those conversations today.”
“I give up. You win,” Kieren murmurs.
“How gracious of you to admit defeat. I’m sure it’s a comfort for Willow to hear,” Mr. Kline sarcastically says.
“Let’s go, girls,” Robbie says as he grabs my arm.
“No, Willow stay s with me,” Mr. Kline demands.
“What? ” my brother ghastly screeches. “Auggie, this isn’t the place for Willow,” Robbie angrily says.
“Take Willow’s car a nd drive Essie home. Talk to Essie on the way, please. As soon as Malcolm gets his son, I’m taking Willow with me. She and I have a long talk. I’ll bring her home after work tomorrow. Go-” Auggie points to the end of the hallway towards the club.
“Happy Birthday,” Robbie despondently mumbles in my ear. I notice the choker at his throat. It’s not like mine with the exception of the round tag. His is leather with two large snaps, fitting it tightly to his throat. I finger the tag: Robin . The reverse side says: Property of Isis Mason .
Rule: you don’t touch property without the consent of the owner. Isis owns Robbie. Mr. Kline owns me.
Robbie sadly smiles at me . A soft kiss to my lips, and then he takes our cousin home. I watch as they disappear down the hallway. Robbie’s arm is around Essie’s shoulder with his hands rubbing her upper-arms in comfort.
“Ah, I guess I figured out why everyone kept saying Robbie and I were alike,” I snicker and get c omfortable against the wall. “Nah, I guess I don’t. But I get the concept of how we have a similar personality.”
Mr. Kline releases Kieren and the bad boy falls several feet to the ground. A painful noise bubbles from Kieren’s throat when he forcefully lands. I’d like to feel bad, but after a night of Kieren’s grubby hands clenching on me, I rather enjoy the sound of his pain. I smile at Mr. Kline in thanks, and he gives me a looks that says I’m as much to blame as Kieren. It wipes the smug right off my face.
A scary man barrels down the hall towards us , and I hide behind Mr. Kline. My fingers twist in his sweaty t-shirt and I bury my face against his back. He leans back into me and I instantly feel safe.
“Boy, you’re dead. We’ve done this three times before. But this is the first time it’s with someone’s property that was twelve hours from being a minor. Hell, I bet she said no. You go deaf when they say no. Well, I’m going to be deaf to your begging and pleading tonight. I’m going to muzzle you and I’m putting earplugs in my own ears. I won’t even hear a peep out of your cowardly mouth,” he seethingly threatens.
His voice is as scary as his face. He isn’t ugly, but his expression is pure malice. He’s an older, bigger, scarier version of Kieren. He’s as tall as Mr. Kline. His eyes are the same blue as Kieren’s, but his hair is dark and wavy. He’s a mix of both of his sons, Devon and Kieren.
I want to protest that Kieren’s punishment is too harsh , but Mr. Kline somehow senses it and pinches my leg in reprimand. I clamp my jaw hard enough that I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Sorry about this, Augustus. I’ll give an apology to Robin when I see him next. Have her step out and let me have a look at her.” His voice is pleasant and friendly, but I press up against Mr. Kline as tightly as I can. Both men laugh at me in a deep rumbly sort of way that zing down my spine.
“Be a good girl,” Mr. Kline coaxes with an amused voice. I realize that they’re friends, and this is how Auggie knew Kieren had a problem with girls. I should always listen to Mr. Kline.
I step out until I’ m standing next to Mr. Kline instead of behind. I pull my clothes back into place and look at the floor.
“Augustus, you ha ven’t um- you know?” I watch Kieren’s father’s hands move in the air but I don’t look up.
“No, or else your son wouldn’t have been interested, now would he,” Mr. Kline laughs humorlessly. “Besides today is her eighteenth birthday. You know me,
“I give up. You win,” Kieren murmurs.
“How gracious of you to admit defeat. I’m sure it’s a comfort for Willow to hear,” Mr. Kline sarcastically says.
“Let’s go, girls,” Robbie says as he grabs my arm.
“No, Willow stay s with me,” Mr. Kline demands.
“What? ” my brother ghastly screeches. “Auggie, this isn’t the place for Willow,” Robbie angrily says.
“Take Willow’s car a nd drive Essie home. Talk to Essie on the way, please. As soon as Malcolm gets his son, I’m taking Willow with me. She and I have a long talk. I’ll bring her home after work tomorrow. Go-” Auggie points to the end of the hallway towards the club.
“Happy Birthday,” Robbie despondently mumbles in my ear. I notice the choker at his throat. It’s not like mine with the exception of the round tag. His is leather with two large snaps, fitting it tightly to his throat. I finger the tag: Robin . The reverse side says: Property of Isis Mason .
Rule: you don’t touch property without the consent of the owner. Isis owns Robbie. Mr. Kline owns me.
Robbie sadly smiles at me . A soft kiss to my lips, and then he takes our cousin home. I watch as they disappear down the hallway. Robbie’s arm is around Essie’s shoulder with his hands rubbing her upper-arms in comfort.
“Ah, I guess I figured out why everyone kept saying Robbie and I were alike,” I snicker and get c omfortable against the wall. “Nah, I guess I don’t. But I get the concept of how we have a similar personality.”
Mr. Kline releases Kieren and the bad boy falls several feet to the ground. A painful noise bubbles from Kieren’s throat when he forcefully lands. I’d like to feel bad, but after a night of Kieren’s grubby hands clenching on me, I rather enjoy the sound of his pain. I smile at Mr. Kline in thanks, and he gives me a looks that says I’m as much to blame as Kieren. It wipes the smug right off my face.
A scary man barrels down the hall towards us , and I hide behind Mr. Kline. My fingers twist in his sweaty t-shirt and I bury my face against his back. He leans back into me and I instantly feel safe.
“Boy, you’re dead. We’ve done this three times before. But this is the first time it’s with someone’s property that was twelve hours from being a minor. Hell, I bet she said no. You go deaf when they say no. Well, I’m going to be deaf to your begging and pleading tonight. I’m going to muzzle you and I’m putting earplugs in my own ears. I won’t even hear a peep out of your cowardly mouth,” he seethingly threatens.
His voice is as scary as his face. He isn’t ugly, but his expression is pure malice. He’s an older, bigger, scarier version of Kieren. He’s as tall as Mr. Kline. His eyes are the same blue as Kieren’s, but his hair is dark and wavy. He’s a mix of both of his sons, Devon and Kieren.
I want to protest that Kieren’s punishment is too harsh , but Mr. Kline somehow senses it and pinches my leg in reprimand. I clamp my jaw hard enough that I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Sorry about this, Augustus. I’ll give an apology to Robin when I see him next. Have her step out and let me have a look at her.” His voice is pleasant and friendly, but I press up against Mr. Kline as tightly as I can. Both men laugh at me in a deep rumbly sort of way that zing down my spine.
“Be a good girl,” Mr. Kline coaxes with an amused voice. I realize that they’re friends, and this is how Auggie knew Kieren had a problem with girls. I should always listen to Mr. Kline.
I step out until I’ m standing next to Mr. Kline instead of behind. I pull my clothes back into place and look at the floor.
“Augustus, you ha ven’t um- you know?” I watch Kieren’s father’s hands move in the air but I don’t look up.
“No, or else your son wouldn’t have been interested, now would he,” Mr. Kline laughs humorlessly. “Besides today is her eighteenth birthday. You know me,
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