Accent Hussy (It Had 2 B U) (24 page)

“Everly, I need more, so much more.” His eyes hold mine with longing. I shake off the thoughts running through my head and hold my ground.

I spot a piece of chalk on the chalkboard shelf and pick it up. I look over at Caleb and smirk as I carefully write the words playing on repeat in my brain. I will not fall into Caleb’s trap again, and it’s not going to matter that we are spending the next six months working together. I can resist him. I’ve done it this long . . . what’s another six months?

As I leave, I look over my shoulder and give him a wink. I proudly admire my parting words, I so delicately scribbled across the chalkboard . . .

Every chance Caleb has, he tries to seduce or mess with me. I’m having a hard time differentiating between the two since it’s happening so often now. A little flirtatious comment here, a slight jab at an inside joke there. I’ve tried to hide the fact that we’ve been together before, but the other staff members have noticed his growing affection towards me and they aren’t liking it. Especially Kristene. She’s made it her personal mission to ruin my day every time I see her.

This morning is no different. I’m turning the corner with a cup of coffee in my hand and Kristene pushes her chair out, purposely knocking it into me. Of course, my coffee ends up an abstract design across my shirt, burning my tits in the process.

“Whoops, that was an accident. Sorry,” she giggles. The three other bitches sitting with her follow suit, chuckling at my expense. I feel like I’m in high school all over again.

“It’s fine, Kristene. Next time, when you back up that wide load of an ass, you may want to find a flashing light to fasten to your head and make an obnoxious beeping noise with your mouth; that way people know they need to make room for that ginormous derriere of yours.

She gasps, “Why you little . . .” A kid comes skidding around the corner, one of mine to be exact; it’s Hopscotch. Kristene holds her tongue and glares at me.

“Hopscotch, are you okay?”

She whimpers and scampers off.

“As much as I want to continue this battle of wits with you, Kristene, I know your IQ can’t withstand the gigantic beat down you’d receive in the process. I tend to use big words and unfortunately, there’s not enough room in that mound of red frizz for anything else but empty space.”

“You’re a bit . . .”

I cut her off. “Bitch? It’s so cute that you actually think that’s a cuss word.” I pat her head. “Nice try, Sweetie. Now run along and let the grownups talk.”

The growing scowl on her face makes me laugh. I don’t give her a chance to retaliate. First rule in insult 101: Never let your opponent get the upper hand.

I find Hopscotch outside, jumping around on a premade hopscotch grid. She’s crying and doesn’t stop when she sees me.

“Can I play?”

She shrugs her shoulders and just keeps jumping. I grab a stone from a rock garden to my left and toss it. It lands on number seven. I jump across the board, purposely using both feet when I hit the seven eight combo.

“No, you can’t play like that,” she tells me.

“Oh?” I question, playing stupid. “How do you play?”

Hopscotch takes her rock and throws it. It lands on the number five. “You have to skip over your rock. Then come back and pick it up. Like this, watch me.” The tears on Hopscotch’s face have disappeared. She demonstrates how to play, and I follow her example, playing correctly this time.

“You’re good. No wonder they call you Hopscotch.”

I notice her hair is a mess. I wonder when the last time it had a proper brushing. She’s wearing more clothes than usual, way too many for this time of year.

“Do you want to tell me why you were crying?”

“No,” she answers quickly.

“Well, I’m here if you want to talk, okay?”

“Okay.”

We play hopscotch for another twenty minutes or so before she gets bored. I’m just about to take her in and offer to brush her hair when a ginormous man appears.

“It’s time to go home,” he growls. “I’ve looked all over this maze for you, girl.”

Hopscotch cowers behind me. I notice right away how much this man intimidates her. Reluctantly, she scampers over to him. He grabs her by the arm a little too hard and pulls her behind him.

“Hey, don’t manhandle her like that.”

“Shut up, this doesn’t concern you,” he growls.

“Like hell it doesn’t. Don’t fucking touch her!”

When I go to grab Hopscotch’s arm away from him, he cocks back and goes to smack me. Luckily, I duck before he does.

“You fucking asshole. You tried to hit me.”

I’m about to jump on his back and gouge out his eyeballs when Caleb comes bursting through the back doors. He looks at Hopscotch and me then at the man who just tried to hit me.

“Donald, I think it’s time you leave.”

“I was leaving. This bitch was trying to keep me away from what’s mine.”

“She’s a little girl, not your damn property,” I snap.

