The Bad Boy is Mine

Chapter 6

The pic on the side is Anthony

I wake up in bed.

Did I fall asleep on the motorcycle?

I spring up, tripping on the sheets.

I rush out of my room.

The TV is on to Disney channel.

Jace is sitting on the couch with Charlotte.

He's shirtless.

"What happened?" I ask.

"You and Charlotte fell asleep so I carried you to bed." He shrugs.

"And we didn't fall off?"

"My hands were on your thighs." He shrugs. He stands up and yawns. "I should go. I've got a car to fix."

I nod. "Thank you, Jace."

He smiles. "You're welcome."

He pauses with his hand on the doorknob.

"Say, what's the deal with your Mom? She seemed pretty pissed when I took that alcohol from Adam."

"She's not my Mom." I say.

"You call her Mom." He says.

"She'll beat me if I don't."

"Who is she?"

"My step Mom."

"Why were you raised by your step Mom? Your Dad left you with her?"

"She framed my Dad for a robbery and got him arrested. When it was proven that it was a false arrest, my step mom had already filed a restraining order. He lost the court case."

"Where's your real Mom?"

"She left a year before Dad was forced to."

"Did she leave by choice?"

"I don't know. Dad didn't know either, but my step mom was already in the picture."

"So she probably was tricked into leaving."

"Probably." I say quietly.

"My Mom...she uh, left my Dad for another girl. My little sister lives with my Dad in Maine."

"How old is your sister?"

"She's fifteen." He says.

"How long ago did she leave?"

"When I was six, and I'm twenty four, so...eighteen years ago."

"Do you miss her?"

"Every day." He smiles. "I can't imagine your pain."

"Yeah..." I trail off.

"Well..." he trails off.

"Why did you say you would go crazy if you lost me?" I whisper.

"Because I would."

"But why? You hardly know me."

He's quiet for a long time. "I just haven't known you long. I know all the big things already." He pauses. "If you really want to get your Dad back, drop the restraining order. You're twenty three. You're allowed to."

He walks out the door without another word.

I pause, and then I take a shower with Charlotte, I dress, and then I dress Charlotte, and then I head out with her and flag down a taxi.

It takes me to the courthouse, and then I go inside with Charlotte.

"Can I see my file?"

I tell the lady all of my information.