I took a step back. “You think I need therapy?” I asked, not liking where this was going.

He scrubbed his jaw. “There’s something going on with you. I see the pain you carry. In your eyes, on your face, and in your actions. And I get it. I do. I don’t know what happened to you, but I think you’re dealing with some shitty things in your life.”

He would never know how shitty.

“Is that a polite way of saying I’m fucked up?”

He shot me an amused smirk. “Don’t be a bitch, Nora.”

I exhaled.

“I want to help you,” he said. “I see strength in you, too, Nora. I saw it when you talked about Paris last night. I heard the hope in your voice. Whatever is eating at you, you have to fight back and not let it win.”

I looked away from him because he had no clue. I wasn’t strong; I was a loser. A girl who’d stopped fighting back a long time ago. A girl who’d given in.

I had to change the topic. “So when’s the first gig?”

“It’s the gym’s grand opening party. We’re opening in six weeks, but I pushed the party out until Halloween,” he said. “Just watch today, but I’d like you to start practicing with us. I know school starts this week, so maybe after that settles down, we can put some real work in.”

“If you help him, I’ll consider us even on the Escalade,” he said, tucking his hands in his designer jeans and leaning back against the wall nonchalantly. “Will you do it?”

“And if I don’t?”

His lips tipped up in a sly grin. “Then I’ll call your parents. Somehow, I get the feeling that’s the last thing you want right now.” He shrugged. “But it won’t come to that. You fucked up my car, and you know it,” he said, his steely eyes searching mine.

I glanced away from him and stared out the window over his shoulder, catching sight of the yellow-splattered Escalade. I owed him. Big time. And I deserved whatever payment he’d decided on. Truthfully, I didn’t have the money to pay him for the damages. I’d have to ask Aunt Portia, and I didn’t want to do that.

I tried to picture it. Me. Being part of a rock band and helping someone who wasn’t part of my social circle, and then toss in spending time with this hot guy who I wanted to fuck but who didn’t want me.

“I’m in.”

“Good,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, like he didn’t know what to say next. Then, as if he’d made a decision, he pulled me out into the quiet hallway. Once we were alone, he said, “Now, about last night—” he stopped, appearing stuck on what to say.

“Yeah?”

He took two steps away from me and sighed heavily, like he needed some space between us, like what he was going to say was difficult. He ran his hand through his hair furiously, pulling on the ends a little. “Nora, look, I think you’re a pretty girl, but there won’t be anything between us.”

My face flushed because I had acted inappropriately last night. Like a slut, really. Yet I didn’t regret it. And then there was the bad list. I wanted him for my meaningless sex. Still.

“Because you think I’m too young.”

“Yes, dammit,” he said gruffly. “I don’t have time for any adolescent girl crushes.” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry if I come across as a prick here, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I don’t do serious relationships ever, and you deserve something good, not just a quick fuck.”

I stared at his full lips, not holding back. “I like it when you say ‘fuck.’”

His face flushed. “You’re not listening. There will not be anything between us. Yeah, we slept in the same bed last night, but that . . . that was me being comforting,” he said.

Disappointment hit me, remembering how good it had felt to just talk and lie next to him. I wanted more of that. With him.

“You held my hand for four hours to be comforting?” I asked, arching my brows.

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

I swallowed down the bitter pill of rejection and walked back into the music room where I sat down on the couch. So what if he didn’t want me. I had other options. Other guys to fuck.

Leo followed me but sat as far from me as possible. You’d think he’d not sit here at all since he wanted us to keep our distance.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by Leo’s actions. It was the story of my life. Even Drew had done the same. One fateful night I’d given him my body, only to have him throw it back in my face when he got back with his girlfriend, Lori. He’d told me he wanted me forever, and I believed him, but he’d lied. I’d thought Drew and I were perfect together. Huh. I should have known better.

I looked around the room to make sure no one could hear us. I didn’t know why I wanted to tell him about my past, but I did. I said, “Truth is I’ve never had a healthy relationship with a guy.” My hand clenched, remembering the pain of being second choice. “This guy Drew . . . we had something good, but it got all screwed up. Before it all fell apart, I’d thought we’d end up together, you know, married someday.”

“They say timing is everything,” he snapped, like he was angry.

What the hell had I said to piss him off?

I ignored him and watched Teddy take pictures of Sebastian and Vixen as they worked on a song together, ironing out the chords. I thought about how Sebastian had accepted me when I told him about my word problem. Would Leo accept me, too? He seemed to appreciate Teddy for who he was.

“Sebastian’s a great person. You’ve done well with him,” I murmured. “Out of all this, I’m glad I met him.”

“Right,” Leo said, his eyes following mine to Sebastian. “Right,” he repeated, but he didn’t sound quite as sure. Something in the tightness of his face didn’t quite fit his nonchalant response.

“Forget dressing slutty for a guy; just lick an ice cream cone in front of him.”

–Nora Blakely

“HOW ABOUT A unicorn or— Oh, look at this little cutie. A flying baby kitten!” Mila said, pointing to something in one of the tattoo shop’s image books. I looked over to see a tiny purple cat with bright yellow wings.

“A cat with wings? Seriously. That’s just freaky,” I said, shaking my head at her.