you for damn sure aren’t running my water for me or soapin’ me up. I know I’m not coming across as super competent at the moment, but I got this.” I can feel my face do involuntary things. I don’t even know why I’m so opposed to having Bam Bam near my shower. I’m not exactly shy when it comes to women. But then, she’s no woman. She’s Bam Bam. And associating her with my naked dick in any way feels dirty. And like it could get me arrested. Again.
“Um, I wasn’t planning on assisting you.” She arches her brow and her full lips purse in a sweet pout while she waits for me to leave and head upstairs.
I stop in the doorway. “You’ll be here when I get done?”
Her lips smooth out into a reassuring smile. “I’ll be here.”
And knowing that, it helps. I don’t know why. But it does.
She’s been around long enough to remember. She knows what growing up was like for me same as I know what shit was like for her. And somehow, that sort of stuff, connects people. It connects us. And so, I believe her when she tells me I’m not like him. Because she knows him. And she knows me. And she has to know the difference.
It’s stupid. And I’m sure when I’m not so fucking drained I’ll realize that, but for now, it feels real. And it feels important.
I’m almost halfway normal again when I get out of the shower and put on some new clothes. The sensation is short lived when I hear Bam Bam arguing with someone as I come
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