Sonny chimes in as she and her date sit next to us. “Jessi loves her coworkers even more.” She pokes me, then goes back to making out with whatever his name is.
“Yeah, I really like it,” I say, blocking out all the mysterious backroom meetings in my head. “What do you do?”
“You ever been around other clubs before, or is this your first experience?” I don’t miss that he has answered my question with a question.
“It’s my first experience. I knew nothing about them before Jack. How are you involved with them?”
He tenses up and avoids my eyes. “I’m about to be patched in as a member, but I handle more . . . after-hours stuff.”
“Oh, I didn’t know they had after hours.”
He shrugs. “Not always, but enough that they need me.” As the movie starts, he leans over and asks, “Can I hold your hand?” I can’t believe a biker is asking to hold my hand. I thread my fingers through his in response.Wait. Does after hours include what he did earlier?
Kade doesn’t try to kiss me, even though Sonny and her date miss the entire movie for a make-out session. The lights turn on as the credits roll. Kade takes my candy and drink and throws them away for me. That’s when I spot David and Austin. My heart sinks, and my hands start shaking. I know where this is going. And I can’t let it.
I speed down the theater hallway before the assholes notice me.
“What’s the rush?” Sonny says, her face pinched with annoyance.
“Yeah, Jessi, what’s the rush?” Austin’s familiar voice causes my skin to crawl. “Are you going to introduce your friends to your brother?”
Kade sticks out his hand. “Oh man, sorry. I’m Kade. Wait, you look familiar. Jessi is your sister?” Confusion fills his face.
“Yep. She’s working her way through the club, I see.” Austin cups his hand around his mouth and whispers, as though tellinga secret. “Don’t get your hopes up. She likes them older. You won’t be getting laid tonight, buddy.”
“I’m not your fuckingbuddy.” Kade cracks his knuckles.
Austin slaps Kade on the shoulder, far harder than necessary, and jerks his thumb at me. “Chill, man. Just telling you, you wasted your money on this one.”
I try to get Kade, his friend, and Sonny to go, but they push back. Kade heatedly says, “Don’t talk to her like that. Jessi, is this fucker actually your brother?”
I stare at my feet, rapidly processing the best next move to avoid confrontation. My breathing becomes slightly labored, and my chest has the weight of an elephant on it.
“Yes, I’m her brother and will talk to her however I want. She’s opening her legs for Jack, so he lets her stay with him. I’m telling you, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Everyone stares at me.
“That’s not true and you know it, Austin,” I say. “Jack helped me get away from you, you piece of shit. I hate you.” Hot tears spill down my face, but I start to detach, the emotions becoming too much for me to handle.
If I could just take a deep breath . . .
But no matter how deep I breathe, I can’t satisfy my lungs’ need for oxygen. I wish Jack were here. Why am I feeling like this right now? I’ve seen Austin and David multiple times and felt nothing but disgust for them. Never panic—at least not since the night of the party.
I need out of here. Now.
Sonny grabs my arms and hugs me.
Austin puts his hand on Kade again. “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. She’s a tease. Ask David here.”
I can barely speak the words, but I force them through my sobs, “He tried to rape me. How can you be friends with someone like that?” Before I know what’s happening, Kadeswings a punch right at Austin’s face. My stepbrother folds to the floor, groaning.
David puts up his hands. “Don’t hit me, bro.”
We get out of there as quickly as possible before the cops get called. “I’m so sorry,” I cry. “David tried to rape me, and that’s why I live with Jack. He helped me the night it happened.”
Sonny hugs me and tells me everything is okay. We’re on the bikes flying down the road before I fully register everything that’s happened.
Kade drops me off. Sonny and Kade’s friend followed us. Sonny hops off the bike. “I can stay with you tonight if you want,” she says.
