TANGLED

by Simone Elise

  He sped to the school and double parked out the front, ignored the other cars that had their blinkers on looking for a space. His loud engine was roaring when he came to a stop. His eyes went off the road and he took the car out of gear.

  “Do you want me to pick you up?” He had a smile on his face. But I didn’t expect that of him.

  “Nope. All good. Thanks for dropping me off.”

  His hand ran up my thigh. “You busy tonight?”

  “Bax, if we spend tonight together that would be three in a row, and you and I only ever do one night.” I arched my eyebrows at him. “I know you have a life that doesn’t involve me.”

  He was glaring out my window, and when I turned to see what had his attention and my expression dropped. Of course Kyle would be out the front, and was standing there, glaring at us.

  I wished Bax’s car had tinted windows right now—illegal tint, the one you can’t see through.

  I looked back at Bax and sighed. “Ignore him. He’s an ex-boyfriend.”

  Bax looked at back me. “So you do do relationships?”

  “Yeah, once. And never again.”

  “Because of that jerk?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I have to go.” My hand fell on the door handle. “Thanks for dropping me off.” And I got out, leaving Bax glaring at Kyle.

  I walked away from the car. Kyle’s eyes were on me and I knew he was going to give me a spray, even though he had no right to give me one. Maybe I should just walk past him and ignore him. I decided to try that.

  He didn’t deserve my attention. I was so set on ignoring him I jumped when an arm wrapped around my waist. I glanced down, recognized the tattoos, and as I relaxed back into his chest, I slowly turned around.

  “You forgot something.” Bax smiled down at me. It was cheeky smile and I saw his eyes glance at Kyle. When he looked me back in the eye, it was like he had something to prove.

  “What?” I frowned. And then his lips were on mine. He pushed me firmly into his chest and held me there as he kissed me.

  I was breathless when he pulled back. His hands were still on my lower back, holding me tight to his chest.

  “I’ll message you.” He looked rather pleased with himself. And as he let go of me he shot a glare in Kyle’s direction.

  I was breathless and my fingers touched my lips—they were tingling.

  “So that’s your boyfriend?”

  I slowly turned around. I really didn’t feel like facing him. Kyle’s eyes were heated and the look on his face, well, it was enough to have me take a step back. I heard Bax’s car pull away, and as it disappeared in the distance, I wished he was back here, standing behind me because Kyle’s face was scaring me.

  Kyle looked at my top and shook his head in disgust, pointing a finger at me. “Stay the fuck away from my brother.” He spat the words at me like they were bitter and sour.

  “What does Josh have to do with anything?” I sure as hell didn’t know how Josh just entered this conversation. I was expecting Kyle to be spraying me about the man that had just claimed me in front of him, not bringing up Josh.

  “I’m not fucking stupid, Sophia! Your top says it all!” With that said he spun around and stormed off.

  For the first time this morning I glanced down at my top. It said The Devil’s Cut and had a logo in the middle.

  My frown deepened. Why would Bax’s biker club have anything to do with Josh?

  If anything it just proved to me that Bax was involved with them. It dawned on me I was going to have to spend the day walking around promoting an outlaw motor cycle club.

  I sighed, wondering if he did it on purpose. I doubt he even glanced at the top he handed to me. I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket, bringing up his number.

  Did u notice what top u gave me? I sent.

  My phone buzzed in my hand and I unlocked it.

  Wanted everyone to no who protects u.

  My mouth fell open and I let out a sharp breath. I was not protected by anyone. I sure as hell wasn’t protected by a motor cycle club.

  I don’t need protecting.

  And I didn’t. I didn’t need protecting from anything. Wasn’t like I was one of those girls that attracted trouble or anything.

  I started to walk through the school gates and my phone went off my hand again.

  Ur right, cause I’ll be doing it personally. But in case I fail, the club won’t.

