Page 17 of Craving Her

“Well, then you guys should go do what you need to do. I can’t leave until Monday.”

“You’re coming now, Skylar,” I growl.

“I can’t. I have a test that counts for thirty percent of my grade. I literallyhaveto be here Monday,” she says and throws her hands on her hips as if she’s getting ready to battle me.

“You’re lying.”

She rolls her eyes. “One thing about me you don’t know,Joker.I don’t lie.”

“Unless it’s by omission,” I snap back at her.

For a second, I’m sure I see pain slash across Skylar’s face. It doesn’t make me happy, though. If anything, it makes me ashamed because I know I’ve hurt her. My feelings for this girl are always so damn confusing.

She doesn’t look at me, she just pulls out her cellphone and starts to dial it. “Professor Adams? This is Skylar Kane. My family is requesting I come home. There’s a family emergency. I’ve explained I have a test on Monday that counts for a third of my grade and that I can’t miss it. I don’t think they believe me, though.” She pauses. I assume this Professor Adams is talking. Skylar looks right at me, her eyebrow lifted as if in challenge. “I can be a handful,” she laughs. “Do you think you can talk to my … I guess you could call him a stepbrother,” she murmurs after pausing to think about it. Carlos—or Spider, as he likes to be called—laughs at that, but I just roll my eyes. I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of reacting. I know that’s exactly what she wants. “Anyway, could you confirm that I’m telling the truth? I’m not about to mess up my GPA for family drama,” she continues. “Thank you, Professor Adams. I’m going to put you on speakerphone.” She pulls the phone away from her ear and then hits a button, putting it on speakerphone.

“I can confirm that Miss Kane has a test Monday and if she doesn’t take it, she will most likely receive a grade that will lower her GPA and jeopardize her scholarship.”

I don’t respond.

“Thank you, Professor Adams,” Carlos responds.

I cross my arms at my chest and look at Skylar. She doesn’t back down. “I’m not leaving,” she responds. “I’ve worked too hard to fuck it up.”

“And Monday?”

“If there is still danger, I’ll go home to be with my mother, but not until after I finish my test.”

“I can stay with Skylar, and you can head back to Kentucky to help Killer and the others,” Carlos volunteers. I want to agree. I know staying here with Skylar is a suicide mission. I won’t be able to keep from touching her. She’s twenty. Still too damn young, but not jailbait at all. The problem is there’s no way in fucking hell I’m going to leave her alone with the fucker that’s staring at her like he’s a starving man and she’s a six-course meal.

No. Way. In. Hell.

“That’s not going to work for me. Breaker ordered me to get his sister to safety, and that’s what I’m doing. You go back to Kentucky and get your family. Make sure everyone is safe and see if Breaker needs help. Let him know that I’ll be there Monday with his spoiled brat of a sister.”

“Fuck you, Joker.”

“You two really get along, huh?” Carlos laughs.

“We get along fine,” I argue. “As long as she knows her place.”

“Don’t listen to him, Carlos. This is just how Joker and I relate to one another. We’ll get along … just peachy,” she murmurs.

“I could wait and leave in the morning,” Carlos purrs, looking at Skylar. The urge to kill him nearly brings me to my knees.

“Kentucky is not that far away from Cherokee. Do you really want to delay making sure your mother and the rest of your family are safe to get your dick wet?” I growl.

I hear Skylar gasp, but I ignore it. I want this idiot gone and I want him gone now.

Chapter 9

Skylar

“I’m going to see you soon, Kyla. You owe me a kiss.”

“I do?” I laugh. I can feel Torin breathing down my neck. He’s standing right behind me, but I ignore him. He’s being a dick. I’m not sure why I thought he had changed when he showed up at the club, but stupid little me thought he had.

“Don’t you remember your sweet sixteen birthday party? BB and I were playing ball, and you promised the winner your first kiss.”

“I do remember that. Although, if I remember correctly, my brother came in and put an end to that game before either of you could collect the prize.”