Harleigh
A shadow loomed over me as I scrolled aimlessly through my social media app.
“Hey.” Nix dropped down beside me.
“Oh my gosh, your lip, what happened?” I moved closer, reaching out to ghost my thumb over the swollen, puffy skin.
“Your brother has a mean left hook.”
“You were fighting?” The air whooshed from my lungs.
“It’s a long story. But he’s fine, so don’t worry. We gave him a ride back to Old Darling Hill.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, told him I wanted some alone time with my girl.” Nix’s hand slid over my lap, tugging me closer. “You are, aren’t you, B? Mine?” His warm breath fanned my face and my head swam with all things Nix. “How was your night?” he asked, his mouth precariously close to mine.
“Okay,” I choked out.
“She sat sulking the entire time,” Celeste said out of nowhere, and I glanced over to scowl at her.
“Miss me that much, huh?” Nix teased, lifting my legs so that they draped over his. It was intimate, too intimate given we were in public, but he didn’t seem to care.
“We’re going to play against the guys if you two can keep your hands off each other long enough to join us?” Chloe grinned.
“Play without us. I need to talk to B.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged. “Prepare to lose, Brother.”
Kye flipped her off, the four of them crowding around the ball caddy.
“What did Max want?” I asked.
“It was weird. He asked Bryson to let him fight.”
“What?”
“Right? Obviously, Bryson said no, but he was pretty insistent.”
“I-I don’t understand. Does Max even know how to fight? He’s just a spoiled kid.”
“This would suggest otherwise.” He pointed to his mouth.
“I can’t believe you fought him.”
“It wasn’t like I had much choice, B. He was determined to spar with someone. I figured it might as well be me. Your brother is kind of an asshole.”
“He’s not my brother, Nix.” He was by blood, but family was so much more than that.
“Bryson said he can train at the gym. I told him it was a bad idea, but he seems to have taken a shine to him.”
“What does that mean?” Dread snaked through me.
“Bryson collects broken things, B. And he has a talent for sniffing out talent. He saw something in Max tonight.”
“This is a disaster,” I groaned, staring out at the bowling lane. Celeste was laughing as she watched Zane take his turn. She looked so happy, so at peace. Max wasn’t like that. Even when he was with his friends, hanging out by the pool or at school, he had a dark shadow hanging over him.
Nix nudged his nose against my cheek. “I didn’t want him to get hurt any more than necessary. Not that I don’t think the little shit deserves it.”