Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

Lark was asleep when I arrived home. Once I put away the food, I swept the floor then folded clothes with Bailey. We had many giggles at Aaron’s wide selection of graphic boxers. I was still thinking about them after Bailey left and Aaron arrived home.

We sat on the couch, not talking. I knew he wanted to say something about Vaughn. He knew I wanted him to keep his trap shut. We settled on awkward silence until Lark appeared full of sleepy grins.

“I like having maids,” she announced, sitting between me and Aaron.

“Hey, I saw Mom at the store and flipped her off for you.”

“Thanks, sis.”

“I also got you mint ice cream.”

Lark leaned her head against me. “I’ve never loved you more.”

“Shallow bitch. Now what are you two going to do to entertain me, so I won’t spend all night crying over Vaughn?”

“Crap,” Aaron muttered. “I was hoping you would run back to him by now. I was looking forward to running around the house naked.”

Lark giggled. “I like when you do that.”

Rolling my eyes, I got up and walked to the kitchen. “I’m not running back to Vaughn. Well, I shouldn’t because I’m a jinx and I need to protect him. With that said, he runs around naked at his place and I miss that view.”

“Sure, Vaughn’s a sexy guy, but mine is better,” Lark said, winking at Aaron.

“Vaughn is really sexy,” I said, missing him and wondering what he was doing right then. “He’s funny too. I’ve never been with a guy who was so funny. He can scare you one minute and make you laugh the next. He’s amazing.”

Lark studied me then glanced at Aaron. When they were both watching me, I realized I was crying. Wiping away the stupid tears, I shook my head.

“I wish I was like you two,” I said, smiling weakly at them. “I ruin things with guys and I can’t ruin Vaughn. He’s special.”

An awkward moment passed as I fought with my need to be selfish and go to Vaughn. I needed him, but I knew I would bring bad luck down on him.

“You guys want to go to the movies?” Aaron asked as Lark cuddled with him.

They were so comfortable together. Always relying on each other to feel right in the world. Vaughn needed someone to rely on, but I couldn’t be that person. I was too messed up and I’d jinx him.

“I’d like to see something funny,” Lark said. “I know preggos usually have bladder issues, but so far I don’t. I want to take advantage of that by laughing without peeing myself.”

I smiled at my little sister. “Man, marriage sure has made you sexy.”

“Hell yeah,” Aaron said, kissing Lark and making me feel like a perv to watch them.

“I’ll steal your dork Honda, go home, and clean up for the movies,” I muttered, heading for the door as they made out. “You two get the horny out of the way, so the movies won’t be weird for me.”

“I can finally get naked,” Aaron announced as I shut the door.

I left them to enjoy what I wanted to hungered to do with Vaughn. On the drive, I listened to every channel on the radio in an attempt to stop thinking about him. Instead, the songs all reminded me of Vaughn. I thought about how he watched me sing karaoke and didn’t make fun of my horrible singing. He even liked my rough voice. Not in a fake way like guys would lie about shit to get in a girl’s pants. Vaughn honestly liked my voice. He liked a lot of my flaws.

He loved me.

Arriving at my apartment, I started thinking about how I might get the cash to pay for a hit man. I had a few thousand from the cage fights, but doubted that would be enough. Even with no idea how to find a killer, I knew I had to save Vaughn. If he was safe, maybe my habit of turning things to shit wouldn’t ruin him. We could be together and I could finally have the love of an amazing man.

Until then, I had to avoid Vaughn. I just wasn’t strong enough to tell him no. I missed every damn thing about him. No, I needed distance.

So when I got home and saw the text from him asking to talk, I knew lies were my only way out.

“I have a date tonight. We can talk tomorrow,” I texted back.

My text had the desired effect because he didn’t respond. A pissed Vaughn was likely headed to a bar to find a pretty girl to work out his aggravations with and it was my fault.

Jealous like never before in my life, I fought the urge to text him and ask to talk. Send him a shot of me topless, anything to keep him from fucking someone else. Instead, I imagined him dead and knew I needed to stay away.