I look up at Jaden over the top of her car. She's talking to a customer about different prices on lube jobs, biting her lip and tucking her hair behind her ear. My knuckles turn white from my tight grip. The distance is killing me. I want to slam the hood and drag her back to the breakroom and lock the door. Her gaze moves to mine through the window of the door separating us. She smiles. I wink at her, loving the blush that tints her cheeks. "Cute girl," Johnny says. "Isn't she your friend's little sister?" he asks, wiping his hands on his uniform. I snarl, keeping my gaze on her car and my mouth shut. He chuckles and leans forward to see what I'm doing. "You're working on her car, giving her the eye all day and you live together? Doesn't take a genius to figure out you're screwing her—," Standing up, I slam the hood down, missing his fingers by an inch. He jumps backs, but doesn't lose his grin. "Well, looks like I've struck a nerve,

She's dead. I failed her for good this time. I'll never be able to shake the image of her on that cool sterile table. Unfortunately, she looked better in death than the last time I saw her strung out and shivering in the heat. She looked at peace, which was more than I could say since I was a child. My phone beeps around eleven as I'm staring at my ceiling. It's Jaden. Her: I'm moving out. I lift a brow. Me: Oh yeah? Where are you going? I can imagine the frustrated look on her face. Her: I don't know yet. My dad wants me out unless I do what he says. I have money saved up, and the job at the garage, I'll find something. The thought of moving out of this apartment with her tempts me. I bite my lip gently, knowing it's too soon, I hardly know this girl. But I like her. I start to type out a text but stop. Adam would flip his lid if I moved out

My entire body is sore. Even though there were three of them, my pride is still hiding his head. I crane my neck to the side and groan at the pain that shoots down my back. For three old guys, they handed me my tail. It's not as if I'm surprised. You don't run with a rough crowd without being able to handle yourself. My gaze lifts from the hood where I'm single handedly changing the oil, to Dan and Jaden in the lobby. I don't like the look on Dan's face or that he's side eyeing me. I groan when he waves me to the front. He's leaned against the counter nonchalantly, a slither of his belly hanging from underneath his garage uniform. "How ya feeling?" I rest my elbows on the counter, watching Jaden avoid eye contact and scribble flowers on the side of the receipt book in front of her. I lift a brow, knowing she's avoiding looking at me for whatever reason. "I'm fine." Dan slides his tongue over the front of his teeth. "You sure? Jaden mentioned you hurting and taking extra pain kill

Jaden looks lost as she stares off into space. I can't imagine the images, the memories or thoughts that cloud her mind. I've been down before, lost, but never enough to want to kill myself. I move my fingertips against the slither of skin between her t-shirt and jeans. She doesn't seem to notice. Her mouth opens to speak but nothing comes out. I want to tell her she doesn't have to say anything, but I want to know so bad. How bad did Justin and Selena hurt her? What all happened? The scars are still visible on her wrist, the vertical marks tell me she really wanted to end it. They don't look superficial. She rolls over on her side and faces me. Her soft features look cloudy and distant. "You know what happened between Justin and I. How he treated me, and then the pictures circulating. I told you about overhearing Selena in the bathroom?" I nod. She frowns. "It only got worse from there. It took Selena minutes to find out who I was, and the ve

I trace my finger over the small tattoo on Jaden's hand. It looks beautiful against her skin, and even though it's red around the edges and beginning to peel, I love it. She hasn't stopped looking at it since we pulled the bandage off thirty minutes ago. "You like it?" I ask her. "I love it," she says, rolling over to her stomach on the bed. I smile back at her, but it doesn't meet my eyes. I haven't been able to stop thinking about what Lonnie told me. She knows the man that jumped me, and I'm eager to go repay the favor. But I know I'd walk into a lion's den if I did, especially in my current position. I don't have my wingman anymore anyway. Adam is walking a thin line with drugs, and I don't want to get involved in it. My entire life revolved around drugs, and since my mother is gone, I don't want anymore to do with it.  "You're thinking about what Lonnie told you?" "Yeah," I say rubbing my good hand down my face. "I want to go fin