Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)
“Anthony and I are never going to happen.”
“And why not?” Tabitha asked as they got to Daisy’s home.
Daisy opened her mouth and closed it.
“See, you can’t even give me a reason.”
“Stop it, Tabs. You and I both know I’m not his type.”
“You don’t even know what his type is.”
“It’s not me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know enough,” Daisy said. “Come on.”
“Why don’t we walk in the front door? Your dad’s going to know.”
“If he hasn’t time to check, I could get away with it.”
They climbed up the side of the house, going into Daisy’s room. As they came to a stop, Tabitha groaned. Not only was Whizz standing there, arms folded, waiting, so was Tiny, her dad.
Oops.Chapter Four“You’re grounded?” Simon asked, laughing.
“It’s not funny.”
“You snuck out, went to a fight, and your dad was waiting for you when you got back. I think that’s hilarious.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” Tabitha sighed. “It gets worse, he’s picking me up from school. Whizz is doing the same for Daisy as well. We’re being treated like kids.”
“It’s how you punish kids.”
“You know I’d punch you if you were here.”
He snorted. “I’m with your dad on this one. You shouldn’t be going out.”
“Kiss his ass, why don’t you?”
“No, seriously, how are you?” Simon asked. Daisy had texted him late on the night in question in case he struggled to get in contact with her. He would’ve called Tabby’s mother if she didn’t answer. Her parents knew he loved her so it wasn’t like he was saving any kind of face.
“How am I? I don’t know. Bored. There’s nothing to do when you’re confined to the house. I’m not even allowed to go to the clubhouse so it’s full-on grounding.”
He leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. “Sing to me.”
“Not happening. You know I only do that when I’m in the mood and right now I’m not. I wish you were here. Are you still not coming for Halloween?”
He groaned. “Not this year. I promised Mom I’d help out with the trick or treating. It feels like a hundred kids want to go and beg for candy. I’m sure if she asked, Dad would just buy them what they wanted and I’d be off the hook.”
“Are you dressing up?”
“Probably, I think I’ll go as a zombie biker.”
She chuckled. “A hot zombie though, right?”
“Totally. You’d have to give me the kiss of death.”
“I wouldn’t kiss a zombie.”
“If it was the end of the world and I was bitten, and for whatever reason the way to bring me back would be to kiss me, you wouldn’t?” he asked.
“It depends. Will you have bad breath?”
“I’d be dead.”
“Then you, my love, would have to stay dead.”
“Charming, and here I thought our love would last a lifetime.”
“Oh, it will. I’ll keep you locked up and pet you.”
“Like a dog?”
“No. A dog won’t eat me. You would.”
“You’re willing to make me jealous of a dog.”
“Totally,” she said. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Just this, being you. I don’t feel like I’m going quite so crazy anymore.”
“I’m always here for you. I don’t know if I’d be able to cope with you being grounded. I’d piss your parents off, climbing into your window.”
“Hiding under my bed?”
“Good times.”
Her laughter came over the line and it warmed him from the inside out.
“I love this.”
“Me too, but you haven’t told me what you’re wearing this Halloween.”
“Daisy and I still need to go and get costumes.”
“Will they even let you go to the party?”
“I figured if they don’t let us go out shopping soon, I’ll phone for reinforcements.”
“Anthony?”
“You got it. He wanted her to go. I can’t guarantee she’ll see it as a date, and she hates me for it. She’s not one to party, but it’s what he wanted.”
“I wouldn’t wait around. Call him, get him to agree. They’ll have some prospects go with you, or a couple of their guys. It’s not like it’ll be hard.”
“I think we scare a couple of the prospects. Daisy hates being followed around. I think her father is sniffing around her again.”
“Again?” Simon asked.
“Yep. She’s in that bitchy mood which means she’s keeping secrets. The only one I know, her dad. I don’t know why she doesn’t let Whizz handle it.”
“You know why,” he said.
“Yeah, I know but it’s stupid. I’m sorry. I just, I hate it when it’s like this, you know? Daisy shouldn’t have to deal with it, but if he was killed, then she’d blame herself.”
“Why don’t you get Anthony to pay him a visit?” Simon suggested.
“Really, did you listen to what I said? Anthony would kill him, without a doubt. No question. He’d be dead.”
“I’m just throwing it out there.”
“It’s a bad idea,” she said. “I feel like I’m always talking to Anthony at the minute.”
“He’s going to take over as club prez,” Simon said. “It makes sense.”
“Yeah, he’d be a good prez. A strong one. Scary.”