Free Torn by C.J. Fallowfield Page B

surreptitiously this time. Jesus. Until I’d laid eyes on her, I had no
idea curves could be so appealing. The way her waist nipped in, then flared out
to her voluptuous hips, that ass of hers covered by the denim that looked
painted on, sent all the blood rushing to my cock. She looked back over her
shoulder at us and caught me staring. I didn’t back down, just gave her a wink,
which made her bite her lower lip as she smiled shyly back, her cheeks going
that adorable shade of pink I remembered, before she looked away.
    “She doesn’t want to date. Wants
to focus on her studies.”
    “What?” I forced myself to stop
looking at her and turned around to face Billy.
    “I’ve seen the way you’re looking
at her, like a lion looks at its next meal. You need to back off and let her be.”
    “So you can ask her out? Seems
you’re only bothered because you like her, Billy. Josh too. I say we let the
lady make up her own mind.”
    “You already have your pick of
all the women in this town, Nate. What chance do Josh or I have if you’re
hanging around? Go be with your baseball groupies and leave us be,” he snapped,
flashing me a glare.
    “You been taking your meds, Billy?”
    “What’s it to you, you’re not my
dad,” he bit. I narrowed my eyes and took a calming breath.
    “No, I’ve never tried to be, but
it is my responsibility to look after you and your ma. Josh mentioned you got
one of your headaches earlier. Everything ok, do I need to be worried?”
    “Josh overreacts, I’m fine,” he
muttered, as he finally bent over and pocketed one of his stripes.
    “I need to know if you’re not,
Billy. You’re family. It would break your ma if something happened to you, or
worse.”
    “You think I don’t know that?” he
bristled.
    “Take it down a notch, I’m not picking
a fight. I’m just saying I’m concerned and I’m here for you, ok cuz?” I watched
as he shook his head and huffed out a deep breath with a nod.
    “Sorry, Nate. Just a bit tired,
that’s all. I’m fine.”
    “Then let’s go as soon as they’re
done, you need to rest and I’ve got a shitload of studying to do.”
    “Nate?” Billy looked up and held
my gaze, the look of annoyance leaving his face and one of concern settling on
it instead. All of a sudden he didn’t look like an eighteen-year-old, he looked
like a vulnerable child again.
    “You talk to me, Billy,” I said
softly. “You’re having problems, I’m here for you.”
    “Just … don’t tell Sky, ok? I
don’t want her to know. People treat me different when they know.”
    “Billy, if she’s going to be
hanging out with you, she deserves to know.”
    “It’s bad enough I get the
sympathy looks from Mom, you, and Josh. Don’t make me get them from her as
well. Promise me you won’t tell her,” he pleaded. I sighed and pinched the
bridge of my nose. I couldn’t imagine being in Billy’s shoes, how hard it must
be.
    “Fine, but only if you promise to
keep up with your meds and talk to me when you have an episode.”
    “Deal,” he beamed, then drew his
fingers across his lips and tipped his head to the side to indicate we had
company. I looked around to find Josh looking like he’d just won the state
lottery.
    “Three out of three, my record
stands,” he grinned, tossing his hand in the air for me to high-five him.
    “So, just driving that’s your
specialty?” I chuckled, as Sky shot him a hot-as-hell glare.
    “No, just pinball that’s my
weakness. I play a mean game of pool, too.”
    “I’ll take you up on that
challenge another day. It’s time we were getting home.”
    “ Nate .” Josh made a face
as he drew out my name in a whiny voice.
    “I’ve got a ton of studying to do
if I want to be ahead of the curve for the next semester, and it’s your turn to
do the chores tonight,” I reminded him. “I’m just gonna finish up this game
with Billy and we’re going, ok?”
    “Fine,” he sighed.
    I was acutely aware of Sky watching
as I