  I stared down at the phone, frozen at the entrance. Suddenly I had a feeling Bax wasn’t looking at me as a causal fuck anymore. He wouldn’t want to personal protect a causal woman he is having sex with, would he?

  I didn’t know the answer. And I didn’t know what to write back, so I locked the phone. But his message kept running through my mind again.

  I glared at my English teacher as he explained yet another poem, twisting it and turning it from a romance piece into a suicide note.

  How the fuck can you go from romance to a poem about death? I sure as hell didn’t see it and I was trying my best to give him my attention while the voice that was born to grate on my nerves spoke right behind me.

  “Babe, I’m telling you this poem fits us perfectly,” Kayla said so sweetly.

  Was she even listening to the teacher? He was saying it was a death letter and she was comparing it to their romance?

  I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. Last class of the day and it was dragging.

  “Babe, how about we skip studying tonight and head to the coast for a few hours?” Kyle’s voice shocked me.

  I had not heard him once speak to her like that. He normally ignored her or grunted. And he never made plans with her.

  “Really?” Kayla’s voice went up.

  Looks like I wasn’t the only one to notice the relationship had been one-sided. The coast. That was where he would take me when he wanted to spend alone time. Just me and him. No distractions.

  “Yeah, of course, babe. Some you and me time sounds perfect.” Kyle’s voice was honest and sweet. And I felt automatically disgusted.

  Was he doing that on purpose? To make me jealous and piss me off? Well, it had fucking worked.

  I immediately entered a dirty mood, and I wasn’t just jealous—I was seeing red. How could he take her to our place? To our getaway!

  Everything he had said the other night was nothing but a lie.

  Why the hell did I even give him a second of my time? Well, I wouldn’t do it again.

  I made a decision right then and there to never again let Kyle fool me with fake love.

  I pulled out my phone. I knew one way to get under his skin: do something he told me not to. Suddenly I felt like a rebel. And I had something to prove. I checked the teacher was at the front, explaining his stupid poem to the front of the class. Yep, his attention wasn’t on me. So I pressed dial.

  I listened to it ring and I hoped this plan was going to work. If he didn’t answer, the plan of pissing Kyle off like he had pissed me off would fail.

  Just as I thought he wasn’t going to answer. Josh barked a very unfriendly hello into the phone and my lips twitched up at hearing his voice.

  “Hey, Josh.” I put a fake smile on my face. I said it loud enough so big ears Kyle could hear my conversation. He wanted to make me jealous. Well, I could make him jealous. He was the one who had got the idea in his head that I was with Josh. Well, I was going to use that against him.

  “Soph?”

  “Yep, it’s me. I have a favor to ask.”

  Josh went quiet for a minute and the noise in the background quietened.

  “You hurt?”

  “Nope.”

  “Did that fucker of man you seeing cross a line? cause I’m telling you, Soph, I’ll take care of it.”

  A small smile twitched across my lips, which was real, and then I made my fake one lit up.

  “It isn’t anything like that. I was hoping you could pick me up. My car is out of action.”

  “Guessing you don’t want to car ride with Kyle and
his woman.”

  I scoffed. “I would rather walk on hot stones than get in a car with Kyle and his slut of a girlfriend,” I said, loud enough for them to hear. I heard Kayla scoff.

  “They’re around aren’t they?” If Josh was standing in front of me, he would have a smirk on his face, and I suspect a look that told me he was proud of me. I wasn’t the type of person to bad mouth anyone. “You really want to piss him off?”

  My eyes lit up with delight. “Yes I do.” Would Josh help me get back at Kyle? My hopes sky rocketed at the thought. Josh was always cleverer than me.

  “Repeat the following back to me. I didn’t realize your shower was so small with two in it.”

  I wanted to grin because that was going to eat Kyle up. “I didn’t realize your shower was so small with two in it.”

  “Now say, I love your back tattoo, but I really love what it stands for.”

  I frowned for a second—I didn’t know Josh had any tattoos—but then quickly plastered a fake smile on and even forced a blush. “I love your back tattoo, but I really love what it stands for.”

