AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The adjoining suite door opens, and Levi peeks his head into our room.
“Hey, are your—” His eyes widen at the death glare on my face. “Whoa, what’s going on?”
He swings the door open, and Silas also pops his head into the room.
“What’s happening?” Silas says, curiosity in his tone.
Dan’s face breaks into a shit-eating grin. “Nothing, just super excited for Mom and Dad to meet my big brother’s girlfriend. I think it’s gonna go well. Harley fits in so well with all the tattoos, the short-shorts…”
He’s attempting to hold in a laugh, and I lunge for him, seeing red.
“Whoa!”
“Hey!”
Silas and Levi both exclaim as my fist makes contact with Dan’s jaw. His body crashes into the dresser, sending his Bible and some textbooks flying to the floor. Before he has time to react, I’ve got him on the carpet, straddling his body. Red-hot anger is in my blood, and I raise my fist, crushing his smug face with it. The contact hurts, but I barely register the pain. My left hand is holding his arm as I rear back for another punch.
A hand materializes from thin air and yanks my cocked fist back. Strong hands push into my chest, forcing me off of my brother.
“Cut it out, Adam! What the hell is going on?!” Silas roars at me, finally letting go of my fist to lean down and help Dan to his feet.
Blood is gushing from his nose, eyes blazing.
Levi is the one pushing against my chest, and I shove him off. He’s freakishly stronger than he looks for a genius with thick glasses.
“This is none of your business,” I roar at my friends, storming out into the hallway, slamming the door.
Part of me knows I’m overreacting, but a bigger part doesn’t care even a little.
“Whoa, man, you good?” a passerby in the hall questions me as he rushes past.
I ignore him, pressing my forehead to the cool cinder-block wall painted a dingy gray. My arms rise up, and my fingers join together, resting on the back of my neck.
What am I going to do about this weekend?
What am I going to do about Harley?
Minutes drag by, and my thoughts are a blur.
The door to our dorm opens and shuts, and I pray it isn’t Dan. I’m not ready to apologize, and I don’t want to hit him again.
“You ready to talk about this?” Silas’s voice breaks through my hazy thoughts. He pauses for another minute before saying, “Dan’s in my room. Come on.”
I attempt to control my breathing before reluctantly turning around and following him through the door. He’s standing with his arms crossed, Levi next to him with a worried expression.
“All right, so what’s going on?” Silas drawls.
He sounds bored, but I know he cares about Dan and me.
I start to explain, “Nothing. It’s got nothing to do wi—”
“Cut the BS. We’re not morons. We’ve known you our whole lives. You never came home last night, and you’ve been hanging out with the tattooed chick.” Silas is stoic. He’s a stubborn one.
I sigh, mentally exhausted. Maybe they’ll have an insight that could help me. They won’t tell my parents. I feel confident that I can confide in them.
“Her name is Harley. She isn’t…what she seems. I mean…she isn’t pure or untouched, but I don’t care about that. She’s…addictive. I can’t stand to be away from her.” I peer up at them, desperately hoping I’m making sense.
“I know she doesn’t look it, but she’s sweet, and smart, and…I don’t expect y’all to understand. I want to be with her. Hell, I’m supposed to be taking her out soon.
