Always Sometimes Never: Sometimes Brooke Part 14

"Like what?" I search his eyes, but all I see is how much he despises me. Or at least what he thinks I am. He doesn't even really know me. Maybe he just hates what's going on with Leo and he's blaming me for it.

"I think you already know the answer to that question."

"Enlighten me."

We both stare at each other for a long moment.

"You're playing with fire." He sticks an index finger in my face. "If you hurt Leo I swear..." He looks like he wants to say more, but bites his tongue.

The old me-before rehab-would have challenged him and made him finish his sentence. The new me decides to just let it go. "I have no control over Leo's feelings..."

His finger pokes in my face again. He's beginning to make it a habit. "You've got his f.u.c.king heart on a string and you know it."

I feel like I've been slapped. Leo's heart on a string? Before I can respond Xander turns and marches away.

I hurry my a.s.s over to the orchard so I don't p.i.s.s off Harper along with apparently everyone else in the place.

She's frowning when I rush over to her.

"Sorry," I say proactively.

"For what?"

"Everything. Anything. Whatever it is you're frowning about. And please don't mention Leo."

"Maybe we should just run," Harper suggests.

"Good idea."

After what feels like ten miles, but is really only two, I motion to Harper that I need to stop running.

She jogs in place while I struggle to catch my breath.

"I'm-done," I manage to spit out.

"I'm going to run for another thirty minutes," she tells me.

I nod. "See you later."

When she takes off in the opposite direction I'm thankful that there's still one person on Earth who doesn't think I'm a heartless b.i.t.c.h.

I'm lying in bed allowing myself to wallow in self-pity for a few moments when I hear a knock on my bedroom door. I debate not answering it, but I know it's futile when the knocking continues.

"Come in," I say loud enough so I don't actually have to get up from the bed.

When Leo enters he's not his usual happy-go-lucky self. He looks more like loaded-down-with-baggage Brooke.

"Mind if I join you?" he asks.

I shrug. "Depends what you're looking for."

"You," he says matter-of-factly.

"You found me," I tease.

He lies down on the bed next to me. We're both on top of the covers fully clothed and it feels a little weird. With guys I'm generally naked and getting busy. Leo is usually no exception.

"I'm heard Xander and Raven gave you a hard time."

"They really care about you. I think they're worried that you're going to get hurt."

"Am I?" When he turns to face me he looks so vulnerable. All of the usual c.o.c.kiness is nowhere in sight.

"I don't know," I admit.

"I want you, Brooke Rhodes."

"You've already had me," I tell him. "Multiple times."

"You know what I mean." His dark eyes grow even darker and more serious.

"What do you want with a girl like me? Didn't you hear? I'm the girl who'll spread her legs for anyone."

"And what would it take for you to spread your legs just for me?"

I gulp. I'm not sure I'm prepared to answer that question. "You can't always get what you want," I say instead.

"Yes I can," he insists.

"This isn't some cheesy romance novel," I protest. "Just because you're a rock star doesn't mean you get the girl."

His c.o.c.ky smile sneaks across his face. "Wanna bet?"

Then he closes the distance between us and kisses me. His kiss is full of raw desire.

It's not long before we're tearing off each other's clothes. But I stop dead in my tracks when I see he's got a bandage on his chest.

"Did you get a new tattoo?"

His expression completely changes and he suddenly looks terrified.

"What is it?" I probe. I don't want to tell him that I have the myriad of artwork all over his body completely memorized. Every shape, every color and every curve of each and every one of his many tattoos is etched in my mind.

"It's nothing," he says dismissively.

"I want to see it..."

He grabs my hand as I reach for the bandage. "No!"

I'm surprised by the harsh tone of his voice. Harsh is not a word one would use to describe Leo.

"Why didn't you tell me you were getting a new ink?" I ask.

He bites his bottom lip, clearly uncomfortable.

"I want to see it," I insist.

His eyes search mine. "You have to promise that you won't freak out."

"How can I promise something like that?" I'm the queen of freaking out.

As he slowly removes the bandage I gasp when I process what I'm seeing. And I'm already freaking out, so screw that promise.

Tattooed on his chest right over his heart in a gigantic blue and lavender heart symbol with Wild Child in a rainbow of colors filling the center. The artwork is stunning, but it's the message that's rendered me nearly speechless.

"Say something," Leo pleads.

"You call me Wild Child," I mutter the obvious. I'm not sure what else to say because I feel like I'm in a daze. When I was a kid I always thought it would be cool for a guy to tattoo my name on himself. Now that one has actually done it it's making my stomach churn.

"You've captured my heart," he says.

My chest feels so tight I'm having trouble taking in a deep breath. The large room feels like it's closing in on me.

I need to escape.

"I've got to go," I mutter.

"Go?" He sounds confused.

My head is spinning as I climb out of bed. "I just need some s.p.a.ce."

He doesn't take his eyes off of me as I try to rea.s.semble the outfit I was wearing.

"I should go with you," he suggests.

"That would be the opposite of me having s.p.a.ce."

"I knew I shouldn't have shown you the tattoo."

I want to state the obvious: that maybe he shouldn't have gotten the tattoo in the first place, but I refrain.

As soon as I look put-together enough to be seen in public I head toward the door. When I turn back toward Leo I ask, "Are you just going to stay in my bed?"

"I like it."

"You have your own bedroom."

"This one smells like you."

They were right, I mumble to myself. They were all right.

I really am going to break Leo's big heart.

"I need to borrow your car," I state when I catch up with Harper in the kitchen. She's cooking some kind of bean stew in a gigantic pot that does not look in any way appetizing.

Not that I have much of an appet.i.te. The only thing I'm actually craving is tequila.

"Where are you going?" She glances at her expensive watch. I'm not sure which I hate more-the watch itself-or what it symbolizes. That she's a mature person who can handle a mature relations.h.i.+p. She's not freaking out because a guy cares about her.

Or maybe even loves her.

"Is everything okay?" Harper's brow furrows with concern.

I give my head a vigorous shake. "Everything is definitely not okay."

"Are you sure you're okay to drive?"

"I have to get out of here for a while. I'm starting to feel extremely claustrophobic."

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" She pulls out one of the counter stools for me to sit.

I plop down on it.

"Leo got a tattoo of a heart, with my name, over his heart."

Harper swallows uncomfortably. "Oh, no..."

I narrow my gaze at her. "Did you know about this?"

She heaves a small sigh. "Not exactly. Leo was using my computer trying to look up something on the Internet and failing miserably. He was trying to figure out exactly where the heart was located in the human body. So I told him. I had no idea why he wanted to know."

"He said I've captured his heart."

When she places her hand on my arm I try my best not to flinch. "Is that really a bad thing? The two of you seem to like each other."

"We like to f.u.c.k each other. Not exactly the building blocks of a healthy and stable relations.h.i.+p. Not to mention the fact that I'm an addict, just out of rehab, with so much baggage I need my own freight train to carry it all. Why does Leo even want someone like me? I'm damaged goods. I'm a s.l.u.t. I'm not the girl-next-door like you, Harper. I'm not relations.h.i.+p material. I'm the one-night stand. Two at the most. That's all it was ever supposed to be between us."

"Please tell me you want to borrow the car to go to a meeting."

"I want to borrow the car to go to a meeting," I repeat, even though I have no idea where I want to go other than away from here.

Her purse is sitting on the end of the counter. She reaches into it and removes her car keys. She waves them in front of me for a few seconds. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you not to drink and drive."

"I won't drink and drive," I promise. Although right now I could use a drink in the worst way.