“Of course it does. I’d never… take advantage of you likethat.” I swallow the rising lump in my throat. “I’m… I’m very sorry. I’m very sorry if I crossed a line.”
She shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. I’m used to boys crossing lines. Men, too.”
The lump in my throat has grown positively painful. “What? What do you mean, Lia?”
Another hard laugh. “I think I’ve fucked about half the school. Maybe half the town, too. Everyone but you. Does that make you sad,loser?”
I can only stare in shock. I try to tell myself that none of what she’s saying is true, that this is just another way for her to hurt me. But I don’t know what to believe. I think I’m going to be sick.
“And why do you think I’m dressed like this, huh? I know exactly what you thought when you saw me.Prostitute. Well, so fucking what? I’m off to get fucked by whoever wants a piece of me, and who isn’tyou. Now get fucking lost.”
She rearranges her hair, then turns away from me, quickly crossing the yard and heading to the street. It takes me a few moments to come to my senses and run after her.
“Haven’t I made myself clear?” she hisses. “I’m going out, and I don’t wantyouaround. So scram.”
It’s all I can do not to throttle her. Instead I settle on grabbing her viciously by the upper arm. “Where are you going, Lia?”
“Fuckingout.”
“Where?” I growl. “There’s nowhere to go in this town but to the Oakley Bar. Don’t tell me you’re goingthere.”
She struggles to get out of my hold, to no avail. “Stop trying to boss me around. You’re not my dad, and I’m not a fucking child. I don’t belong to you, asshole.”
Yes, you do, Lia. Yes, you fucking do.
You can break my heart a thousand times over. You can whore yourself out to every man in town. You can punch me sohard I pass out. You can do whatever the fuck you want, but youdobelong to me.
“Stop fucking staring at me, you fucking creep! Get the fuck away! I’m going out, and there’s not a fucking thing you can do about it!”
She keeps up a steady stream of insults, never pausing until we reach the Oakley Bar.
At the sight of the seedy place, I click my tongue in frustration.
I’msofucking stupid.
This was a ten-minute walk. A ten-minute walk during which I had more than enough time to come up with a plan to protect her.
I could have run over to Damien’s. No matter how much he hates her, he’d help me if I asked. I know he would. It may have meant leaving her alone for a few minutes, but she’s in a lot more danger in this bar than in even the worst streets of Oakley.
I could have gotten Damien. Hell, I could even have awakened her dad.
Maybe he would have threatened me with a rifle in the process, but no fucking way would he have let his only daughter go out dressed like that. Even less to go where she’s headed.
But it’s too late now. I know it even before five heavyset thugs emerge from the bar, looking up and down leerily at Lia, before settling their eyes on me.
We’re fucked.
Well, I am. Lia seems completely at ease, or at least, she’s giving a very good impression of it, as she turns to face the men.
“This kid bothering you, princess?” grunts one of them.
Don’t you fucking call her princess. Don’t you fucking call her anything!
“Yes,” she murmurs sweetly, batting her eyes at him. “Heisbothering me.”
I’m so shocked I let go of her arm, and she holds it to her, rubbing the place I’d been squeezing. “He’s bothering me a whole lot. So are you going to beat the shit out of him or what?”
“Lia,” I groan, as she walks toward the bar, and the thugs block me from following her. “Please don’t do this, Lia.”
