Page 17 of Battle Scars

Gabe looks me over in a way that speaks volumes of how much of me is really on display. It’s obvious that nothing has escaped his perusal.

I tip my chin high in a haughty, defiant way projecting to him that we would never speak of this moment of vulnerability.

He doesn’t know me.

And I don’t know him.

Despite how hot he is, I will make sure to keep it that way. The only boss of me is me, and I don’t even listen to her let alone some asshole from Texas.

He looks like he’s swallowed a bug. I get the feeling Gabe Whatever-his-last-name-is doesn’t like me at all. And the funny thing is, that stings. And it stings a lot.

Maybe I’m not amazing but I think I’m pretty great, or at least I did before my world crashed down around me.

Gabe turns on his long legs and strides from my room, shutting the door behind him.

I quickly towel off and get dressed for bed, and when I slide under my covers, sleep doesn’t come easily.

In fact, it doesn’t come at all.

EIGHT

CRY, ASSHOLE

Gabe

“What the fuck, and I say this with all the love in my heart, hermano, what the actual fuck are you doing right now?” Manny asks after Adrienne runs from the room.

She didn’t just run… she escaped.

“You and I both know she needs to take this threat seriously,” I bite back.

“Agreed,” Eli adds, “but bro, that was harsh.”

“Killers don’t wait for happy feelings,” I snap. “We all know that.”

“There’s something else going on here though…” Manny begins.

“Don’t,” I reply. “There’s nothing here but the job, man.”

“Which is why you call her a brat to her face in Spanish,” Manny says and Eli looks like he’s swallowed a bug. “Do you think she’s fluent?”

“That’s… awful,” Eli adds. “Also, no.”

“It is,” Manny says, going in for the kill. “You’re better than that.”

“This is just a normal job—” I start but he interrupts me.

“You made her cry, asshole. Now go and fix it while we clean up.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine but this doesn’t mean this is deeper than a job.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

I push my chair back and stand feeling a little like the asshole he called me. Doesn’t he know what a bad idea this is? I can’t live in close proximity with this woman.

She’s all bright sunshine and excitement.

She’s alive, and I’m all but dead.