Chapter Twelve #2
“You never lived with her?”
“A short stint when I was about three. I don’t remember much but she came for me, wanting to give the mother thing a shot.
Two months later I was back at my grandparents.
And right after they died, I lived with her.
Part of the will, she only got the money if she took custody.
I guess, it was my grandparents’ way of a last-ditch effort to be a mom.
” He shrugged and looked off at the sidewalk as a jogger and dog passed by.
She got the impression he was avoiding looking at her because he didn’t want her to see it bothered him.
“You don’t have to talk about it, Bogs. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything.”
His head jerked back to her. The corner of his mouth curled. “I didn’t think you were. And it doesn’t bother me. Not anymore.”
He may have said that but she was reading something else.
“How long did you live with her?”
He snorted playing it off but she could see in his eyes, anger, and possibly hurt, though he was trying to conceal it. It was there and she saw it.
“Until the money ran out and her boyfriend decided an eight-year-old was cramping their style. He made her choose.” He paused and a dark shadow crossed his face.
“Two days later, she walked me into children’s services and signed away her rights.
” He shook his head. “Didn’t even look back as she walked out the door. ”
“Bogs,” she whispered.
He sat up quickly leaning over the table and clasping her hand. “Hey, hey, pretty girl, you look like you’re about to cry.” He leaned closer and in a gentle whisper said. “Stop that, it’s okay.”
“It’s not okay, that’s awful and sad and cruel.” She gulped down the knot in her throat. She wasn’t much of a crier but his story was ripping her heart to pieces. How could a mother just leave her child without regret?
He looked down at their hands when she tightened her grip and squeezed.
His other hand covered them and his fingers caressed over their clasped hands.
“But that was the worst of it. Got adopted by my mom and dad, couldn’t have asked for two better people.
Loved me more than I thought possible. Got three brothers and a pain in the ass little sister.
” He smirked and raised his hand, brushing over her wet cheek.
She pulled away and wiped her eyes, feeling silly for getting so upset. She couldn’t help herself. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“I would have shut it down, if I wasn’t willing to share, okay?” His hazel eyes gleamed.
She nodded, tightening her lips. He squinted and he looked up. “But if you feel so bad and wanna make it up to me, I guess you could kiss it and make it better.”
She rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “Kiss what exactly?”
“I’ll let you choose.”
She scooted forward in her seat, resting her elbows on the table and leaned in to brush her lips across his.
It was meant to be a quick kiss but when she pulled back slightly and opened her eyes, he was staring at her, smiling.
She was done. She pressed her mouth against his again, lingering closely before swiping her tongue across his bottom lip.
His mouth opened slightly and she took advantage, deepening the kiss.
She should be embarrassed. Making out with him over a table in public was not the norm for her but with him, she had no restraint. His mouth matched hers and as much as she knew she should end the kiss, she didn’t. Her hand squeezed his as she leaned closer.
Their kiss wasn’t appreciated by all though. Someone blatantly cleared their throat, which made Bogs smile against her lips. He pulled away first but only an inch. His nose glided against hers. “Some people are so rude.”
She laughed. She looked over to the man who was glaring at them. “I think he’s jealous.”
“Of me or you?”
“I don’t know, you are pretty hot.”
They shared a chuckle and went back to their rightful sides of the table. It was a beautiful day, perfect for sitting around with a sexy guy and people watching.
“You surprise me, pretty girl. Didn’t peg you as the PDA kind of girl.”
“I’m usually not.” She lowered her head. It was Bogs who had that effect on her. Her past boyfriends could barely get a peck on the cheek when they were in public but with him, she was practically crawling over the table to get more. If Taylor could see her now. She snorted and he lifted his chin.
“What?”
“I’m just thinking how Taylor would be almost shocked. She thinks I’m a bit of a prude.”
“You?” He shook his head. “Not even close.”
“Well, compared to Taylor, everyone’s a prude. She is a bit of a wild child, has been since the day I met her. We’re like Felix and Oscar.”
“You been friends a long time?” Bogs asked.
Kenzie smiled thinking of the first time she met Taylor. “Since the ninth grade. We moved two months into my freshman year. It sucked. Being new and of course,” she smirked. “fresh meat.”
Bogs chuckled. “Must have been rough, huh?”
