CRAZY FOR YOU
img img CRAZY FOR YOU img Chapter 3 A JERK
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Chapter 6 I'M DONE WITH DATING img
Chapter 7 DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND img
Chapter 8 I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU LATER img
Chapter 9 TO BUSY FOR THE CENTER img
Chapter 10 THE INVITED PERSON img
Chapter 11 SHE'S MINE img
Chapter 12 GUT FEELING img
Chapter 13 I HATE HIM img
Chapter 14 MY BABY NEEDS TIME img
Chapter 15 STREET KINGS img
Chapter 16 SOMETHING DIRTY img
Chapter 17 DYLAN img
Chapter 18 ADELINE IS MAKING A MISTAKE img
Chapter 19 COPS ARE PROFESSIONAL BULLIES img
Chapter 20 MR. GOODBODY img
Chapter 21 WARNING THEM img
Chapter 22 WONDER WOMAN img
Chapter 23 YOU LOOK... img
Chapter 24 MY WEIRDO img
Chapter 25 THE NEED img
Chapter 26 IN LOVE img
Chapter 27 BECAUSE... img
Chapter 28 ...RUN FOR THE HILLS img
Chapter 29 YOU ARE NOT PERFECT! img
Chapter 30 READY img
Chapter 31 THE PAST img
Chapter 32 HER TEARS img
Chapter 33 NO MORE RUNNING img
Chapter 34 THE JUDGY SISTER img
Chapter 35 WHEN THE PHONE RINGS... img
Chapter 36 FANTASIES img
Chapter 37 FAKING img
Chapter 38 SOMETHING'S WRONG img
Chapter 39 BIG SISTER img
Chapter 40 READY img
Chapter 41 RUINED img
Chapter 42 HIS ANGER img
Chapter 43 ANOTHER WALL img
Chapter 44 LASHING OUT img
Chapter 45 THE PAUSE img
Chapter 46 THOUGHTS img
Chapter 47 A PAST img
Chapter 48 REALLY OVER img
Chapter 49 THE KEY img
Chapter 50 MATURE CONTENT img
Chapter 51 LILY img
Chapter 52 THIEF! img
Chapter 53 SOUP GUYS img
Chapter 54 REVENGE LAY img
Chapter 55 A WITNESS img
Chapter 56 SWEATS img
Chapter 57 SHOTS img
Chapter 58 DREAD img
Chapter 59 DANCING img
Chapter 60 ALL IN SERVICE img
Chapter 61 RULED OVER FIVE BOYS img
Chapter 62 THE TALK img
Chapter 63 SOULMATE img
Chapter 64 MADE IT ALL BETTER img
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Chapter 3 A JERK

KENNETH'S POV

I try not to watch her perfect backside as she hikes herself up to the front seat of my truck. But it's just not possible.

She's so small compared to the large vehicle, it's almost comical. I'm six two, so small cars aren't an option.

She catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and winces at her messy reflection. I don't know why. She's fucking beautiful.

She settles in and places the seat belt around her. It's clear from the way she folds her arms across her chest that she does not appreciate being forced to accept a ride.

She pouts and looks straight ahead. I linger there, on her side of the car, just looking at her.

Who are you, Adeline Berry, and why is it so fucking hard to look away from you? She doesn't say much on the drive to her home. I'd like to know what she's thinking.

But I restrict myself to basic questions, just enough to keep her from being swallowed up in the void of all the awful things that must be going on in her head.

She tells me she's twenty-seven. I'm thirty. Guess I'm old compared to her.

She has lived in New York most of her life. Her sister and parents now live in Brooklyn. She tells me this in a series of short answers.

I try not to take it personally. But shit, I am. I'm taking all of this personally. I want her to talk to me. I want to hear her thoughts. What are her dreams? What does she do for a living? Is it her passion or something to pay the bills? What does her laugh sound like? What does she like to do when she's not leaping into dumpsters? What do her lips taste like?

It's a half hour later when we enter her apartment. It isn't lavish but it's thoughtfully decorated. The glass coffee table has a large photography book on various colorful birds. She's decorated with warm yet bright colors that make it easy to feel cozy and at home.

There's a sketch of a large bird in flight in a dark frame that takes up a large part of her wall. I don't know anything about birds or drawings, but even I have to admit it's impressive.

"Nice place."

"Thanks," she says.

I turn my attention to the doorway and study the locks on her door. Not good. I look over at the locks on her windows and they suck even more. "Your security is a joke. You need to fix it," I inform her.

"Why? Do you think this Vader guy is coming after me?" she says on high alert.

"No, his number one priority right now is getting as far from the city as he can."

"Oh, okay," she says, relieved.

"I didn't mean to scare you, I just-"

"I am not scared," she says, insulted.

"Okay, fine. You're a rock. Alright?"

"What is your problem?" she demands.

"Me? I'm just trying to make you feel better."

"By telling me my security is bad?"

"It is! Your locks are equivalent to sticking gum on the door. The locks on your window frames would cave in with the slightest push."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"It will, after you get it fixed."

"Argh, you are so damn..."

"What? I'm so what?"

"A jerk. You're kind of a jerk."

"You women kill me. You don't want the truth no matter how much you say you do."

"Oh, so that's who you are? Mr. Truthful? Great. Then tell me the truth, how close did I come to dying tonight?"

"Fine, if I had gotten out of the car a millisecond later than I did, chunks of your brains would be splattered all over the alley for the rats to feast on!"

The minute the words leave my mouth, I know I fucked up-badly. She bursts into tears.

Great job, asshole! I scold myself as I run over to her and hold her. She sobs into my chest and I swear this is the worst I've ever felt.

I didn't mean to say what I said or at least not the way it came out. Christ, what the f**k was I thinking? I take her over to the sofa and have her sit down. I enter her bathroom and turn on the shower, hoping a nice hot shower will make her feel better.

While the water runs, I go into the kitchen. I turn on her stove, fill her kettle with water, and place it on the burner. She has like ten hundred boxes of tea, so I'm thinking that's her thing. So, maybe it will relax her.

I go back to the sofa, where she's shaking and looking off in the distance.

"I'm sorry if I scare-made you feel unsettled. It was a fucked-up way to-look, your locks suck. I'm not gonna lie to you about that. But we'll get them fixed. I know a great locksmith, he'll come first thing in the morning. But for now, you don't have to worry about the door or the windows. You don't need them to protect you. You have me."

She looks into my eyes. I ache to touch her but I don't dare try. I would be crossing a line neither of us is ready to cross.

"C'mon, let's get you cleaned up," I tell her as I help her stand up. She looks at me with worry and surprise.

"Relax, I didn't mean I would join you," I assure her.

She smiles a little. It floods my chest with warmth.

Shit.

            
            

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