Toxic Bad Boy Part 20

Gianna's eyes were on the tabletop. "I'm sorry I broke up with you, but I panicked."

"I know, but you have to understand that I was going crazy for those two weeks."

Her eyes lifted to mine. "Never mind, you don't have to tell me anything."

I wanted her worry about Norah done with, but I didn't want it biting me in the a.s.s later if the roommate contacted her again or she met Norah at the gallery. "I messed around with her."

Tears formed, absolutely gutting me. Getting up, I slid onto her side of the booth. "f.u.c.k, Gianna, please don't cry."

Elbow on the table, one hand covered her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"And don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."

"It hurts."

"She didn't mean anything to me. I didn't want her." Meeting no resistance, I pulled her against me. "I love you, princess. No other girl exists."

Her shoulders shook. "I need to use the restroom."

"Okay." Reluctantly, I let her out of the booth. She disappeared into a back hallway.

I never wanted to see that pained expression on her face again. No matter what problems we had in the future, I'd never turn to another girl to make myself feel better. The experience wasn't worth it and I was worried what happened with Norah could break something between us.

She came back ten minutes later more composed. Her quiet demeanor bothered me. I wanted her smart mouthed and teasing tone.

Our food arrived, steaming and filling the large plates. I'd ordered myself chiles rellenos and tamales, and for her chicken tacos. "Please eat, baby."

She brought a taco to her lips, taking a bite. She managed to finish two of the three tacos and even ate a little of the rice and beans. I cleaned my plate, having not eaten since lunch at Dante's.

While we waited for the server to run my debit card, I asked, "Did her roommate call you?" Not that I wanted to discuss it further, but I couldn't understand how them meeting came about.

Gianna's arms were crossed defensively. "No, she followed me to the grocery store."

"How the h.e.l.l did she even know who you were?"

"She says she found out online, from pictures posted last year on Facebook, I'd guess. But I don't know how she found out where I live."

"That's insane."

Gianna shifted in her seat, scanning the other diners. "Can we talk about this after we leave?"

My girl had a lot to deal with at the moment. Just when we were finally working things out between us, she gets another hate letter in the mail and finds out about a girl I rebounded with.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

"Candy is childhood, the best and bright moments you wish could have lasted forever."

-Dylan Lauren CALEB.

The urge to prove she was mine was strong. If things were normal between us, I'd have her in my backseat already. Not that s.e.x could fix our problems, but it'd satisfy the primal need in me to show her who she belonged to. Another time spent in the backseat of my Camaro with her underneath me sprung to mind, not helping the situation.

I'd stupidly thought once I got out of juvie everything could return to how it was before, both of us having fun and loving each other. We'd get there eventually, but first there was all the drama to wade through.

Not wanting her dad to hear what was to come, I drove to the mall and parked out in the lot away from other cars. The sun was setting and the mall would close soon so there weren't many shoppers. Mostly it was young people using the place to hang out in the summertime.

Gianna turned to me with hurt still lingering on her beautiful face. I wasn't happy with what I had to do, but everything needed to be out in the open so we could get past it. She'd been blindsided today by Norah's roommate and I didn't want that happening again.

"Caleb, what are we doing here?" She'd taken in where I'd parked and that we weren't here to shop.

"We're here to talk in private about the other girls."

"Girls?" she said, her expression alarmed. "Are there more than Norah and the girl at the party?"

When she shifted forward, I grabbed her chin to bring her face to mine. She didn't fight me, but the look in her eyes was combative. "I love you, Gianna. There can't be secrets between us."

"Say what you have to say, Caleb, then take me home!"

"The girl at the party didn't go far. I'd drunk way too much and was bent on f.u.c.king away the pain."

She flinched, squeezing her eyes shut as if it hurt too much to look at me. "Shut up, Caleb."

"Then you called," I continued. "And I wanted you to feel my pain."

"Mission accomplished, I cried myself to sleep that night."

"And then I puked all over the floor of the bedroom we were in."

"You touched her?" she asked in a strangled voice.

"Some," I answered truthfully.

"That hurts!" she cried, covering her face with her hands. "I don't want to hear that c.r.a.p!" Her hands moved to bat mine away.

"But she was just a body." I dragged her hands down, making her meet my stare. "You're my soul."

"And Norah? Was she just a body?" The pain in her voice cut deep and sick guilt rolled through me.

"I got to know her a little better," I explained.

Gianna laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, I heard about your connection from Christina."

Right, Christina, that was the roommate's name. I'd thought Christina was sweet and cute, but chicks could get nasty when ganged up on another girl. "There was no real connection. Norah seemed nice, but that was it."

"And her body?" she whispered in a miserable voice.

f.u.c.k, this was the bad part. "We fooled around and it went a bit farther than the other girl, but my heart ached that she wasn't you."

