JJ's biggest flaw was his recklessness, and his bad ideas. Honestly, that didn't seem that bad to Bexley.
Rafe's biggest flaw? Jealousy. Pure, uncontrolled jealousy.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
tw: mentions of violence, mentions of parental abuse, feel like this chapter is almost all arguing 😬
The sand felt so much softer than her mattress at her home. Bexley laid on it, curling into herself. She was on Figure Eight still, at a beach a few miles away from the house. She found a giant log, which she hid behind, crouching and falling asleep.
She was finally at peace.
Alone.
Quiet wind. Soft waves hitting the beach.
She pulled on the hood of her hoodie. It felt so warm. So freeing.
She moved closer to the log, and fell asleep completely.
*****
"He got you good," Madelyn remarked.
JJ scoffed. "I got him better."
John B and Kiara had left Bexley's house. Everyone left. And JJ was going to as well. He felt like shit. He just went inside to grab his bag, and fuck off to where he wouldn't be bothering anyone.
But Madelyn was in the kitchen. She had been watching the fight through the window.
She gave JJ ice when he came in. And a bandaid.
"I think he got you better," Madelyn countered. JJ rolled his eyes. "Saw Bexley out there. She didn't come in?"
"She came in, saw me, and ran out."
Madelyn cursed. "Why'd she come back then? Something happen?"
"Probably," JJ scoffed. "When does something not happen with Rafe Cameron? Jesus, his whole family disowned him, I don't know why she takes up with him."
Madelyn shook her head, "Piece of shit."
"Yeah," JJ agreed. "Piece of shit."
He liked gossiping about Bexley and Rafe with her. It was one of the only things they talked about. To be fair, what the hell else would he have in common with this adult woman?
"Why didn't Bexley stay here? Because you beat up on her boy?"
"I don't know," JJ said, frowning, pulling his hand away from his face, using it to make dramatic hand motions. "Jesus, it's like the more people dislike Rafe, the more she likes him. But we only dislike him because he's an asshole." JJ flinched as Madelyn pressed the ice in his hand back against his cheek. "You know, maybe you should've given Bexley a few examples of good men to date when she was growing up."
Madelyn scoffed. "If I had done that she never would've looked at you."
He rolled his eyes.
"...But I tried,"Madelyn told him. "I mean, I...I tried to give her a rich daddy. Who had money and class. But he moved far away and she never saw him."