  “I think that will do, baby girl. Well done. You have successful pissed him off,” Josh said with a tone of pride through his voice. “I’ll pick you up in half an hour.”

  “Actually can you head to me now? I really want to escape.” I wasn’t putting on a show now. I was serious. And Josh would have known that by the way my voice wasn’t as light.

  “Ok. I’m coming.”

  “Thank you, Josh. I’ll see you soon.” I took the phone from my ear and hung up.

  I gathered my books up.

  “You’re dating Josh!”

  I rolled my eyes. Should have expected her to have questions. I slowly turned around and kept my fake smile on. I looked at Kayla, for once seeing her in her true light with a heavy makeup facade and her knock-off designer perfume hanging in the air.

  “What can I say?” I glanced at Kyle, who was glaring at me. “I like them bad.” I picked up my books and stood up. “You know, Kayla, if I was you, I would get a vibrator to make up for the times Kyle leaves you wanting.” I shrugged. “I don’t have that problem anymore. I found out a boy has sex with you, but a man… he pleasures you.” I shot her a final smile. “Just a tip.”

  And with all that said, I turned around and walked away from Kyle, not feeling even slightly bad for what I did. Payback was a bitch, right? And he had just been slapped with a cold reality check. The old Soph wouldn’t have had the guts to do that—fight fire with fire.

  It was the first time I fought dirty. And I had to say, it felt good.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Soph

  I kept wondering why people were staring at me as I walked down the hall and cut through the canteen. When I came to a stop out the front of the school gates, I ran a hand through my hair. I hadn’t exactly got ready this morning. I’m sure it showed how I spent my weekend—in bed with a man.

  “Didn’t take you as a supporter.”

  I frowned and looked to my right. A guy I had never seen before was speaking to me. I had no idea what he was talking about so I turned my head back and waited for Josh.

  “You know, you have been the news of the school,” he continued.

  I groaned. Why couldn’t I be left alone? I turned to face him, as much as I didn’t want to. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Come on, you are out of school uniform. That brings attention. But that top…” He stepped towards me, and I noticed that he was also out of uniform, with ripped jeans, a loose t-shirt, and piercing everywhere. Why was he judging me on being out of the uniform when, from one glance at him, I was positive he didn’t even own one.

  Finally his words registered. “What am I putting on display?” Tilting my head, I turned around completely and stepped towards him, really interesting in the answer.

  He nodded his head to my top. “You are a supporter of The Devil’s Cut. One look at you and everyone knows you aren’t club property. So you must be dating someone in the club—and high enough up that you aren’t looked at as just another girl. Someone’s claiming you.”

  I think all expression was wiped from my face. Was that why everyone was staring at me today? Because they thought I was dating a Devil Cut member and that Bax had claimed me? I didn’t realize wearing something with their name on it made you a supporter. I didn’t know that this top was screaming, “I’m taken by a Devils Cut member.”

  There was a beep behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Josh in the car, waiting.

  The guy laughed and I looked back at him.

  “What?” I asked. This explained why every male I went near today did a double take and then backed away like I was toxic. I let out a frustrated groan when the guy didn’t stop laughing. “What the hell is so funny!” I yelled at him.

  He nodded his head to Josh’s car, his laughter stopping. “I see you’ve gone to the top of the food chain.”

  What the hell did that mean?

  He was mad. Insane. I was talking to an insane person. With that, I spun around and headed for the car. It wasn’t like I was in a great mood all day. But my mood was really foul now. Did Bax know what he was doing with his little stunt? That I had spent the day walking around not just assumed to be a supporter of him and his club but also his woman.

  I was nobody’s woman.

  I opened the door roughly and got in, throwing my handbag on the floor and slamming the door shut.

  “Ok, who pissed you off?” Josh’s eyes were on me.

