Chapter 25 #3
“Great! I already have the onboarding papers filled out for you, so if you want, I can get you started!” Archie reaches into his pocket and grabs his phone, leaning in as if for a kiss on the cheek. “So, are you planning to leave this place?”
“You’re just as bad as the locals are, nosy,” I tease him and remind myself not to pinch the pervert.
“Hey, I want to know who’s going to be working for me!
It’s not my job to do a background check, but it’s definitely important to know if you’re a good troublemaker or a bad one.
” Archie smiles at me, and I try to smile back, but something in my chest feels like it’s sinking with all the emotions I’ve been holding back.
“Oh, wait, I didn’t mean anything by that. ”
I suppose it showed on my face, considering the immediate apologetic look he gives me.
He puts his hand over mine. “No, it’s fine, just that long story of bullshit I was talking about.
A lot of the reason I honestly want to be done with some of the people here.
Don’t get me wrong, most of them are nice?—”
“But not all of them.”
“No.”
“Got it.” He moves his chair closer to me and puts his hand over mine in a reassuring gesture.
“I won’t pry today but expect me to be curious for a while longer.
” Scrolling through different classes offered and required to pass the exam, I smile at Archie being businesslike.
The setting is different from the others we’ve been in, and I’m surprised at his flexible personality.
I glance back and see Justin staring at us without even pretending he isn’t. Once he notices me watching him, his face transforms into a mask of fury, and he quickly turns around.
“Okay, we need to move somewhere private to talk,” I tell him while poking his hand, still laid over mine in a comforting gesture.
Unlike Alex, who despised being touched after the war, Archie seems to be a very physical person, from what I can tell.
He raises his brow in question, and I use my eyes to point to Justin.
Archie not too subtly stares back at him before scooting closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “What are you?—”
“It’s fine; you don’t have to be shy around me.
Oh man, do I love to play some games.” Archie winks at me, and I can feel Justin boiling like a tea kettle about to blow.
“So anyway, if you want to leave this fine town, you can stay at my place for a while until you find something for yourself. Trust me, I have a lot of empty space.” I know he’s flirting to piss Justin off, but I can also see a genuine offer behind the playful look in his eye.
Something tells me Archie is a reliable guy, and he understands way more than he lets on.
“I think I want to move on.” With my words, I imagine an arrow sent directly at Justin’s stupid face.
I peek around Archie for a moment, curious to see the expression he makes.
To my surprise, he looks a little regretful, too little, too late .
His hands unclench, and he moves as if he’s about to approach us when Marina smacks a plate full of food in front of him.
“I’m happy to hear that.” The whispered words draw me out of my haze. Then Archie pours more oil on the fire by lightly tugging on my hair. “It’s a cool idea you have—to change the color with your mood. I just tend to ink a new tattoo. Maybe I should try your method.”
I’m sure from the outside, it looks intimate, and Justin has had enough. My gaze follows Justin as he stomps over. By the big breaths he’s taking, I can almost imagine he’s trying to blow away a house. Shockingly enough, his tone is gentle.
“Kayla.” The calmness in his voice is scarier than his wrath.
He pauses for a long time, searching my eyes, and making me squirm.
“I need to speak with you when you’re done with your…
” he glares at Archie, “meeting. Text me later.” There isn’t an angry bang on the table or threat to make me come see him, not even the usual huff afterward or glaring eyes.
Watching him walk away, I feel Archie’s arm drop down, and he puts his phone away.
“I sent you all the information, and we can go over it tomorrow if you’re still walking by then.
For now, go jump his bones, would you? This morning he made it very clear not to come around you, or else.
Little does he know, I like pain.” His eyes flash devilishly.
“I kinda like the guy. Those intense people are the best ones. And besides that, I think if you don’t, somebody else will.
” He nods outside where Ashley is approaching Justin, who’s leaning on the passenger side of his truck and watching us through the window.
“Right, thanks, Archie.” I wave him off as my feet begin carrying me to Justin on their own accord, just as jealousy rises up my belly.
“Take care, Kay-baby.” He gives me a kiss and walks outside.
I collect our plates and carry them to the kitchen. Marina watches me with a satisfied smile on her face.
“What?” I ask.
“He finally pulled his head out of his ass, I see.”
“Not by his own will.” I roll my eyes.
“Who cares? It’s out; live with it.” She shrugs .
I face Marina with hands on my hips. “That sounds suspiciously like you’re approving of him.”
“Does it?” She blinks innocently and keeps churning butter in a huge mixing bowl. “And what are you even doing here? We hired a new waitress just so you can rest from time to time, you know.”
“Oh, I know. How about you resting and finally hiring that other cook we’ve been talking about forever, huh?” I cross my arms over my chest, mimicking her tone.
