“Something happened between you and my brother.”
“Nothing happened.” She stared down at her feet. The lie felt bitter on her lips. She’d been a bitch and pushed him away. When he’d walked out of her apartment all those months ago she wished she could take back what she said.
“No? Well my brother is using, so I’m guessing something happened,” Lash said.
At his words she looked up. “Drugs? Edward is using drugs?”
“His name is Nash, and yeah, he’s using.”
“Are you sure?”
“He’s off his face all the time. Whatever set him off, you better fix it.” Lash rested a hand on the locker beside her head. “I don’t know you, and it won’t be a problem to me to get rid of you. Fix my brother, or I’ll fix you. Do you understand me?”
She nodded, gulping past the panic inside her. Crap, she’d just been threatened, and she’d not seen Nash in so long.
“Good.” Lash turned away and walked out.
Leaving the room she headed in the direction of her apartment. She couldn’t afford a car, and walking wasn’t a problem to her. Keeping her head down she tried to think about everything Lash said.
Don’t call them by real names. They’re not Edward and Nigel anymore. They’re Nash and Lash.
Whenever she thought of Nash she felt an answering pulse between her thighs. He’d been the only man to make her yearn. She’d watched him with Kate and felt jealous of her sister. The guilt swamped her as she recalled the feelings consuming her at her sister’s presence and now she was dead. She and Kate had been as different as chalk and cheese. They were not alike at all. They didn’t even like the same stuff, but Sophia was attracted to Nash. He was the only person she’d ever felt anything for.
And I pushed him away.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her keys and looked up. She paused when she saw Nash leaning against his bike.
This was the first time she’d seen him since sending him away that day. He looked thinner than she remembered, and his locks were dark with grease.
Stepping close, she felt her heart speed up.
“Hello,” she said.
Chapter Two
Sophia was more beautiful than he remembered. The sun was shining down on her giving her an air of innocence that took his breath away. Her dark midnight hair was bound together with a band at the back. Glancing down her body he noted the plastic bangles on her wrist. He’d bought her several of those bangles when he realized she liked wearing them. She wore a pair of jeans and a checkered shirt. The leather jacket was a new addition. He’d never seen her in clothes like these before. She looked a little hard around the edges. Her face was clear of any make up.
“Hello, Sophia,” he said.
His hands were shaking. He’d taken three shots of whiskey before heading out to see her. Getting a chance to be with her, Nash was debating his decision to drink at all. He also thought Lash had been here minutes before, but he wasn’t sure.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m good. I’ve missed you and wanted to see how you were doing.” He’d gone to the college and been unable to find her.
“I’m doing good. You?”
Everything seemed stilted between them. Looking down at the floor he nodded. “I’ve been great.”
He watched as she looked past his shoulder. “It’s been too long since I last saw you. I don’t like not seeing you.”
“You sent me away, Sophia. I’m not the kind of guy who sticks around after being kicked to the curb.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. So, how have you been?”
“Shit has been busy. I went to the college, and you weren’t there. Is today a free period or something?” he asked, needing to hear her voice.
She shook her head. “No, I quit.”
“What?”
“I don’t need college anymore. I’m working to keep my apartment.”
Nash frowned. “Keeping your apartment? You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve got it covered.”
A mask came over her. Her hands went to her hips. “No, you haven’t. I can’t believe you started paying for my apartment.” She stopped, and he watched her close her eyes.
He’d seen her do it several times while he’d been with Kate. When he’d asked what it was about, Kate told him Sophia had a problem with her anger. Nash didn’t believe it. In the years he’d known her, he’d never once seen Kate lose it.
“I don’t need your money, Nash. I never did.”
When she used his Skull name, he winced. She’d always called him by his given name. “This wasn’t about the f**king money, Sophia. I was helping you out.”
“Why? You didn’t owe me anything. We don’t owe each other f**k all. You were with Kate, and now she’s dead.” She brushed past him, ending their talk.
Leaving his bike, Nash followed her inside the building, refusing to back down even as his stomach turned. Fuck, he could do with a high.
“What the hell are you trying to say?” he asked.
She kept walking up the stairs. He couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering to the curves of her ass. Nash wanted to reach out and touch her. He wondered what she’d do if he caressed her tempting body. Doing so would probably get him into a lot of trouble.
Sophia opened the door to her apartment heading inside. She tried to close the door on him, but he wouldn’t let her. Nash was stronger than she was, and he used his strength to push his way into her space, determined to get answers.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“I want answers. I was with Kate, but there was nothing else between us. Kate meant nothing to me.”
“So my sister was just a bit of fun for you to have on the side.” She pushed some hair off her face, and he saw her cheeks were red.
“Kate knew the score. Besides, she was a first class bitch to you. Kate didn’t like you. She sure as shit didn’t care about you.” He stepped closer, wanting, no needing, to touch her.
“It doesn’t matter what was between Kate and me. We were sisters.”
“I never cared about Kate.”
She shook her head, stepping back. “Why are you here?”
“I came to see you.”
“Why?”
Because I can’t breathe, and I need to know you’re all right.
“We’re friends.”