Cheat Sheets

Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

Okay, admittedly I shouldn’t have gotten on the back of Braeden’s bike in the first place. But now, as Braeden leads me down the back alleyway behind a rundown garage, I realise it’s too late for regrets and I’ve no choice but to hesitantly trail behind him with my nerves lodged somewhere in my throat and my arms wrapped protectively around myself.

We approach a metal door half covered in graffiti and street posters, and Braeden pushes it open with a slight shoulder nudge, revealing a dimly lit corridor beyond.

Holding the door open, Braeden smiles down at me expectantly and tilts his head in the direction of the hallway. “Go in then.” When he sees me hesitate, he lets out a slight chuckle before his spare hand comes out and begins to slowly massage between my shoulder blades. “You’re scared? Don’t be. I’m right behind you, alright Kee?”

“It’s Keira.” I timidly correct him, glaring up at him whilst he smirks in success.

“I know.” He winks down at me. “So, Kee, after you.”

Ignoring the annoying fact that he neglected to call me by my rightful name, I roll my eyes and step into the murky hallway. The chill coming from the other end of the hall causes goose pimples to prickle my arms and I go to quickly rub some warmth into my flesh. What is this place anyways? And why on earth has Braeden brought me here? I bet this is where him and his mates come and do drugs together. Ugh, trust Braeden to bring me to his dealing den. What on earth have I gotten myself into…

Before the questions in my mind can convince me to turn my ass around and skedaddle out the way I came, I feel something touch my shoulders and sudden warmth in my body. Staring down, I look at the leather jacket that Braeden has draped over my shoulders. “Uh, thanks.” I murmur, blushing furiously as I slip my arms into the sleeves and pull the warm jacket up around me. Mmm, it’s still hot from Braeden’s body heat.

Don’t even go there; my brain swiftly butts in, reminding me that Braeden Reigns is nothing short of trouble. Trouble which I am not ready for if I intend to make it to College.

The hallway is a mess of litter and peeling paint, flecks of who knows what sprays up and down the walls, and the flickering artificial light overhead gives the place an eerie effect that makes me tug the jacket up tighter under my chin.

When we reach the end of the hall, I shift slightly to give Braeden access to the door in front of me. Thankfully this door is nowhere near as dodgy as the last one and actually has a letter box and door lock. But instead of stepping around me, Braeden leans his big body up behind mine – brushing his front against my back – as his arm comes around from my side to slide a key into the house lock.

He’s so close I can feel his freaking breathing on the nape of my exposed neck. Thing is; him being this close is nowhere near as disagreeable as I’d like it to be.

“You’re awfully quiet.”

I jump at the sound of Braeden’s deep rumbling voice directly in my ear, and I almost whack my head back into face if it weren’t for the fact that he rapidly steps back chuckling at my nervous state. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you jump. Jeez, aren’t you tetchy today?”

“I-It’s okay. I’m just cold.” I quickly try to shield my nerves, bolstering a confidence that I totally do not feel as I turn to him with a slight smile. “Are we going in then?”

Braeden smirks down at me and pushes open the door. “Ladies first.”

Preceding him into the unlocked room, I cross the threshold and stand speechless at what lays before me. Oh my… Well, that saying about first looks being deceiving is definitely true. In fact I think I’m never going to judge a book by its cover ever again. Wow, Braeden Reigns sure is the anomaly I didn’t expect.