Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“She pisses everyone off, but we don’t say anything,” Skye said, again texting. “My face is my best quality next to my tits, so I don’t go around trying to get it punched in.”


“I’m proud of you,” Farah whispered.

Maddy smiled. “We should get extra mushrooms to celebrate.”

As Farah ordered the pizzas, I wondered if Bailey had gone. Instead, I found her on the front porch, glaring at a passing woman pushing a stroller.

“Power walking is for losers,” she muttered.

“So you say.”

Bailey glanced at me. “Did you come out here to be a bitch again?”

“You started it.”

“You think I’m shit.”

“I think you’re rude. I’ve heard you’re funny too. I wish you’d just be funny.”

“So people can laugh at me?”

“Laugh with you,” I said, sitting next to her on the porch swing.

Bailey frowned. “You think your shit doesn’t stink.”

“I think I’m a loser, but that doesn’t mean you should treat people the way you do.”

“Coop and Tuck act like assholes and everyone thinks they’re fucking great. I act the same way and get shit on.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t like when Coop and Tuck act like assholes either.”

Bailey gave me a tiny grin. “You think I’m a bitch.”

“I think you’re insecure and you think being really loud and rude will hide this fact. It doesn’t.”

“Why do you think you’re a loser?”

“I’m not good at anything and people tend to forget I exist.”

“Forget?”

“Like when I was in second grade, I played a lot with this girl at school. She was the only friend I ever had besides Farah. Her name was Peggy and we played every day. We were best friends, but then I moved to another school. When I came back the next year, I was excited to see her, but she didn’t even remember my name. It was like knowing me meant nothing to her.”

“That’s just one idiot bitch.”

“My grandmother calls me Tanya.”

“Your grandmother is an idiot bitch too.”

“How do you know?”

“She can’t remember your name. That makes her an idiot bitch.”

Grinning, I scooted closer. “Do you want people to like you or do you like having them scared of you?”

“I don’t know. Can’t I have both?”

“Probably, but you scare away the people you want to like you. Maybe you could be like Coop who is nice to his friends, yet scary to everyone else? That way, you could have people like and fear you.”

“I don’t know how to be any different. I’ve always been loud and rude. I like being that way most of the time, but I never seem to keep friends or boyfriends. I guess changing might help, but I don’t know when I’m being rude. It’s just how I am.”

“I could help you.”

“Like a pity case?”

“I don’t pity you, Bailey. You’re beautiful and rich. You have shit handed to you, so I’m not feeling sorry for you. I just think you might be a fun friend, if you could stop screaming in my face.”

Bailey smiled brightly. “You thought I would hit you.” When I nodded, her smile grew. “I was going to hit you too, but you looked pretty badass standing up to me and I didn’t want to ruin that moment for you.”

“See? You’re nice, but you hide it.”

“Nice means weak.”

“Maybe with guys, but we’re not guys. Pretending we are doesn’t work. We should be our best. I want to improve myself too. Get stronger and accomplish stuff, so I’m not just mooching off Farah and Cooper.”

“So you want to be my friend then?”

“Only if you promise to stop threatening me over mushrooms.”

“You started that.” Squinted at her, I frowned and Bailey laughed. “You look funny when you give me your pissed face. You should work on that.”

“I will, if you work on your big mouth.”

“Okay, but Maddy gets too much attention with her stupid baby bump.”

“Maybe Maddy’s not used to getting attention though? Besides, she’s cooking up your niece. Aren’t you excited about the chance to be the cool aunt?”

Bailey grinned again. “Yeah, but won’t Farah be the cool aunt?”

“She’ll be the nice aunt who kisses their ouchies and plays games with them. You’ll be the aunt that feeds them candy and lets them stay up late.”

“Cool is better than nice.”

“They’re both nice qualities.”

Bailey sighed. “Yes, I can see that. Or at least, I can lie and pretend I agree.”

“Sometimes, lying is the only nice way to handle a situation.”

“I have no problem lying. So less big mouth and more lying. Sounds like a plan.”

“Do you want to come back inside? Farah ordered your meat pizza.”

Bailey stood up and stretched. “I have shitty friends. They always run away or just laugh like everything I say is great. I want someone who can be honest, but likes me. Can you be like that?”

“I can try.”

Bailey took my hand. “I can be a good friend. I’m loyal and will hold your hair when you puke.”