Breaking Her Bad by Michelle Mankin

 

 

 

 

 

Claire

Our fingers intertwined, I clutched Kyle’s hand as Addy drove. My mom was in the passenger seat. We were silent, each processing our own thoughts.

A lot had happened tonight.

I hoped the worst was over with Martin, but he was obviously obsessed with my aunt. He was Kyle’s uncle, which meant that Ella was Kyle’s cousin. I was glad he had that. I didn’t think Ella was a bad person, just misguided and lost, a lot like I’d been before Kyle.

Thinking further, I realized Ella was my cousin too, since our mothers were sisters. It took me a moment, but once I worked out that Kyle and I didn’t share any blood ties, I let out a sigh of relief.

I squeezed Kyle’s hand, so grateful he was alive, free of Martin, and with me.

“Here we are.” Addy flicked on her blinker, then steered the old Explorer into Footit’s empty lot. She parked beside the entrance and shut off the engine.

“Thanks for the ride.” Kyle met Addy’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “For coming to my rescue. For this.” Lights from the building slicing through the darkness, he gestured. “A job for Bob. A place to live. For everything. I’m incredibly grateful.”

“Bob’s a hard worker,” Addy said. “A reliable employee. With both of you here at night, I have double the security. Honestly, it’s me who’s grateful to you.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” My mom swiveled around to look at him. “You really should go to a hospital.”

Kyle shook his head. “It’s just a few busted ribs. Cuts and bruises. They’ll heal.”

But would he heal from all the rest?

I glanced at Kyle. He looked as terrible as he had inside Martin’s penthouse. Seeing him there, so beat to hell but so defiantly brave and strong, I’d been proud of him. All the horrible stuff Kyle had endured in his life didn’t make him a bad person. But Martin was.

“Good night, everyone.” Kyle turned his gorgeous gray gaze on me. “Good night, babe.”

He touched his mouth to mine, and warmth swept through me. When he eased back, I lifted my hand and laid it on his cheek. His full bottom lip had a cut in it. His eyes were both swollen, and his T-shirt was bloody. He looked like a boxer who’d just stepped out of the ring after losing a fight. But he hadn’t lost, and I wanted to be sure he knew that.

“I’m staying with you,” I said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He glanced at my mom.

I ignored her for now. Kyle was who I had to convince.

“I need to be with you. Don’t you understand?” As I searched his gaze, a sob caught in my throat. “I could have lost you tonight.”

“But you didn’t,” he said firmly.

Yet seeing the flicker of trepidation in his eyes, I knew he’d been worried too.

Frowning, I tried to explain. “The fear’s still there inside me. I won’t sleep at all if you’re here and I’m there. I need to hold you, and I think you need to hold me too.”

Desperate, I turned to my mom. Surprisingly, she gave permission before I could ask.

“It’s okay with me if you stay.”

“Fine by me,” Addy said as she and my mom exchanged glances. I imagined they had a lot to discuss regarding Ella. Her agreement with Martin severed, I knew Addy would want to contact her daughter at some point, and I would help however I could. For Ella’s and Kyle’s sake as well as my aunt’s. Ella was more than just an old friend. She was family.

“Do you think Bob will mind if I stay?” I asked Kyle.

“Hell no.” His expression lightened. “But fair warning, he’ll wanna keep you up all night talking about birds.”

I smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”

“You’re wonderful.” Kyle’s gaze dropped to my smile, and his lips curved.

Oh, how I love him.

“You need to sleep, Claire.” My mom gave me a censuring look. “Even if Kyle’s not up for it, you have school in the morning.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“I’ll swing by and get you,” Addy said, but I shook my head.

“No, that’s all right. I appreciate it, but I’ll just ask Missy.”

Popping open the door on my side, I stepped out onto the dew-slick pavement. A cool breeze lifted tendrils of my hair. I shifted, watching Kyle get out.

“Just give me a sec.”

Kyle’s wince and stiff movements told me a lot about how much pain he was in. I moved to get my shoulder under his right arm.

“Lean on me.” I narrowed my gaze. “It’s okay to lean on me. I know you’re strong.”

“Right.” He gave me some of his weight.

“Hold up a minute.” My mom emerged from the car. Rounding the hood, she met us, studying Kyle. “Are you sure you don’t need any help? I have experience patching up guys after fights, believe it or not.”

“I believe you, but . . .”

When he trailed off, she gave him a knowing look. “You’d rather my daughter do it. Is that it?

He nodded.

“Then I’ll let her.” Mom turned to me. “Soap and water for the minor cuts. Hydrogen peroxide for the major ones. Don’t cover them. Let them breathe.”

“Okay.” I nodded, surprised but grateful for her help.

“No wrapping his ribs. Just Tylenol for the pain. Addy says there’s a first aid kit under the sink in their bathroom.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, honey.” She started to withdraw, then stopped. “I want you to be happy. I’ve always wanted happiness for you. I just forgot that it’s for you, not me, to determine what that happiness is.” Her shining gaze rested on Kyle for a second. “Or who it involves.”

I nodded. “Everything Kyle does is done with an eye toward protecting and defending me and providing what I need.”

“I remember what it’s like having a partner like that.” Mom’s expression turned wistful. “Your dad was always so wonderful, but maybe he made things too easy for me. It’s in the tough times that you grow and learn who your true friends are. Daniel wanted you to have friends like you do, and to find someone to care for you like Kyle. I know he would be happy for you.”

A sudden warm gust lifted inky strands and the shadows from Kyle’s gaze, or maybe it was my mom’s praise. But I’d like to believe the warmth in the wind was my dad showing he was closer than I thought, and that he approved of Kyle.