3. Boss
3
BOSS
T he blaring music and the sound of the tattoo gun keep me focused. I finish the dainty butterfly with a scowl. It’s not my favorite kind of piece to do, but it helps pay the bills.
Heat I didn’t want her giving Lexi a hard time, so I got rid of her.”
He shakes his head, not understanding. “Got rid of her? What does that mean?” He holds his thumb up to his neck and runs it along his throat.
When I get his meaning, I wave him off. “What? Hell no. I didn’t fuckin’ kill anybody. I told Lexi to get lost. I told her I wasn’t interested in a virgin and basically told her to get out of here.”
He shakes his head. “But you like this girl?”
I put my hand to my chest. “She’s got me wound tight. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
He whistles softly. “I understand what you were doing. Trixie is a territorial cherry, and you’re right, she would have given the girl some shit, but did you have to tear her down like that? And did you really think she’d want anything to do with you after that?”
I hang my head down between my shoulders. “I thought I was doing her a favor. Hell, the only thing that could be between us was sex, and she’s not that kind of girl.”
He lowers his voice and repeats after me, “Not that kind of girl? Then what the hell you want with her?”
I ram my hand through my hair. “I can’t stop thinking about her. Hell, I’ve been stalking her at school, making sure she gets home at night and?—”
He cuts me off. “School? How old is this chick?”
I roll my eyes. “She’s in college, but you’re right. She’s too young for me, too innocent, too sweet, good—all the things, but none of that matters. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“Virgin?”
Shit, why am I talking about this with Gunner? Of all the guys, he’s probably the most reasonable one, but still do I want to have this discussion about Lexi’s experience or lack of with him? No, I don’t, but I still find myself answering him. “No. I thought she was, but she said last night she wasn’t.”
“Last night?” he asks.
I shake my head in frustration. “I said I’m stalking her. Pay attention, Gunner.”
He shrugs. “So what are you going to do?”
It feels hopeless. “What can I do? She won’t fit in here. Hell, Trixie and the other cherries would chew her up and spit her out.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t believe that.”
My hands fist. How can he act like he knows anything about Lexi? But before I can call him on it, he continues. “You’re not the type to be into some woman that is a doormat. Give her a chance.”
I jump off the counter and finish cleaning up. “Don’t you have work to do?”
He walks over to the door. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave you to it and let you figure things out on your own, but you do realize if Pres finds out you’re hanging out at a college campus, drawing attention to the club, he’s going to have your ass for it.”
I ignore him, and eventually he walks away. Immediately, my mind goes to Lexi, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s doing today. And how her study “date” went last night with Mr. Khaki.