“Don’t!” The idea that he’d force a guy to call her humiliated her as much as the thought that he’d arranged their meeting. “You can’t make a guy like me.”
“If he doesn’t like you, Iwon’tforce the issue,” CJ promised. “But, maybe, he’s working or busy with something else. If that’s the case, I’ll let you know so you can stop stressing.”
Suspicion rose in her. “This is all so fucking convenient. Are yousureyou didn’t set me up?”
CJ smiled. “Wouldn’t it have been easier just to introduce you to him instead of going through some elaborate scheme? He met you at Turn Creek when you were cutting. I’m not a mind reader, Reb.”
“True.”
“Back to Diesel.”
“I’m never talking to that motherfucker again, so save your breath. He almost got you killed.”
“Real love dies hard,” he said quietly.
An image of Harley rose in Rebel’s head, and she stiffened. Bishop had a younger sister who’d just had a baby atfifteen, a seventeen-year-old sister, who’d graduate in May as her high school Valedictorian, and a twenty-year-old sister in the top ten percent of her class at university. She was studying to be a veterinarian. She didn’t know their names. Nor did she know Bishop’s real name. Not that it mattered. CJ needed to meet one of those girlsstat.
“What are you thinking about, Rebel?” CJ asked, knowing her so well.
Giggling at his resigned tone, she relaxed and shrugged. “Harley isn’t worth your misery, allegiance, or friendship. She’s fucking miserable and she wants to drag everyone down to hell with her.”
Folding his arm behind his head, CJ stared at the ceiling. “I know. In times like this, I miss her.”
Rebel glowered at the wall. Harley needed another punch for hurting CJ so deeply. “She slept withRyan.”
“I know,” CJ said again. This time, a sigh accompanied the words. “It doesn’t matter. I’m done with her.Done.D-o-n-e.”
“At least we know you paid attention to spelling and Momma and Daddy aren’t wasting their money.”
Snickering and shooting to a sitting position, CJ nudged her shoulder. She laughed. He winked at her and laid down again.
“I know you think what I feel for Diesel is puppy love,” she said, switching tactics to make a point.
Amusement lit CJ’s eyes. “Touché,” he conceded, using a favorite expression of Uncle Mort’s. “But I didn’t say that. If you and Diesel are meant to be for a year, ten, or a lifetime, no one knows. What Idoknow is you’re underage and he’s a motherfucker—”
“He is. He’s responsible—”
“Not because of me, Rebel. He’s a sex-addicted lunatic and if you want him, he needs to straighten up his fucking act.”
“And divorce.”
“Fuck Tabitha. I don’t like her. I’ve never liked her. We’ll deal with her when the time comes. But I’m not riding for you and Diesel to be together once you’re legal if that motherfucker don’t straighten his shit up.”
Cocking her head, she narrowed her eyes and looked at her brother. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“A lot,” he said flatly. “Nothing that you need to know.”
“Because I’m a girl, right?”
“Nope, because I don’t want to ruin your perception of him.”
“It’s already ruined. Besides you said he’s a sex addict and a lunatic. Instead of explaining, you leave me hanging.”
“He’s a cokehead and he sleeps with the fucking enemy.”
Tears rushed to her eyes again. “Torie?”
“Does it matter? Any girl who doesn’t like you or Mom should be off limits to him. Fuck,anygirl except the one he married.”
