Toxic Bad Boy Page 8

  The girl stumbled as she peeled off skintight jeans. Her pink halter top was next, baring those spectacular tits. A tiny hot pink g-string covered almost nothing. I unzipped my pants and tore open the condom packet. Losing the panties, the redhead laid spread eagle on the bed.

  My head felt dizzy from all the liquor I’d downed. I hadn’t been this wasted since I was fifteen. Concentrating on my dick, I rolled the condom on slowly.

  The text alert on my phone beeped. I fumbled to get my phone out of my pants pocket.

  “Ignore it,” the girl slurred, playing with her nipples.

  “Hold on,” I mumbled, unlocking the screen.

  It was after one in the morning, but Gianna had finally texted back.

  If you need to talk, call me tomorrow.

  I dialed her right then.

  She answered sounding tired. “Hello?”

  “Did you let him fuck you?” I snapped.

  “Jeez, Caleb,” Gianna said with a sigh.

  I sat down on the edge of the bed when my stomach roiled. The girl on the bed sat up to nibble on my ear. “How about you fuck me?” the chick said, giggling drunkenly.

  “Who is that?” Gianna asked, her volume increasing on each word.

  “This slut I’m about to fuck,” I said unapologetically, drunkenly.

  “Where are you?” she asked, her voice tight.

  “In a bedroom at some party.”

  The redhead’s hands rubbed over my chest, venturing down. When Gianna didn’t say anything, I thought she’d hung up.

  “Gianna?”

  “I want this cock in me,” the girl purred.

  My phone beeped as Gianna hung up.

  I got to my feet, the chick’s hand slipping from my dick. She slid off the bed to her knees in front of me, her lips aimed for my cock. “Wait.” I grabbed onto her shoulder. “I need to think.”

  “I’m going to blow you.”

  “Hold on.” I pushed away from her, my head beginning to pound. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.”

  She returned to the bed, spreading her legs again. “Then just fuck me.”

  My phone beeped in hand.

  Obviously there is nothing to talk about.

  Ignoring what was on display, I typed back, You fuck him?

  She didn’t answer. Was she upset? Jealous? I couldn’t think straight!

  It didn’t matter. She loved Gage now, not me. Instead of hunting down Gage, I crawled onto the bed over the hot slut waiting for me to screw her.

  And barely moved in time to throw up on the floor instead of the girl’s naked body.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “A broken bone can heal, but the wound a word opens can fester forever.”

  -Jessamyn West

  CALEB

  “We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry, Caleb!” my mom called out from the living room.

  I’d barely been out of juvie for two days and I already had an appointment to meet with the director of the art gallery about the show. He’d decided to exhibit my work in the same show as the urban realist painter. I didn’t mind, less pressure on me that way.

  Shoving my shoes on, I met my mom by the front door. “Let’s go.”

  My mom drove while I texted Gianna for the millionth time. She hadn’t answered me since my drunken fiasco the other night. Cece had heard the story from Gianna and told Dante, so he’d filled the gaps in my memory.

  I was alternately horrified and pleased that Gianna knew I’d been messing around with another girl. How dare she fall for another guy while I was in juvie? I loved her and she broke my heart. She had no right to be upset about me hooking up with some chick, or almost hooking up as the case was.

  As pissed as I was at her, I still fucking loved her. I still needed to talk to her. If she didn’t answer me soon, I’d show up at her dad’s house.

  I don’t love you anymore, Caleb, she’d said.

  It was impossible to convince my heart her words were true.

  Gage and I have fallen in love, she’d said.

  If she loved him, then she couldn’t have ever really loved me. It didn’t work that way. I couldn’t imagine falling out of love with Gianna in the first place, much less falling in love with another girl.

  Impossible.

  We were supposed to be forever.

  It still felt like forever to me.

  When another text went ignored, I sent one to Hailey. This is Caleb. Need to ask you a favor.

  Her response was immediate. What?

  Talk to you about it later.

  You out of juvie?

  Yes. Call you later.

