Control You Page 10

  “Really?” She arched an eyebrow at me.

  I laughed. “No, not really. I was just messing with you.”

  She broke into a grin and slapped my chest playfully. “I seriously believed you for a second, thinking you had a tattoo of some sort imprinted on your butt or something!”

  “My butt, huh? I don’t think I’ve ever had a woman admit they were thinking about my butt before. This is a new one.” I grinned. She laughed louder, her gorgeous smile widening. I chuckled and shook my head. “Actually, I had another one started today, on my right shoulder blade. I went to that place called Inked.”

  “Oh, that’s the tattoo place over in the Westhills plaza, right? Lauren made me go in there with her once when she got her nose pierced. I was supposed to get mine done too, but I chickened out.”

  “Why?” I could picture her with a little stud in her nose. Nothing flashy, just something delicate and cute like her.

  “Because I knew my mom would have heart failure if she saw it.”

  I chuckled. “So? You’re an adult.”

  Her eyebrows drew together and she dropped her gaze to her shoes. “Yeah, well, she can be critical of my appearance at times, relentless even, and I’d rather not give her any more ammo.”

  Her words stabbed me in the heart. What the hell kind of a mother would criticize her child’s appearance?

  “And what’s so wrong with your appearance?” My words came out more protective and defensive sounding than I cared for.

  A small smile twisted the corners of her lips as she brought her eyes up to meet mine; obviously, she’d taken note of my tone. “Nothing, I—” Her breath hitched as she shifted her gaze from mine to in front of us.

  I looked to see what had caught her attention, and I spotted Craig leaning against the trunk of her car, staring at the two of us. His arms were folded across his chest, and he was glaring at us as though he could fly off the handle and kill us both any second. I forced back a chuckle as I thought about him trying.

  Paige grew tense beside me. She crammed her hands into the pockets of her sweater. From the look on her face, she had no idea he would be here and was uneasy about his presence.

  “What’s up, man?” I called out to him as we continued across the parking lot. The distance between Paige and I grew with every step, but it wasn’t my doing. She was purposely spacing herself farther apart from me by the second.

  “Just here to check up on Paige,” Craig said. His voice was strained sounding. Apparently, he didn’t like seeing the two of us together. This knowledge sent a sick sense of satisfaction through me.

  “Does she need checking up on? What are you, her dad?” I smirked at him, knowing I was fueling the fire raging inside him right now. “You look creepy sitting here, like you need a black hoodie on to complete your emo stare.”

  Paige cleared her throat, and I realized I needed to shut my mouth. I didn’t care if Craig was pissed at me, but I was afraid Paige would be if I didn’t shut up. That was something that I didn’t want.

  “Funny, fucking hilarious in fact, Cam,” Craig snarled. His glanced at Paige with an intensity swirling through his eyes that should only be meant for me. A red flag about him went up in my mind. “You done doing whatever it is you were doing with him?” he snapped.

  I gritted my teeth together, not caring for his tone. My mouth opened to tell him so, but Paige spoke, so I bit back the words.

  “We weren’t doing anything besides talking, but yeah.” The wind blew and her hand reached up to tuck a strand of hair back behind her ear that had fallen free. “Thanks for the place, and I’ll keep you posted on what’s happening with the shop.” She flashed me a small smile, and then hurried to erase the tiny distance between her and Craig, as though she were about to appease him with a kiss.

  “No problem.” Either the words came out of my mouth too late or she was walking too fast, but for whatever the reason, Paige was standing at his side when I spoke, so I couldn’t be sure she’d even heard me. She didn’t seem like she had.

  I watched Craig tense as she ran a hand along his face. I didn’t like the attitude he was giving her. Taking in a deep breath, I crammed my hands in my pockets, wondering what I should do. Should I say something to her? Should I wait to leave until I saw her climb in her car? I strained my ears to hear what he was saying to her, but couldn’t make out the words. They were too low and mumbled. All I could see was his face and how pissed off he seemed to be with her.

  I’d never known Craig to be a controlling ass, but I could see where that persona would fit him perfectly. Paige, on the other hand, didn’t seem fragile and tortured enough to take that kind of shit from anyone, but then I remembered Eva and that one boyfriend she’d had. Doubt crept through me, choking me from the inside.

  Paige said something in response to whatever he’d just said, her hands moving wildly as she spoke. They were arguing. A smile touched the corners of my lips, and I turned to walk away.

  Nope, Paige wasn’t the type to take that shit, and Craig might hang himself with her right now, without me having to do a single thing to split them up.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  PAIGE

  I knew the second I saw Craig leaning against my car things were going to get crazy. Why had I lied to him? That had been so stupid! I should have told Cameron I was meeting with Craig after work so he could talk to me about shop stuff then in front of Craig. Nope, instead, I’d created this mess and now I had to deal with the consequences.

  “I wasn’t hanging out with him, not really,” I snapped. My heart was pounding in my throat. I hated arguing as much as I hated seeing the look in Craig’s eyes directed toward me right now.