“Tell that to the State,” he grumps. Then he looks over at Caleb and smiles. “Why don’t you reel your bitch in, Caleb, before somebody gets hurt. It looks like you let this one off the leash a little too much.”

“You can’t let him take her, Caleb. This guy is abusive.”

“Everly, my hands are tied. Unless you have proof, we can’t do anything.”

“I know he’s a certified asshole. Does that help?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Donald, why don’t you take Hopscotch home. I’ll talk to Miss McGowan and get this settled.”

“You do that. The only proper place for a bitch is on a leash. Right, little one?” He looks down at Hopscotch. I can see the fear in her eyes. This guy is hitting her, or something. Nobody shakes with fear unless something is going on at home. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. I won’t allow anybody to hurt this little girl.

I watch helplessly as Dick Donald takes Hopscotch through the doors.

“Are you just going to let him walk away with her? Something is going on Caleb. He’s doing something to her.”

“Come with me,” Caleb grabs my arm and drags me into The Youth Center, through the crowd of people that formed outside, and straight to his office.

“What the fuck, Caleb?”

“Calm down.”

“I will not calm down. That dickweed is doing something to that poor little girl, and you’re trying to tell me to calm down. Fuck you.”

“If that’s what it takes to get you to calm down, then by all means, I’ll fuck the shit out of you.”

“Is there a day you don’t think with your dick? This is important!”

“I only think with my dick when I’m around you. I realize this is important, but I can’t go around accusing people of shit because you don’t like the way he holds his daughter.”

“His fingers were digging into her arms. He tried to hit me. What part of that am I supposed to like?”

“None of it. You have to remember what kind of neighborhood we are in right now. People don’t take too kindly to outsiders trying to Robin Hood their way through the trenches. You can’t save everyone. Trust me, I know from experience. “

“I can’t believe you just overlook this kind of shit.”

“Unless I have concrete proof a child is being neglected or abused, my hands are tied. Hopscotch won’t open up to anyone. She likes you, maybe she will tell you something. But until then, you’re trying to start a fire without matches. Nothing you do right now is going to matter.”

“That’s stupid!” I shout. “I don’t care what the rules are. I’m going to find out where that mother fucker lives and spit down his damn throat after I kill his ass for trying to harm me and that innocent little girl. So help me Caleb, I vow right here, right now . . . that piece of shit is going down. There isn’t a thing you can do to stop me, either.”

He stops my awesome rant with his lips. I’m still talking into them for, at least, four seconds before I let go and kiss him back. All the anger bristling down my backbone recedes. I find the familiarity of his lips comforting.

My tongue is searching his mouth before I can stop myself. My fingers curl into his hair as his grip my waist. Everything that should be so wrong with Caleb, feels so right. Why do I constantly fight this nagging attraction I have towards him?

Before I have a chance to even think a second thought, he speaks and I’m reminded of exactly why I’m so opposed to a relationship with him.

“I knew you’d come around.”

My hands slam into his chest and I violently push him away.

“Was it something I said?” he laughs.

“Everything. I can’t believe I let you kiss me again. I’m so stupid. I’m not sure why I even allowed myself to get involved with you.”

Caleb takes a step back and sits on the top of one the chairs in his office. His grin is equal parts annoying and sexy. “That’s easy; you like me.”

“I do not.” I stick my tongue out at him and silently curse him in my head.

“Your lips said otherwise,” he smirks.

“My lips were assaulted—viciously attacked by an asshole who doesn’t know how to stay out of my bubble.”

“I popped your bubble a long time ago.”

“Yes, please don’t remind me.”

“Why, because you liked it?” he asks. I can’t argue that fact with him. I loved it—every naughty second of it. Sleeping with Caleb was like seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time, hearing a Shakespearian sonnet, or watching a baby animal being born into the world—pure artistic poetry.

When I don’t say anything, he smiles even wider. “So about that ass print on my chalkboard?” He motions over to it.

That stupid chalkboard, on any other day, and with any other guy, I would love to be fucked against it. But not today. Not with him. Definitely not now.

“Why don’t you ask Kristene? That girl has the hots for you. I’m sure she’d
love
her ass to be branded with your chalk stain of shame.” I smile back at him. There’s nothing sweet about my smile; it’s laced with condescending, snark-filled sarcasm

“The only shame is the fact you are still against this.”

“Against what?”

“Us, Everly. One of these days, you will wise up to our chemistry. I’m only afraid that by that time, it will be too late.”