Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know. You’re being nice.”

“I’ve told you a million times before, I’m not a bad guy.”

“You just do bad things?”

“Yeah,” he laughs. “Something like that.”

Again, I find myself wanting to believe him. I mean, he hasn’t tried to lay a single finger on me. He hasn’t hit on me. He hasn’t even looked at me funny. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he is an alright guy and I’ve just been going on Nate’s idea of who he is, but then, I’ve always known Nate to be an excellent judge of character.

He glances at me quickly before looking back out the windscreen. “I don’t mean to pry.” Then don’t. “But I heard you and Nate broke up this week.”

“Really?” I question as my phone starts blowing up in my pocket. I pull it out to see Nate’s name flashing on the caller ID. I hit ignore and drop the phone into my lap.

“Well, at least, that’s what the rumor mill is telling me.”

“Is that why you’re suddenly swooping in to save the damsel in distress?” I question. “Because I’m not interested in getting in bed with you.”

“Look, as much as I’d love to get you between the sheets. This isn’t what this is about. I’m just being a decent guy. Besides, after what happened down on the track. It looked like Nate was ready to tear you apart, and not in a good way.”

“So, you thought you’d come in and save me?”

“Hey, I never said I wasn’t going to take any chance I could get to piss the bastard off and believe me, this one will work wonders.”

I roll my eyes. I’ve never heard such truer words. “He just doesn’t like me being in unnecessary danger,” I explain.

“No shit,” Jackson grunts. “What boyfriend wouldn’t? I wasn’t too keen on the idea, but then, I like a ballsy chick and seeing you race was fucking hot.”

I focus out the windscreen, hoping my face hasn’t turned bright red with his last comments. We grow closer to Crystal’s place when my phone starts going off again. I look down and hit ignore. Not a moment later, I get a text.

Nate – WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?

Delete. Not my fucking problem.

Another comes in.

Nate – TORA? ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE.

“It looks like someone is looking for you,” Jackson murmurs as he pulls into Crystal’s street and starts searching for somewhere to park.

“He can get fucked,” I grumble under my breath.

“Whoa,” Jackson laughs. “Calm down, cowgirl. That’s a bit harsh. What did he do to deserve that? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“Worse,” I sigh. I mean, what Nate did to me was devastating. Made me fall in love with him and waited until he had me in the palm of my hands, only to rip it away. I mean, maybe it would have been better if he cheated on me. That way I’d have something to be pissed off about, and it sure as hell would have made moving on a lot easier. But this whole ‘leaving me to protect me’ bullshit is ridiculous. I can’t even hate him for that. How the hell am I supposed to stop loving him when I know he loves me just as much?

Jackson lets the conversation go as he kills the engine though I don’t know if he’s doing it because he doesn’t want to get me started on something that is clearly a touchy subject, or if he’s not asking out of sheer respect. After all, it’s none of his goddamn business. But then, maybe he’s not asking because he generally just doesn’t give a fuck. Yeah, I’ll go with door number three.

We climb out of his Charger and he walks up the long driveway with me. “Thanks,” I tell him. “You know, for saving me back there.”

“No problem,” he says. “I’ll let you know when it’s time to repay the favor.”

“What?” I grunt with wide eyes.

He bursts out laughing. “I’m joking. Chill out.”

“What the hell is this?” a pissed of voice cuts into our conversation. I look up to find Jesse standing out the front of Crystal’s party, looking between me and Jackson as though I’ve just committed the worst betrayal, but then, to him, I guess I have. He looks to me. “Where have you been? And what the hell do you think you’re wearing?”

“What’s your problem?” I snap at him, secretly loving that he hates my outfit as I know if he hates it, Nate hates it so much more. “I was at the races. Now I’m here.”

Jesse looks back at Jackson. “What are you still doing here? Fuck off.”

“Jesse,” I scold. “Don’t talk to him like that, he just gave me a ride.”

“You should have called me if you needed a ride.”

Jackson backs away, shaking his head with disinterest. “Yeah… I’m out. See you later, Tora.”