  “Then what the hell do you call that?” He motioned to where Cameron and I had just stood. “I specifically told you not to hang around him anymore, Paige. How many more times do I have to say it to get it through your thick skull? Are you fucking inept or something?” His words were cold and harsh. I felt as though I were a child being scolded for doing something I’d been told not to again. How did he have the power to make me feel so small? And when had I given it to him?

  “I know. I’m sorry. He had some news about something, and I figured I’d talk with him real quick and then head home, just like I’d told you I planned to.”

  “News about what?”

  “The clothing shop I plan to open.” I hesitated, trying to word what I needed to say next right, so it wouldn’t enrage him further, but it wasn’t possible. He was going to hate what Cameron had done for me regardless. “He paid the deposit on a shop for me over in the Westhills Plaza.” I couldn’t meet his eyes when I said the words. Silence crafted between us, thick and heavy with all the tension emanating off Craig.

  “He. Did. What.” His tone was sharp. It made me want to take a step back and sent tingles of adrenaline through my body. “Why the fuck would he think something like that was okay to do? If you needed money, why didn’t you come to me? Better yet, why the hell didn’t I know you needed money and he did?”

  The flash of anger shifting through his eyes made me drop my gaze to my shoes. My nose tingled as my heart pounded in my chest. All I wanted to do was make this better, make this argument end. I could feel my blood pressure shooting through the roof. What the hell was I supposed to say here?

  Glancing around, I noticed Cameron had already left. I was glad. He didn’t need to hear how Craig was behaving, the things he was saying. I pursed my lips together and held Craig’s intense stare while I debated on what words to use. A smug smile twisted the corners of his lips and a pang of panic floated through me at the sight of it.

  “You’re into him, aren’t you? That’s why you won’t listen to me when I tell you to stay away from him. You’re into the whole bad boy thing he’s got going on, because you want to rebel against mommy and daddy some, right? I’ve seen it before.” His smirk grew, but his eyes darkened. “You want to be his little fucking whore now, isn’t that right? You want to be added to h
is long list?”

  His words were like a physical slap to the face. I’d never been called such a nasty word before, not by anyone, and most definitely not by a boyfriend. I was stunned into silence, but the moment didn’t last. I shook my head, and my pulse throbbed in my ears. “No, I didn’t ask him for the money. I don’t need the money. I’ve worked something out with my parents. He did that on his own.”

  Craig stared at me, his smile tightened. “So he was just being nice; that’s what you’re trying to tell me?”

  I shrugged. “I guess so. I mean, I never asked him for anything.”

  He laughed. The sound of it was jarring, nothing friendly spurred from it, only raw disbelief. “Right, that you know of. You’ve led him on and made me look like an idiot, Paige.”

  I blinked rapidly, realizing how he would see that as the truth. “I can understand how you would think that and I’m sorry, but that’s not the case. Honestly, Cameron just has some great ideas for my shop, and that’s all we were talking about tonight. There’s nothing going on between us, okay? I had no idea he would put a deposit on that shop for me. I promise.” I reached out and laced my fingers through his.

  He pressed his lips together and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I don’t like coming by to surprise you after your shift and finding you walking around talking with him instead of closing up the shop like you’d said you’d be doing. I don’t like having to hear about your goals and aspirations through a conversation you’re having with him either.”

  He cocked his head to the side and stared directly into my eyes. They were so severe and penetrating that I had to force myself not to look away because I knew he wouldn’t like it. He obviously hadn’t let go of the last argument we’d had involving Cameron and me.

  He sighed before continuing. “Do you see how this all looks? How would you feel if the shoe was on the other foot?” His voice was low and soft; it made guilt swell in my chest, climb up my throat, and choke me.

  “I’m sorry.” I meant it, hating the way that I’d made him feel.

  “Kiss me and let me know,” he demanded.

  Without hesitation, I lifted up the few inches I needed in order to lock lips with him, and pressed my lips against his. He squeezed my hands in his once…twice…and then released them to cup my face. His lips pressed against mine with more force than I wanted, but I didn’t pull away. If this was what he needed to make himself feel better about us, to put an end to this argument, then so be it.

  Closing my eyes, I willed myself to get into the kiss more than I was, but it wasn’t happening. I couldn’t get his words and expressions out of my head. They twisted and mingled with the other moments with him and filed away inside my mind like the rest. His thumbs brushed against my cheeks as he deepened the kiss even more. I knew I’d reflect on this moment tonight later, when I was alone. I’d dissect everything he’d said as well as every hot-tempered glare, so I could be sure I never did anything again that would give him a reason for a repeat of his behavior.

  Craig’s hands squeezed my face tighter and I fought not to pull away. When he finally let go and took a step back, I was relieved. The skin around his eyes bunched as he stared at me in a pained way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak out on you like that.”

  The tightness in my muscles loosened and I leaned into him a little more. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have talked with him as long as I did. I should have told him he needed to get his deposit money back or something.”

  Craig’s arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer. “You should have. It’s almost like he’s staking claim on you or something by doing that. It was completely out of line on his part and, I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty pissed you didn’t say something like that to him.”