She nodded. “Yeah. People were nice, but by that time, everyone’s in their cliques and I was just an outsider. I left behind my own little cliques back home. I hated it.” She sighed. “But a week in, I was sitting in History and the guy behind me was saying shit.” She paused.
“What did he say?”
Kenzie glanced over at Bogs. She usually spent time dodging questions about her past. Not many people dug into it but when they did, she shut it down quickly. He was different though. Opening up to Bogs didn’t scare her but it wasn’t the time.
“Typical fourteen-year old, disgusting, perverted boy stuff.”
Bogs laughed. “Ahhh…I know it well.”
“I bet you do.” She chuckled. “Anyway, in came Taylor. He continued and it was enough to get her attention. She marched back to where I was sitting. At first, I thought she was going to join in on the teasing. I had seen her a few times and she had a mouth on her. I kind of braced for it but it never came. She told the guy to back off but she used a more colorful language and then made him move seats.” Kenzie giggled.
“And he actually moved. She took his seat and when I turned around to thank her, she smiled and said, ‘I’m Taylor, and ya owe me.’”
“You been tight ever since, huh?”
“Yeah, I’ve just always trusted her, ya know.
She gets herself into shit.” She narrowed her eyes.
“As you know, but she’s a good person, she just doesn’t think she is.
You spend your life having people tell you you’re a screw up, stupid, and won’t make anything of yourself, you start to believe it. ”
“Her family?”
Kenzie nodded. She wasn’t going to say anymore. It wasn’t her story to tell.
“You think Trent will find her?”
Bogs widened his eyes in surprise. “You want him to?”
“I want her safe.”
He stared back at her. She got the impression he was searching for deception in her face.
He wouldn’t find any. At this point, with all that was going down, he hoped Trent would get her and save her from self-destruction.
His eyes softened. The way he looked at her had the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It made her feel beautiful.
“He’ll find her.” He stood up and offered his hand. “Let’s get back to the office. I’ll hear it from the guys if I’m late for the meeting because I went out for ice cream. It’ll tarnish my badass reputation.”
She giggled. Something she did a lot of when she was around him. Hand holding was strange but sweet. They walked down the street and she couldn’t help but glance down at their hands. To anyone else they looked like a couple. Were they?
Her face heated and she hoped no one else would notice. They were two doors away from the office. The last thing she needed was T or Stone to see her like this. She had a feeling they missed nothing.
“Blushing again, pretty girl. Are your thoughts naughty? Please say yes.”
“No! I was just wondering why you’re always holding my hand.”
He leaned over as they walked his face brushing up against her hair, close to her ear. “I like touching you.”
Her face heated. He stopped walking and turned to her. “Don’t you like when I touch you?” he asked almost innocently. But she didn’t miss the innuendo behind his words. His tone was seductive. She could lie and say no but he wouldn’t buy it.
She had never been super shy around people but Bogs had a weird effect on her. In one instant, she was open and honest and in the next she was blushing and shy. She blamed his sexiness. If he told her to drop her panties, she wasn’t sure she’d deny him. Truthfully, she didn’t want to.
“I like it,” she whispered, feeling the crimson heat spread across her cheeks.
His face transformed into a half smile. “Now ya got me thinking dirty thoughts.”
She blurted out without thinking. “How dirty?”
“Want me to show you?”
Yes, was on the edge of her lips.
“About fucking time!”
She jerked her head to the left to see Stone standing outside the door holding it open. She instinctively tugged on her hand when his eyes drew down to their clasped hands. But Bogs didn’t let go. If anything, he tightened his grip and proceeded forward with Kenzie a step behind.
“Union break, man,” Bogs joked. His tone had changed from seductive to light in a matter of seconds.
Stone rolled his eyes as they approached. For the first time, she noticed how handsome he was even with his scarred face. His green eyes landed on her and she gave a tight smile. Good looking or not, he and T both made her nervous.
“Enjoy your lunch?” It wasn’t sweet or friendly. It was sarcastic and directed at her.
“Ice cream.” The minute the words came out of her mouth she regretted them. She peered up at Stone and blushed. His hard face transformed into a mocking smile.
“Really?” He jerked his head to Bogs. “You took her out for ice cream?”
Bogs was through the door when he glanced back and smirked. “Yeah, working my tongue muscles. Can’t let the tongue get lazy, man.”
Kenzie dropped her head, making no attempt to lift it. This was embarrassing. The snicker from Stone behind her only intensified the heat on her face.