  “I’m not pissed off. I’m furious.” I turned to look at him. “Can I hire you to kill someone?”

  He broke out laughing. “I’m not killing my brother.” He pulled out onto the road. “Anyway, who said I’m a violent person?”

  “I’ve known you long enough to know your character.” I turned and looked him in the eyes. “And you, Josh, are a hot head.”

  His laughter continued and he shook his head. “Apart from wanting to kill my brother, how was your day?” he said easily.

  I crossed my arms and glared out the window. I did not want to repeat how my day was. It was crap. Not only did I have to suffer through school, but I also walked around basically yelling to the world that I was claimed by a Devil’s Cut member.

  I was going to punish Bax for this.

  “Come on, what’s up?” Josh nudged my arm. “Furious doesn’t suit you.”

  I rolled my eyes and kept glaring out the window.

  “Well, if you aren’t going to tell me how was school, how was your weekend? Haven’t seen you since you disappeared.”

  I sighed and realized I couldn’t be rude. He did stop what he was doing to pick me up.

  “My weekend was great. until this morning.”

  “Ok, now we are getting somewhere. What happened this morning?”

  I didn’t need to nut down and figure out why I was in a bad mood. It was all thanks to Bax.

  Josh reached over and put a hand on my thigh, which caused me to look at him. “Soph, what happened this morning?” His words were gentle, kind, and sweet—all things you wouldn’t think Josh could be if you glanced at him. Hell, you wouldn’t even take a second glance at him, the first would tell you he was dangerous, and if you stared he was likely to break something in your body.

  “Doesn’t matter,” I finally said. I didn’t know how to explain my situation. Josh was in a world much darker than mine. Probably darker than Bax’s as well. Josh didn’t need to hear my complaints, or worry about how my day was. I’m sure he much more important things to worry about.

  “Soph, just tell me what happened.” He wasn’t giving up.

  I didn’t know where to start. So I started at the beginning. “I spent the weekend with this guy.” Who I thought was alright until about ten minutes ago. “Anyway, my day started shit. I slept in and my top was stained, so I borrowed one of his. Didn’t think much of it. Then school was school… and…”

  My words dried up. />
  “And?” Josh said.

  I didn’t say anything. My temper was going up thinking about it.

  Josh gave my thigh a squeeze and I sighed. I didn’t know how to say it, so I just showed him. Hell, he would notice when I got out of the car anyway.

  I unstrapped my seat belt and turned, “What does this tell you?” I said, putting my shirt on display.

  Josh’s eyes glanced from the road to me and then he did a double take. His expression dropped and I saw his knuckles slowly turn white as he gripped the stirring wheel tighter.

  “Did you pick that top?” Josh’s words were coming out ridged and forced, like he was controlling what he was really thinking. I was guessing that whatever he was thinking was on the line of disgust.

  “No, he gave it to me.” I turned back around and strapped in. “All day I’ve walked around wearing it, not having a clue what it was telling people. How I could I not know that wearing a top like this says something?”

  I was frustrated with myself. I was pissed off at Kyle. And I wanted to wrap my hands around Bax’s neck for doing this to me.

  Josh’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head, looking nearly as furious as how I felt.

  “All day I’ve been wearing this! I can’t believe Bax would do that to me! We have a causal fling. Nothing else. And he goes and basically puts a claim on me! Somehow he managed to tell the whole world I was dating a member of the Devils Cut. And I’m not even!” As soon as one word escaped, I just kept blurting words out. My frustration was getting the best of me.

  “You sure about that?”

  My head flung to the side to look at Josh. “What do you mean?”

  “You sure you aren’t dating him?” Josh said again, confirming where I thought he was taking this conversation.

  He pulled up out the front of his house and I shook my head in disbelief. My eyes locked with his and the anger I was feeling towards Bax was all redirected at Josh for asking that question.

  I got out of the car and headed for the house.

  I couldn’t give a fuck if he followed me or not.

  “Soph!” He got out and called after me.