  “I know.” Guilt crept through me again. I buried my face into his chest and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Let’s go somewhere. I need you.” His hands, the ones that had been splayed across my back, dipped down to skim over my butt. “Now.”

  I chuckled nervously at his sudden urgency. Sex was the last thing I wanted from him right now. “Blaire is probably home, but I could text her and see.”

  “No, we’re going to my place. My parents are both away visiting with my mom’s sister up north.”

  I hated to ask. I didn’t want to say his name, but it was unavoidable. “Won’t Cameron be there?”

  Craig’s jaw tensed at the mention of his name, just like I knew it would. “I don’t know. He hasn’t been for the last few nights, but so what if he is?” The smug smile from moments ago was back into place. “I want him to hear us. Then he’ll know you’re mine.”

  My stomach knotted and I drew my eyebrows together. What was he, a freaking caveman? “I don’t know if I’m up for that.”

  He reached out and cupped my face, this time more delicately than before, and brushed his thumb along the skin of my cheek. “Paige, I’m sorry I’m so damn insecure when it comes to you. You’re so amazing and beautiful. I don’t ever want to lose you. Please forgive the way I acted and the harsh things I said. I know I was intense for a bit, but I’m just passionate when it comes to you. I was only joking about him hearing us. He more than likely won’t even be there. Please, come home with me.”

  He looked sincere. The brightness in his eyes had come back full force, and the dimple in his chin was deepened by his smile. His words were soft and emotional. He’d opened up to me some, allowing me to see one of his flaws—he was insecure—this was something new. We’d never fought like that before; maybe makeup sex was what he needed for closure.

  I leaned in and pecked his lips. “Let’s go.”

  His eyes flashed with satisfaction. “You’ll spend the night?”

  “Of course.” I stepped away and unlocked my car to grab out my purse. “But you’ll have to bring me back in the morning to get my car.”

  “I can do that.” He grinned.

  There was my happy Craig. It was as though the other version had never surfaced and I liked it.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CAMERON

  I was sick of staying at someone else’s place while I was here. After folding the blankets Eva let me borrow again, I called Scott and asked for the keys to my parents’ old place. My plan was to gut the inside and start from scratch with it. It needed to be my own. When I came back into town next quarter, I wanted to have a place to stay. I could hire all the help I needed to keep the house in running order, and then maybe one day Scott would realize he could sell it to me.

  Opening the front door, I listened to the creak it made echo through the house. It was silent in here, too silent. That was the first thing I needed to fix if I was planning on getting anything done while here. I went straight to the kitchen and plugged in the speakers Eva had brought with us, and then hooked up my phone to them. I had four music apps, but I didn’t want to hear them right now. Instead, I found Sublime in my music file and tapped shuffle.

  “All right, I’m gonna set these boxes in the middle of the living room floor.” Eva walked past me, her arms loaded with broken-down cardboard boxes. “What room do you want to start in?”

  I grinned, loving that she was here with me. Doin’ Time by Sublime came on and blasted through the house that had been dead, bringing it to life again, and my smile grew. “The kitchen, so bring some of them in here.”

  She rounded the corner with a stack in her arms. “What are you smiling at?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing. I’m just glad you’re here is all.”

  “Whatever.” She laid the boxes on the counter and put her hands on her hips. “You’re listening to the words to this song, aren’t you? Jesus, you need to get laid.”

  I chuckled. “Is that something you’re willing to help me out with, Miss Bennett?”

  “In your dreams.” She grinned.

  I put a box together and set it in the middle of the floor. “Been there, done that, quite a few times actually.”

  She slapped me on the a
rm, hard, and laughed. “I’m sure. Now get your mind out of the gutter and pack a fucking box!”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Opening up the first cabinet closest to me, I stared at its contents and had to force myself to take in a shaky breath. This was going to be harder than I’d thought—packing up my parents’ belongings meant they were gone, truly gone.

  Warm, delicate arms wrapped around me from behind. “Take in another deep breath, Cam. It’s going to be okay. I’m here with you; you’re not alone this time.”

  Leaning into Eva, I closed my eyes and did as she’d said. God, I loved her. There was no one else I wanted here with me while I did this besides her. She was my best friend. My life preserver in this moment of weakness I was drowning in.

  Images of the last time I’d attempted to pack up my parents’ things flashed through my mind—all the alcohol and cocaine I’d foolishly used, thinking it would dull the pain while I packed their stuff alone. All it had done was drown me even more in my emotions; it intensified them to the point where I couldn’t take it. An image of the razor I’d used—the one that had stared at me, begging me to use it the right way—flitted through my mind.

  Taking in another deep breath, I felt Eva’s arms tighten around me as she pressed her head into my back a little more. I gripped the edge of the counter and dropped my head as the image I was hoping wouldn’t surface did—the moment I’d sliced my wrist open while wishing it would all end.

  A cold sweat broke out across my skin and I took in another deep breath, attempting to gain control of myself. It wasn’t working. Fuck. It wasn’t working. My heart was racing and my palms were growing sweaty. “Maybe this was a bad idea,” I gritted out.