Chapter 13

As I follow, I pray none of the neighbors are watching—what if someone sees us? Him in boxers and bitching me out, the beginnings of an erection poking at the front of his shorts. God.“I’m just a slut,” he continues, pounding down the steps. “Fuck anyone who’ll shove it in me, is that what you think? You stare at me from your window and you get off watching me and you know I’m all about hooking up but oh no, you’ve been hurt before, your heart’s too damn fragileand you won’t let me even tryto prove I’m not like your fuckhead friend. Seven goddamn monthsand you won’t even give me a chance.”

“Okay, Bradley?” I try, trailing behind him helplessly. He swings one leg over the side of my fence, then the other, slides off into his yard and he’s ignoring me now, he’s just not listening. “Maybe we can take this back inside? We can talk it out—”