  The art gallery was in the heart of downtown. It had dark wood floors and white walls, with a few black accent walls here and there. It was set up in sort of a maze layout, with small spotlights shining on the pieces hanging. Sculptures were scattered throughout, along with several benches to rest on while admiring the artwork.

  My mom introduced me to the gallery manager who met us at the front desk. Debra was around my mom’s age, wearing a tan pantsuit, with her blond hair pulled back.

  Debra showed us to the back office where the gallery director and owner, Jim Doran, waited. Jim was in his early thirties and dressed more casually than Debra, in jeans and a navy polo shirt. His office was painted a bright yellow with several black and white paintings hanging on the walls. It wasn’t easy on the eyes.

  He heaved himself up from behind a glass desk and came around to shake my hand. “Caleb, good to finally meet you. I’m Jim Doran.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jim.”

  Debra took a seat, as did the rest of us. My mom clapped her hands together. “So, now that Caleb is here, do we have a date for the show?” Her excitement was catching. Now that things had gone to shit with Gianna, I needed a distraction.

  “Mid-July,” he answered. “That should give us enough time to organize it and add any new paintings the artists create.”

  I suspected he referred to me painting the night of the attack. I’d been resistant, but things had changed. Gianna didn’t want anything to do with me. She loved Gage now. She probably wouldn’t even care if I painted it.

  “I’ll do it,” I said.

  “Excuse me?” Jim asked, leaning his elbows on his desk.

  “I’ll paint the night of the attack.”

  His smile widened. “Great, great. Tyler, our preparator, has stored all of your paintings so far until it’s time to set up for the show. Any work you complete before then, bring in and if I approve it, he’ll store it at the warehouse.”

  “When will I meet the other artist?” It was weird to consider myself in the same category, but I’d better start doing so if I wanted respect.

  “Her name is Sydney Atwood,” Debra said. “She’s twenty-two and this is also her first show. Your mom has already met her. We’ll all go out to dinner together soon to get better acquainted.”

  “Have Norah book us a reservation,” Jim told Debra, who took notes on a tablet.

  “Who’s Norah?” I asked.

  Jim answered, “Our intern. She’s a sophomore at the University of Denver.” Jim clicked on his mouse, gazing at his computer screen. “This Wednesday all right with you?”

  Having nothing planned, I let my mom decide. “That works for us,” she told them, her hands clasped together in eagerness.

  “Good.” He stood up, reaching for my hand again. “See you then, Caleb, Eliza.”

  Debra walked out with us. As we neared the front desk, I noticed the girl sitting behind it. “This is Norah,” Debra said. “Norah, this is Caleb and you’ve met his mom, Eliza.”

  Debra jumped up, shaking my hand. “It’s great to finally meet you, Caleb. I love your work.”

  “Thanks,” I said, dying to get out of here to see if Gianna responded while my phone was on silent.

  “I’m no artist, but I hope to run a gallery someday.”

  My mom wandered off with Debra to check out a new piece. Since I’d be sort of
working with Norah, I figured I should be polite. “Jim said you’re at DU?”

  Norah’s smile brightened, making her green eyes sparkle. I belatedly noticed she was really pretty, with dark brown hair that fell halfway down her back. “I just finished my freshman year.”

  “I just got out of youth corrections,” I told her, wondering if she knew.

  Her head tilted, but she didn’t lose the grin. “I know. It’s being used to drum up interest in the buyers.” Green eyes swept down my body and I recognized her interest.

  Fuck it.

  “Are you going to be at the dinner on Wednesday?”

  She put a hand on my arm and I was disappointed it wasn’t another girl’s. Then I was pissed at myself for being disappointed at all. “If you tell Jim you want me there, I will be.”

  “I’ll let him know.”

  “Ready, Caleb?” my mom asked as she and Debra returned.

  “Sure. Debra, will Norah be coming Wednesday night?”

  She glanced between us, hesitating only a moment. “Of course. I’ll let Jim know.”

  Norah went to answer the ringing phone. “See you Wednesday, Caleb!”

  My mom wore a frown as we walked to her car. “Have you talked to Gianna?”