Gianna's eyes flickered to my chest and the heart she owned. "I know I shouldn't ask, but I can't help myself. You kissed her and stuff?"

"Look, the only reason I'm telling you any of this is because you might see her at the gallery."

"At your exhibit?"

"Yeah, and even if it was only one date, the chick was p.i.s.sed I didn't want to see her again."

"You really don't?" she asked, her chin trembling as if fighting a new rush of tears. "Because if you were tempted, I'd prefer you just tell me."

Wanting her body against mine, I gripped her waist to pull her onto my lap. "I'll only want you until the day I die, Gianna. I'm sure after that, too."

Her head against my chest, she whispered, "I'm tired, Caleb. Can you please take me home?"

I jumped the fence, sc.r.a.ping my hands a little in the process. The dog next door barked in a way that let me know it was big. Walking across the gra.s.s, I went to the other side of the house and found the door which led into the garage. I clenched the penlight between my teeth and got out the lock picking kit I'd bought at a hardware store.

It was tricky, but I'd watched a video online while sitting in my car to make sure I had the process straight. With some quiet fumbling and a snick, the doork.n.o.b turned and I slipped inside the dark garage. I barely saw the lawnmower in time to avoid tripping over it. I went around the back of the vehicles to get to the door that led into the house through a mudroom.

Thankfully, it was unlocked and I wasn't forced to pick it. Pushing the door open slowly, I closed it behind me with the same caution. I removed my shoes and carried them in one hand as I traversed the first floor to the staircase. The house being fairly new, not one of them creaked.

The bedroom door was locked, something I should have expected. Taking out one of the tools, I put my shoes on the floor. Gripping the doork.n.o.b in one hand, I carefully shifted the tool until it granted me access.

Gathering my shoes, I entered the room, shutting and reengaging the lock. My shoes and clothes formed a pile on the floor until I was down to my white boxer briefs.

It probably wasn't the brightest idea to sneak up on a girl who'd been attacked, but after her initial fright I hoped she'd be happy to see me. Lifting up the covers, I got a glimpse in the dark of a blue pajama set consisting of shorts and a tank top. I slid under next to her, pulling her back into my front. At the same time, one palm covered her mouth.

She was a deep sleeper, which I'd found out during the Vegas trip. "Gianna," I whispered into her ear. "Wake up."

"Huh?" she mumbled sleepily under my hand and I wasn't sure she was actually awake.

"Are you awake?"

"Caleb?" she said after tugging at my wrist and turning in my arms.

Her warm, curvy body rubbing against mine had me shifting my lower body away from her. "It's me."

A soft hand landed on my bare chest. "Am I dreaming?"

"Dream come true?" I teased. "No, you're not dreaming."

She gasped, whispering urgently, "What are you doing here? My dad is going to kick your a.s.s!"

"Like I said, he can try." I buried my face in her neck, taking in the sweet scent of home.

"What are you going here?" she repeated even as she snuggled closer.

"Missed my girl."

Her sigh blew across my chest. "I love you, Caleb."

The words settled something in me. When I'd dropped her off earlier, the evidence of her pain still painted her face. There were no secrets between us anymore, but the revelations had been rough.

Her head against the heart she'd brought to life, my girl fell back asleep.

The knock on the bedroom door was accompanied by, "Gianna!"

Jerking awake, her eyes met mine and widened in alarm. Her expression had my body shaking in silent laughter.

"Yes?" she called out to her dad.

"Just making sure you were okay. I'm heading out in twenty minutes. Do you want me to make you breakfast?"

She rolled off her side of the bed, pointing to the bathroom door. Holding up my hands, I got up and sauntered in there. Keeping the door cracked open, I watched as she rushed to her bedroom door and took a deep breath before opening it.

"Yeah, can we have French toast?"

I couldn't see her dad's face with the way the bedroom door opened. "Sure, princess."

"Be right down," she said before shutting the door and relocking it.

I rushed out of the bathroom and picked her up to toss her on the bed. "Bad girl, sneaking boys into your room."

"It's your fault. You broke into my house! I was innocent until I met you."

Lying halfway on top of her, I brushed the hair out of her eyes. "Your innocence wasn't too hard to break into either."

"Jerk!" she hissed, trying to push me off her.

I grunted, pretending her efforts were making headway. "Stop with your bullying, princess."

She giggled, which was my intention. "You're crazy, Caleb." The grin left her face an instant later. "I saw something on your back when you went into the bathroom."

I'd forgotten she didn't know about the tattoo. "It's just something I got done before entering juvie."

Her expression turned shy, prompting me to kiss her. "Is it me?"

"Maybe," I teased, sweeping a thumb over her cheek.

"Can I see it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with antic.i.p.ation.