As I snuggle up closer to Brandon, I try not to pay attention to them. This bonfire wouldn’t be the same without him. It’s much cozier, much nicer than it ever was when I was still with Derek.
I can’t believe I ever dated that idiot. Ever since we broke up, he’s been harassing girls left and right, trying to score. But none of the other girls want anything to do with him after that mess of a show in the hallway the other day.
Luckily, he hasn’t shown his face here yet. The bonfire would be a lot less fun if he did, so I’m praying to God he stays home or wherever the fuck he is. Probably hanging out with my brothers at some bar, drinking booze.
That’s what they always do.
I don’t even care anymore. I used to help them get off the hook with Dad whenever they came home drunk but not anymore. I hope Dad gives them a piece of his mind.
If he saw me here with Brandon, I guess I’m not off the hook either.
It’s no secret he and Mr. Locklear don’t get along, which is funny, considering he does business with one of them. But whatever. I don’t involve myself with my dad’s shit, and he leaves me alone too. Just the way I like it.
Right here in Brandon’s arms is where I like to be.
“It’s so warm, even this far away,” I say, holding up my hands toward the fire.
“Mmhmm,” Brandon mumbles. “You won’t get cold tonight.”
“Not with you here, steaming me up,” I muse, glancing up toward him.
He smirks, but it can’t hide the redness on his face. “I can go grab a drink for you to cool off, if you want.”
Oh, wow. What a reply. “Smooth …” I say.
“Or I could cool you down … with kisses,” he says, and he wriggles his eyebrows and immediately dives in to pepper me with them.
I shove him away playfully. “All right, Casanova. I get it. Go fetch me that drink, and then we’ll see.”
He laughs and gets up from behind me, leaving me as he goes to the keg nearby. Suddenly, I notice Derek’s there too, stuffing his face with potato chips and beer. He stops as his eyes settle on Brandon. Fuck.
I immediately get up, but it’s already too late. By the time I get there, both are yelling and pushing each other.
“Motherfucker! What are you doing here hanging out with my girl?” Derek barks.
“If you hadn’t noticed, she ain’t your girl anymore,” Brandon retorts.
Derek looks like he’s shooting thunderbolts from his eyes. “Because your little Indian ass had to throw yourself at her!”
He throws his plastic cup full of beer in Brandon’s face.
Brandon stays put, silent for a few seconds, while he wipes the beer off his face.
“Don’t … call me that,” Brandon hisses.
Everyone’s staring at them. Even me. I don’t know what to do or how to resolve this mess I created.
“What? Indian?” Derek shoves him hard. “Redskin? Fucking unwanted piece of shit that your ma left behind? Your papa must be so disappointed.”
“Take. That. Back,” Brandon growls.
I’ve never seen him this angry over someone mentioning his ma and pa.
“Fuck no, you deserve it,” Derek says, and he spits on Brandon’s face.
Brandon suddenly shoves Derek so hard, he ends up on the ground, covered in dirt.
I cover my mouth in shock as Derek rushes Brandon and bulldozes him over. The two of them fight on the ground. Fists are flying everywhere. They’re already covered in scrapes and blood, but neither of them stops.
“Derek! Brandon! NO!” I yell from the sidelines, but they don’t listen.
Completely focused on each other, they don’t even see me anymore. No one intervenes. Everyone just looks on as though they’re entertainment.
I try to grab Derek’s arm.
“Fuck off!” He pushes me away so hard I fall to the ground too.
“Ow!” I stammer.
Now Brandon turns toward me, momentarily shaken by my cry for pain. “Dixie!”
But then he immediately turns his attention to Derek again. His face has darkened, his hatred back in full force. “Motherfucker! YOU HURT HER!” Brandon screams. After throwing multiple punches, he gets off the ground and drags Derek toward the fire.
“Brandon, stop!” I yell.
But it’s too late.
Consumed by rage and completely out of it, his adrenaline has caused him to have an inhumane amount of strength. Just because of the comments Derek made about his heritage. Or maybe because Derek hurt me. And it looks as though his sole aim now is payback.
“No!” I cry out as Brandon hauls Derek so close, his hand touches the flames.
“Fucker, stop! Stop!” Derek howls. “FUCK!”
But Brandon doesn’t listen.
Not even as the people around us jump up and run toward them.
They have to physically drag Brandon away from Derek.
Shrieking is all that’s audible … after Derek’s burned hand is no longer licked by the flames.
It’s the first time I have ever seen the pitch-black darkness within Brandon’s eyes.
And I don’t think it’s going to be the last.
Chapter Fourteen
Dixie
Present
I shiver at the thought of ever being with him. Or kissing him. Never again.
I used to think he was sweet. Fuck that. Life isn’t sweet, and neither is he.
“What are you thinking about, oh dark one?” I jest, trying to catch his attention.
“Nothing,” he barks back, still pacing around.
“Still wondering what you’re going to do with me?” I say. “Oh blackened soul?”
He stops in his tracks and narrows his eyes at me. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what,” I tease. “Mr. Indian?”
He hates that word.
No, hate isn’t strong enough to describe the emotions in his eyes right now. I can almost see the wheels spinning in his head. The searing burn of his glare is enough to make me wanna look away, but I don’t. I want him to react, so I can lure him into my trap.
“Don’t you fucking—” He stops himself from saying anything else by grinding his teeth instead.
“What? I’m just asking a question … redskin.”
He stomps toward me, grasps me by the throat, and growls, “Don’t you ever fucking use those words again.”
A slow smile creeps onto my lips when I see the rage on his face. “That’s it, right?”
That’s his weakness. Or at least, one of them. The other is his dad.
“That’s what they called you and your dad, isn’t it?”