Zeke (The Powers That Be, Book 2) (19 page)

I opened the
door and glared at him through the storm door. And this would’ve
been the cool part in a movie that if I smoked, I’d have taken a
puff and blown it at him. Anyway, back to reality, instead of
letting him inside, I went outside on the porch with him.

“Nice hoodie,”
he said with a smirk.

Shit. I’d
grabbed his, of course. “Want it back?”

He shook his
head, eyes narrowed because he’d picked up on my pissy attitude.
“Why haven’t you answered my calls or texts?” he asked.

I donned my
best apathetic demeanor and shrugged. “I turned my phone off.
Didn’t want to be bothered.”

Really
narrowed eyes now, squinting eyes. “Wanna tell me what’s going
on?”

I looked up at
him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Two words: Jillian.
Snow.”

He frowned and
shook his head. “What the fuck’s that mean?”

“I saw you,
Zeke. I know you’re trying to get her back because you
love
her.” At the word “love” I’d pulled my hands up to my sides and
given him spirit fingers. “So you can stop slumming it with me and
go fuck yourself!” Wow. That wasn’t nice at all. But I’d really
been pissed because this had built all day and it was now coming
out at once.

I turned to go
in but he grabbed me by the upper arm and swung me back to face
him. “Slumming it? Go fuck myself?” he all but roared.

“Keep it
down!” I hissed. “Lane and Grammy are asleep!” I knew Grammy
wasn’t. Matter of fact, she probably had her ear to the door
listening.

He still had a
hold of my arm and turned, walking to his truck and dragging me
along behind him. Well, wasn’t this reminiscent of the night at
Landon Knight’s party when Zeke had taken me upstairs. And, damn
it, thinking of what’d happened between us that night had the
butterflies slam dancing inside my womb like it was a friggin’ mosh
pit. How could I still be so madly attracted to him when he was a
lying, cheating jerk? He opened the driver’s door, practically
shoving me in, not wanting to risk putting me in the passenger side
and walking around because he knew I’d have escaped. Smart.
Bastard. He started his truck and took off immediately, still not
giving me a chance to get out. Very smart. Impressive.

“Talk,” he
barked making me jump.

I fumbled with
my seatbelt and after fastening it, looked at him. “About?”

He glanced
over at me and if looks could kill… “You know about what.
Jillian.”

Ugh. Hearing
him say her name made me want to vomit. But still playing it cool,
I rolled my eyes and filled him in on what he already knew. “Lane
had a game tonight. I tried calling you but your phone wasn’t
getting reception. When I left the Dean’s office, I went looking
for you and found you at the student center. And that’s when I saw
you making out with your girlfriend.”

I turned and
looked out my window more tired than I’d ever been. The entire week
was just now falling on my shoulders, us being apart, the Sara
shit, him not telling me he loved me and now Jillian. God, I
couldn’t even think her name without saying it in a bitchy
voice.

And then my
night got worse because he started laughing. And I’m not talking
chuckling, I’m talking full-out guffawing. The jerk.

I kept my eyes
on my window as tears now rolled down my face wishing someone would
please tell me this was all me PMSing because damn. But how cruel
was he? I’d caught him red-handed and he was laughing to rub it in.
And I’d thought he was a nice guy.

He pulled into
his driveway and turned off his truck. We sat there in silence for
a while, well, I was sniffing, but whatever. Then I heard him let
out a breath. “When’s it ever gonna be enough, Scarlett?”

“I don’t know
what you’re talking about,” I answered, the back of my head still
to him. I brought a hand up and wiped my face.

“I feel like
I’ve given you everything: my body, my heart, my fucking soul. What
else do you want?”

I turned and
faced him with a scowl. “Are you fucking kidding me? Your heart?
Whatever, Zeke!”

He scowled
back and we had a standoff then he shook his head. “Don’t know what
else to do.”

I shrugged a
shoulder. “Nothing you
can
do. You can’t force yourself to
love someone you don’t.”

“See, I don’t
know what you’re talking about right now.”

Seriously? Did
I really have to spell it out for him? When he kept looking at me,
I guessed I did. “I told you last night that I love you. You didn’t
say it back.” I bit my lips trying not to cry again. “And when I
saw you kissing Jillian, I knew. Knew you didn’t say it because you
don’t love me. You love her. It makes sense. Football star and
Homecoming Queen. Perfect assholish couple.” Ugh. I really needed
to get my anger and blurting under control.

He stabbed a
hand through his hair and I knew he was angry now. “You keep doing
this shit, Scarlett. Why in the fuck can’t you accept that you’re
it for me? Huh? Are you that fucking insecure that every time you
see me with another woman you think I’m cheating? Told you from the
beginning I’m not like those assholes you dated. Jillian was
excited because I gave up a scholarship since I’m probably going
pro and by default, she got it. She was thanking me. She kissed my
cheek and hugged me and that was it. Jesus! Listen closely.
I’ll
never fucking cheat on you!”

“Yeah, but you
don’t love me!”

I swear his
eyes about bugged out of his head along with glowing in the dark.
Yikes.

“I do too
fucking love you! I’ve already told you! Told you last night!”
Suddenly he jumped out of the truck leaving his door open and got
in the bed of it and started screaming, “I love Scarlett Elizabeth
O’Rourke!” over and over at the top of his lungs.

Holy shit!

