Rules of a Rebel and a Shy Girl by Jessica Sorensen

There was only so far I could push my father before I had to pay some extreme consequence.
    “Get your ass up and come help me at the office,” he snapped. “I’m going to teach you a thing or two about hard work.”
    His gaze shifted to Willow, and I had the strongest compulsion to move in front of her, protect her, though I knew my dad wouldn’t harm her. I didn’t even like that she had to sit here and witness his shit-fit.
    “You should take my advice, too, young lady. There are better things to do than sit around, wasting your time and my son’s.” He eyed over her cut-offs, her unlaced boots, and the worn T-shirt she was wearing, and disgust flashed in his eyes. “Although, I’d suggest cleaning up a little before you tried to apply for jobs. Most companies won’t hire people who look like they spend their nights sleeping in a cardboard box.”
    My hands balled into fists, and I started to rise. I rarely yelled at my dad, but as my lips parted, I knew I was about to scream at him to shut the fuck up.
    Before the scream could leave my lips, however, Willow beat me to the punch.
    “First of all, I don’t think spending time with your son is a waste of time.” Willow held her chin high, her voice wobbling slightly. “I learn a lot from spending time with Beck. And second, I have a job. Two, actually. So I don’t need your advice.”
    My dad blinked, thrown off. Then his eyes narrowed. “What could you possibly learn from my son?” His eyes swept the room littered with candy wrappers and soda cans. “Other than how to sit around on your ass all day and be completely useless?”
    God, I hated my father. Nothing I ever did was good enough. And I hated that Willow was here to witness this. Sure, she knew my dad was a dick from the stories I told her and from witnessing him ream me occasionally, but he’d never directed his douchiness on her before.
    “He taught me how to play soccer the other day, which let me tell you, took a lot of patience.” Willow counted down on her fingers, her eyes burning fiercely. “He taught me how to drive a stick, helped me open a savings account, showed me how to make interest in it. He’s actually really smart with numbers, but you probably know that already since you’re his dad.” Her lips spread into a smile. “Oh, yeah, and he taught me how to eat cookies and drink milk at the same time, which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’re having a cookie eating contest, it really comes in handy. And winning cookie contests is really important to me. In fact, I’m thinking about going pro. That is, if they’ll let people who look like they live in cardboard boxes enter the competition. I’m not really sure about that. Maybe you know, though, since you’re so smart.”
    I wasn’t sure whether to jump in front of her, laugh, or kiss the freakin’ shit out of her.
    Steam practically fumed out of my dad’s ears as his gaze shot to me. “Beckett, you have five minutes to say good-bye to your little friend and get ready to go to the office with me. And make sure to dress properly.” Then he turned and stormed out of the room.
    Once he was gone, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding and turned toward Willow. “I’m so fucking sorry about that, Wills. Seriously, I can’t believe he did that.”
    “You don’t have to apologize,” she insisted. “I already knew your dad was a dick.”
    “Still … I should’ve told him to go fuck himself when he said all that stuff to you. I was planning on it, I swear. You just beat me to it.” I grinned. “You’re kind of a badass when you want to be.”
    She smiled back at me. “I figured I could return the favor for all those years you stood up for me when kids called me a four-eyed freak. It just sucks that he’s making you go to work with him. I know how much you don’t want to work in an office.”
    “I’ll be fine.” I tried to sound convincing and failed epically. “A few days