“Busted.” She smiles. “Now go, claw her eyes out.” She points toward the entrance where Justin’s still leaning on his truck. Ashley is saying something to him, vigorously waving her arms.
Am I jealous? Yes, I am, but I’ve been in this constant state for so long that it doesn’t bother me all that much anymore.
I take a deep breath and go outside.
JUSTIN
I barely made it out of the diner without causing a scene. Barely. My heart is beating like I just ran here from Kayla’s home, and I clench my fists to stop them from shaking.
Fuck, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’m jealous, and the feeling fuckin’ sucks.
The only time I’ve been jealous was when I was twelve and in middle school.
I had a crush on our teacher, Ms. Reacher, and on St. Valentine’s Day, some dude brought her flowers during class, and that’s when I learned what jealousy was.
But never again. Never. Not even when I knew that half the city slept with Ashley.
Fuck, I slept with the other half. But I haven’t felt a tinge of jealousy.
But seeing Kayla sitting with this fuckface and clearly flirting, letting her touch him out in public like that… I was a goner. Marina is the only reason his head is still attached to his body. Somehow, she managed to calm me.
When I saw them laughing and sitting so close together, I had to get out of there.
Now, I’m waiting for her outside and see the fast-approaching trouble.
Ashley. Just fucking great. How do I manage not to strangle her right here now?
How do I manage to not do that in the future?
I can’t fucking stand her. I haven’t been able to for a long time now, and after finding out the truth, the only thing I want to do is destroy her.
But not like Kayla, no. Even when I thought I hated her, I don’t think I ever really did.
Or I did, but I also wanted her. Ashley is another story altogether.
She’s evil, and now I know exactly how deep her evil lies.
If Ashley were a man, I’d put her in the ground, no questions asked.
Not only for calling the cops on me, but for everything she’s done, and there’s been a lot.
Fuck, when I was younger and an asshole, I was right there with her, laughing at somebody’s misery.
Looking back, I’m ashamed of myself. I can never imagine Kayla doing that; she’d be the one to push me off and take a bat to the bully’s head.
And I fucking love that. A Valkyrie fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.
And now that guy… Mark… Fuck, where do I even start with him?
I blamed the dude for raping a woman when he never did, and that’s a pretty fucked-up thing to accuse anybody of.
Our mutual hatred runs so deep that we’d never forgive each other.
Though, at this point, I have to admit he has more forgiving to do .
I wipe my face with my hand. How did my life become this ?
“So, are you done with your little tantrum?” Ashley asks once she stands in front of me.
“Get the fuck out of my face,” I growl, not moving my eyes from Kayla. The fuckface gives her a kiss and leaves. Once outside, he winks at me and walks away down the street.
“You should be done by now, Justin. Really. It’s been going on for long enough.” She has the audacity to put her hand on my forearm, and I explode. I grab her wrist and tug on it. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I know I’ll regret it later, but she destroyed lives, and I’m done being a gentleman.
“If you touch me, talk about me or my family, or even show up on the same street as me, I will fucking destroy your life. And you should know I can.” I lean closer and hiss into her face. “Come close to anyone in my family or Kayla, and you are done. Are we clear?”
“You don’t mean that.” She tries to pry my hand from hers, but I keep an iron grip.
My voice dips to a growl. “I mean every single word, Ashley. Never again.”
Her face pales, and she pulls her hand harder. This time I let her go.
“Your whole family are fucking psychos—you’re just too blind to admit it.”
My nostrils flare at her statement as I try to control my anger.
I know she’s talking about Alicia. She’s been hinting here and there that something is wrong with her.
She knows what happened, and yet, she still runs her mouth.
I can’t believe I’ve wasted so many years on her.
It’s not like I was planning to marry her, God no.
I’m not planning on marrying anybody. I just wanted to keep her around for just long enough, even though I knew how vile she is.
I watch her leave, and my fists clench and unclench on their own accord.
I feel that I need to fight. That’s how I control my anger.
I fight or fuck. I used to race, too, but it got me in too much trouble when I was younger, so that option is out of the question.
Fucking is not the best option either right now.
I can only hope for a good brawl at the bar.
“Are you okay?” a small concerned voice asks. Kayla stands beside me, carefully watching my face.
“I’m fine,” I bark. It’s not how I want to sound with her, but I do at the same time. What sort of ‘things’ did she need to discuss with that dude, and why did they look so cozy? I begin boiling over even more and know I need to get out of here before I say or do something I regret.
“Okay,” she says, deflating under my stare.
“Can you walk to the auto shop? Paul has the keys to your car.” I ask like I haven’t offered my help.
“Yeah. Thank you. I’ll pay you for whatever repairs you did.”
I shake my head silently, get inside my truck and drive off, leaving her on the sidewalk looking confused and hurt.