  “Not discussing my ex-girlfriend with my mom.” I put on my sunglasses. The sunny weather was a direct contrast to my stormy mood. A glance at my phone told me Gianna was still ignoring me.

  My mom huffed in frustration, but let it go.

  I had her drop me off at my car so I could go over to Hailey’s, texting that I was on my way. Since Hailey’s parents were home, I’d be picking her up. Hailey’s dad hated me and wasn’t afraid to let it be known. He considered me one of her wild friends she partied with and a bad influence on his daughter. It was a good thing he had no idea of our past relationship as fuck buddies.

  I could easily talk Hailey into hooking up to relieve my need for sex. After puking my guts out Friday night, I’d laid in bed all day yesterday, sick from drinking and hurting over Gianna. If I was honest with myself, I didn’t want any girl but her.

  I wanted my girl.

  It didn’t feel right she now belonged to another guy.

  And that was why I needed a favor from Hailey.

  She waited on the sidewalk, smoking a cigarette and wearing a tank top and shorts. Her hair was blond now instead of red and a lot longer. Pulling open the passenger door to my Camaro, she hopped in. “How’s it going, inmate 666?”

  I started driving when a car honked behind mine. “I’m a free man now.”

  “You on probation?” she asked, flicking her ashes out the open window.

  “Until next year when I turn eighteen.” That part sucked, but I’d do my best not to get into trouble before then. “How about you?”

  Her grin was smug. “I’m too sneaky to get caught.”

  “Right.” Her ass was always in trouble.

  “So what are you doing hitting me up when you could be with your perfect Gianna?”

  I clenched the clutch, taking a turn too fast. “Maybe I missed you.”

  Her bugged out and she chuckled. “You got dumped!” The laughter got louder and more obnoxious. “This is great! That prissy bitch dumped your ass the moment you were sprung!”

  I pulled into a gas station, parking in front of the convenience store. “Shut up, Hailey.”

  “I freaking told you! Didn’t I tell you that bitch wouldn’t stick with you?” Her cigarette flew out the window and she automatically reached into her bag for the next one. Lighting two, she handed one to me.

  I took a drag, turning off the car. “You’re the one acting like a bitch right now.”

  She pouted, pretending at commiseration. “Oh, I’m sorry, Caleb.”

  “Jesus Christ. Don’t fucking say you’re sorry. I’m tired of hearing that shit from people. Everyone is fucking sorry, even Gianna.”

  “So what happened?” Her concern was almost genuine, but the lingering glee in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

  Moving my gaze to the windshield, I muttered, “She supposedly fell in love with her friend, Gage.”

  “The one you were paying to watch out for her?” Her expression was finally genuine as she looked puzzled for a moment. The laughter renewed to the point of tears. “You paid him to steal your girlfriend!”

  “I didn’t pay him,” I clarified. “Ian did.”

  “Same thing!”

  “Do you want to quit?” I asked as she wiped at her tears.

  “Fine, fine, I’m done. Now what favor did you want, Caleb?” She leaned against me, her breasts brushing my arm in invitation.

  Not a twitch down below. “I need you to have sex with someone.”

  She pushed her body harder against mine. “Feeling horny after months locked up?”

  I pulled away, leaning against the door. “Not me. Gage.”

  Hailey reared back. “What the hell?”

  “I’ll pay you,” I offered.

  Punching me on the arm, she yelled. “Do I look like a hooker to you?”

  “Then will you do it for free?”

  She faced forward in her seat, glaring through the windshield. “You’re such a jerk, Caleb. No wonder Gianna broke up with you.”

  “I’m going to get her back.” My determination grew stronger. I couldn’t live without her and after months of hell I refused to accept it.

  “And that’s why you want me to screw her new boyfriend? So she’ll come running back to you? How pathetic can you get? She doesn’t want you anymore.”

  “I can make her love me again.”

  She pushed open the car door. “I need Twinkies to deal with this.”

  Following her into the store, I got a soda. When my phone beeped, I yanked it out of my jeans hoping it was Gianna. Dante had sent the text, Cece is acting weird.

