Unbroken

“What stuff?”

“Just…stuff.”

“More than you want to be tutored by me?”

She flicked a packet of salt at him. “Don’t tempt me.”

He barely blinked as it hit his chest and fell to the table. He’d give her everything in his wallet and then some if she would just agree to be tutored by him.

Instead, he said, “If you work here, I might show up every night wanting to get served by you.”

She laughed, not seeing how serious he was. “As long as you tip well.”

He watched her intently as she placed the fork down and ran the napkin along her lips. His heart thumped hard at the loose strands framing her face. Just as quickly, he felt a cold feeling rush over him when his gaze landed on the scar along her chin, still red and angry. He blinked hard, swallowing the bolts of anger he felt every time he focused on it. There were other scars, too. Some on her hands and arms, ranging from small to a few inches long. He knew there were more along her leg, but he hadn’t seen them yet, didn’t know the depth of damage done, but Hunter had let on that it was pretty bad.

And still she smiled.

Still, she looked at Leo like he was the good guy and not the son of thecuntthat did that to her.

His lips tingled from their kiss. He stared at her mouth again, the swelling gone like he’d never kissed her at all.

“Can I take you out, Skye?” he whispered suddenly, unable to hold back.

She smiled brilliantly at him. “Aren’t we out, Leo?”

“This?” He shook his head, solemnly. “This isn’t taking you out, sweetness.”

She tilted her head to the side. “What does it mean to be ‘taken out’?”

“Take you to a nice place, give you some real flowers…” His voice trailed as he looked into her eyes, his body heating to touch her.

“That sounds like a date, Leo,” she said timidly.

His heart picked up when her cheeks reddened. “Would you, though, if it was?”

She didn’t respond for a few moments, staring into his eyes, never straying, either. Her face softened; cheeks flushed as she looked fleetingly at his lips. She parted her own, like she was thinking about their kiss. He played the confident role well, head held high, gaze intently focused on hers as he waited for her response, but inside he was coming apart. He wanted Skye. Wanted her so badly. Would do anything for her.

She looked away first, her expression suddenly conflicted as she clasped her hands together, squeezing them tightly. Her brows came together, a heavy thought flashing over her—

And Leo knew what it was.

Knew Hunter, though not there in the flesh, was still present there at the table, never to be forgotten.

Leo wasn’t mad, per say. He was just—

He didn’t know what.

As time went on, it was clear Skye wasn’t leaning toward one boy more than the other. There were no other boys in the picture, either. Leo would know about it—Hunter would have done something about it. They were wildly possessive about her, but she wasn’t making a move that was big enough to direct where this thing between the three of them was going.

So, he sat there, as lost as ever, silently pleading for her guidance, but she was navigating in the dark like he was, like Hunter was, and what a mess this thing—whatever this ‘thing’ was called—was.

But then she looked back up at him, and he saw the answer in her eyes. He saw her lips spread into a soft smile as she parted them to answer—

A car screeched out front, tearing through their moment, drowning out her answer. Loud bangs erupted, causing Skye to jump. Panic seized him as he recognized the sound of bullets tearing through the air. Steadfastly, Leo yelled, “Get under the table!”

Face pale, Skye slid under the table of the booth. Leo glanced out the window as a black car continued along, guns pointed out the window in the direction of the pub. Screams ripped through the air, some of them women, some of them men. The car was daring enough to slow down as more shots tore out, sweeping along the shop fronts—

Leo dropped to the floor as the windows shattered over them.