Free Flirt: Bad Boy Romance by Ashley Hall Page B

to think he’d be stuck out in the world without any support from family, but right now at least, I had a feeling that would be the case regardless after he graduated from high school. Wes kept to himself too much, and he didn’t seem to want to get to know his mom, let alone the others. He probably talked to me more than her. And I didn’t know what to think about that. His mother hadn’t been there for him for so many years. He had a lot of hostility and anger, I was sure, and it wasn’t without good reason. He would hate it if he knew, but I felt badly for him.
     
    For another two minutes, my dad yelled at him. Wes remained quiet throughout—so smart on his part—and then headed upstairs.
     
    Although I knew I shouldn’t bother—that it wasn’t any of my business, that he wouldn’t be in a good mood right now—I couldn’t bring myself to go back to my room without talking to him first. I confronted him when he reached the top of the stairs, shooting off questions like they were bullets a trigger-happy person was firing. “Where were you? Why were you so late? Why don’t you wear a helmet?”
     
    He made a scoffing sound and held up his hand. “Don’t. Don’t pester me.”
     
    Pester? I bristled until I realized how I was coming across. I was pestering him. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, a little sarcastically. I crossed my arms. “I only wanted to save you from my dad’s wrath. Trust me. I’ve seen him with P and P. You don’t—”
     
    “P and P? That’s how you refer to Peter and Paul?” His lips quirked into a teasing smile, but he still looked a little pissed off. That dangerous, alluring edge to him was still there. “I like that. Stealing it.”
     
    “Fine. They like it. They won’t mind.” I wasn’t about to let him change the subject. Glaring at him, I waved my arm to show we were done talking about the boys. “But when my dad gets mad, he gets really mad, and if you don’t like him already, you’ll hate him when he’s furious. Just wanted to give you a warning. That’s all.” I shrugged and crossed my arms again. “I don’t care where you went.”
     
    He was staring at me, through me, reading me like I was a book. Every part of him—from his smirk to his raised eyebrows, his own crossed arms and tilted head—screamed she must be kidding.
     
    My tempered flared. I normally never allowed someone to have so much control over my emotions, but Wes affected me like no one else. Which was bad. So very bad.
     
    “You think you’re so attractive and charming and cool, but…but that’s not the case at all.” I took a deep breath. My cheeks were so hot right now, almost as hot as Wes. Ugh! I had to stop this awkward dance between us. He had to realize I didn’t want him that way, that I didn’t see him that way.
     
    If only that was the truth.
     
    “In fact, I-I can’t stand you, I think you’re a-annoying, and it’s all an act. All…all of it.” I held out my hand and gestured from his head to his feet. “I-I was only trying to be a…be a good person.”
     
    Why was I stammering? I never stammered!
     
    His eyes darkened, blue turning almost black, and he was grinning like he was pleased to see me so off kilter, so angry. I backed up, but a few steps from him closed the gap.
     
    “You’re so pretty when you’re lying,” he said smoothly, his grin stretching even wider.
     
    I blew air out of my nostrils. How dare he mock me! I backed up a little more, until my rear bumped against the wall. I so should’ve gone to bed.
     
    “And I love the way you look when you’re mad,” he continued, his voice.
     
    I glanced around. The hallway was empty, but Dad wouldn’t stay up for much longer. If he saw us standing so close together, with Wes leaning toward me—or if anyone saw us for that matter, we’d be…what? What would happen? I didn’t want to think about it. My stomach was all twisted with butterflies, and I couldn’t think