“You don’t get to tell me what’s better for me. I’m the one who knows what is better for me.”
“Noted.”
Bell took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. “I’m still mad at you.”
“How?” Tank asked.
“You think coming here and talking in semi-third person is going to make all of it go away?” She snorted. “You told me that you were bad for me. That we were never hanging out again, and for the last five days, I haven’t seen you.”
“Now, that is not entirely my fault.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope. I had … club business.”
“Oh, was it legal?” she asked, smiling.
“Anyone ever told you that you’re a little strange?” he asked.
The smile was still in place. “All my life.”
And that, he found so fucking endearing and a little sexy.
****
Okay, so after Tank decided that he no longer wanted or needed her, and dropped her off at her lonely, gross apartment, she’d been upset. Bell didn’t even understand why she’d been so miserable. She and Tank had only a few chance encounters. Nothing lasting.
They were not lovers, and he certainly hadn’t promised her anything.
Meeting Tank late at night had become the highlight of her life. She’d asked her friend to stop picking her up, and then, the same day, Tank said he wasn’t going to see her anymore.
She’d been so humiliated, she hadn’t even asked her friend to come back and pick her up. It was like a breakup without even dating, making it even worse.
Walking home alone at night was nothing new to her, but it had made her miss him so damn much.
It was … embarrassing. Five days, she’d missed him.
This complete and total stranger, and that was exactly what Tank was, a stranger. She didn’t know him, not really. He wore club colors and had told her his road name, but other than that, nothing.
“I think you should go back home,” Bell said.
“Why?”
“Clearly, you’re feeling guilty or you’re alone or … I don’t even know what the hell is going on, to be honest. I don’t know you. You don’t know me, and I’m not going to play this dance, Tank. I’m not going to be used because you need to enjoy whatever ego trip this is.” She wanted to give in. To pump the air and be thankful he actually turned up, but what would happen when he decided that he had enough?
Was she just supposed to wait for him?
She spun on her heel and started to walk away. Her hands were clenched into fists. She could do this. This was going to be easy.
“I’m not used to this,” Tank said.
Bell heard footsteps, so she stopped and turned to see Tank approaching. He was so large. She wasn’t used to feeling small, but next to Tank, she was.
“Not used to what?”
“I’m not a good guy, Bell. You know the club. The reputation. You’re not a club whore, and you’re different. Crap, I’m not saying this right. You’re a good person, okay? And I’m the complete opposite. When I look at you, I’m … I don’t want to break you.”
“Break me?”