  Pulling out my wallet to pay for our snacks, I texted back, Did she dump you for another dude?

  Hell no, but she won’t talk to me.

  Join the club. I’m with Hailey. Call you later.

  Later.

  “Who was that?” Hailey asked as she tore open her Twinkies.

  “Dante.” I took a swig of my soda and ate some cashews.

  “Haven’t seen him in awhile. Is he still with that Mexican chick?”

  “Yeah.” Driving off, I turned up the radio when a song I liked came on. “So, are you going to do it?”

  “Dammit, Caleb! Let me digest my Twinkies before you start trying to pimp me out. Is Gage even hot?”

  “How would I know?” I randomly cruised around, sticking to one way streets downtown. My car was reflected in the mirrored windows of the skyscrapers we passed. I drove by the building my dad worked in, thinking I should meet him for lunch one day next week.

  Her head swung my way. “You wouldn’t cheat on Gianna. What makes you think this guy will? Isn’t her twat made of twenty-four karat gold?”

  I gripped the wheel, trying to push down my rage at the thought of Gage touching what belonged to me. “Will you do it or not, Hailey? If not, I need to find someone else.”

  She slouched in her seat, her shorts riding up. “How much are you willing to pay?”

  “That’s my girl. Will two hundred dollars be enough?”

  Her arms crossed under her chest, shoving up her breasts. “I’m clearly worth five hundred.”

  “Three hundred. Final offer.” I could probably find another girl to do it for less, but I trusted Hailey to get the job done.

  “Deal.” She held out a hand, wiggling her fingers. “I want a hundred up front whether he’ll cheat on her or not.”

  “Hustler,” I mumbled, pulling over to get out my wallet.

  As I handed her the cash, she surprised me by grabbing my wrist and sucking my index finger into her mouth. “Are you sure you don’t want some? I’ll let you do me however you want.”

  Despite her protests, I’d definitely come to the right slut. “Tempting,” I teased. “But I’m saving myself for t
wenty-four karat pussy.”

  “Jerk.” She snatched the money out of my hand, shoving it into her bag. “You’re lucky I’m broke.”

  “We’ll have to figure out a way for you to meet him when Gianna isn’t around.”

  Hailey waved a hand at her body. “What? You don’t think he’ll want this if the princess is there for comparison?”

  Well, no, but I wouldn’t say it aloud. “It’ll have to be soon. I need my girl back.”

  “I need my girl back,” Hailey mimicked snidely. “Pathetic. Take me home before it rubs off on me.”

  I also wouldn’t say aloud that nothing was more pathetic than turning tricks. “Sure thing.”

  After I got rid of Hailey, I’d drive to Dante’s. If Cece was acting strange, it might have something to do with Gianna.

  GIANNA

  I knocked on my bathroom door from the outside. “You almost done?”

  “Almost!” Cece called from inside.

  Gathering the empty bottles of Gatorade from my dresser, I tossed them into the trashcan by my desk. One hand shook as I ran it through my hair. I tried to appear calm as the bathroom door opened, but my mind was freaking out for my best friend.

  “Well?” I prompted.

  Cece looked ready to burst into tears. Rushing to her, I drew her into my arms. Her shorter frame trembled against me. “It’s positive!”

  “Do you want me to go buy another one?” I asked, knowing it was no use.

  She sniffled. “No. I’m two weeks late, Gianna. I don’t need another test to tell me I’m pregnant.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  She shrugged, moving to sit on my bed. “I don’t know. This is such a mess. I accepted the invitation from the academy yesterday and now I’m knocked up. My career will be over before it’s begun.”

  “So you’re going to have the baby?” I asked, silently relieved she wasn’t thinking of an abortion.

  Her head dropped into her hands. “I don’t know! I’m not ready to be a mom!”

  “Maybe you should talk to Dante.”

  Her head snapped up. “Not yet! I have to decide what I want first.”

  As much as I wanted my friend to have her shot at becoming a professional ballerina, I didn’t like the idea of her getting rid of the baby. She and Dante would have the most adorable baby.