I got out of
the truck waving my arms at him and hissing, “Shhhh!” trying to get
him to be quiet.

“Dude! Shut
the fuck up before the neighbors call the police!” Gable called
from the front door with his phone at his ear probably talking to
Scout then he went back inside slamming the door.

Zeke stopped
yelling and looked down at me. “Good enough?” I nodded, my face
hot, embarrassed because I was an idiot and watched as he jumped
down. “Figured something out just now,” he said walking to me.

“What?” I
whispered.

“We’re both
hotheads.” I started to protest and he gave me a look and I
realized he was right. “But I need you to do something for me. I
know you’ve had shit boyfriends in the past. I’m not like them.
Never will be. Need you to get a new mindset.”

I nodded
because he was right.

“I love you,
Scarlett.” I saw his mouth go up in his beautiful half grin. “And I
did tell you last night.”

I frowned and
shook my head. “No, you didn’t.”

“I did.”

“You
didn’t.”

“Did.”

“No.”

“Told you when
you were coming the second time.”

My mouth fell
open. “Well, that doesn’t count!”

He snorted,
wrapping his arm around my neck and pulling me into him, kissing
the top of my head. “Why doesn’t it count?”

“I don’t know.
It’s just a rule that you don’t say it during sex because a lot of
guys don’t mean it.”

He nodded.
“Makes sense.” Then he leaned down and whispered in my ear. “But I
meant it. Stay with me tonight and I’ll prove it.” I shivered and
he chuckled.

“I’ll call
Grammy.”

As I made my
call he got his keys out of the ignition of his truck and locked
it. When I hung up, he put his arm across my shoulders and led me
inside.

Then I got a
new mindset when Zeke proved to me that he really did love me.
Several times over
.

First of all, I’d like
to thank my dad for being one stubborn son of a bitch and passing
it on to me because if I wasn’t made that way, I’d never have ended
up with Scarlett and what a shame that would have been
.

Seriously.

I’m not
kidding.

I knew she was
the woman of my dreams from the day I set eyes on her, long legs,
tiny waist, all that gorgeous brown hair, and then there were her
chocolate eyes that were so expressive that I could read in them
her every emotion—I just liked to act dumb sometimes to watch her
assert herself which was sexy as hell.

And although I
loved the chase to get her, having her was so much better. She was
smart, she was funny and she was sweet, everything I could ever ask
for. At times she could be a handful, but that was probably the
best part because she didn’t put up with my shit and I liked that.
I knew that having someone challenge me daily (in a good way) was
something to hold on to. And I was holding on tightly.

She’s told me
several times that I was her hero for helping with a textbook
(which I got on scholarship but let her think it was a big deal so
she’d have to talk to me) and for helping with her car (which I did
because, of course, she needed it, but it also gave her a way to
come to me). So, yeah, I might’ve had ulterior motives when it came
to helping her with those things, but I knew from the very start
that she was
the one
and when you find that person, you want
to start your lives together as soon as possible even if they can’t
see it yet.

Before her, I
think I was an okay guy but she’s made me better. Makes me want to
be better for her. And that’s made all the difference in my
life.

So, was I her
hero? Nah.

No, when it
comes to heroes, I’d have to say she’s mine and I wouldn’t have it
any other way
.

I want to
thank all the book bloggers who’ve gotten my name and books out
there. Erin at Southern Belle Book Promotions, you’re amazing!
Thank you so much, doll, for everything you do. You’re the best!
<3 Trish and Megan over at Bedroom Bookworms, you guys are
freakin’ fantastic! Thank you both for always helping a gal out
with last minute stuff & also for loving my alpha dudes. Trish,
you’re the marsh to my mallow ;) Cecily at Cecily’s Book Review,
thank you for always cheering me on! I’m gonna buy you a Patriots
cheerleading uniform (I’m really hoping I got the team right) lol
Thanks also to Aesta’s Book Blog, A Pair of Okies, Mrs. Leif’s Two
Fangs About It Book Reviews, Sassy Southern Book Affair and
Summer’s Book Blog to name a few others.

HUGE thanks to
Franca, Melly & Sam. I don’t know what I’d do without you
girls. Thank you for giving your precious time to make my words
sparkle. Honestly, there’s nothing I can say to let you know how
very much I appreciate you. I love you all!

Anne Mercier,
you’re an amazing woman & a fabulous friend. Thank you so much
for all you’ve done for me, from putting a chapter of Gable in your
latest book to helping me when my words get all screwy. You’re the
shit! Love you, woman! Can’t wait for Wrestlemania! Heh

And to the readers,
you truly amaze me. When Gable hit the USA Today Best Selling list
I was floored and it’s all because of you. Thank you again, so very
much, for making this fun! You make all the late nights worth it
<3

USA Today Best
Selling author Harper Bentley has taught high school English for 22
years. Although she’s managed to maintain her sanity regardless of
her career choice, jumping into the world of publishing her own
books goes to show that she might be closer to the ledge than was
previously thought.

After traveling
the nation in her younger years as a military brat, having lived in
Alaska, Washington State and California, she now resides in
Oklahoma with her teenage daughter, two dogs and one cat, happily
writing stories that she hopes her readers will enjoy.

You can contact
her at
[email protected]
,
at harperbentleywrites.com, on Facebook or on Twitter
@HarperBentley

www.harperbentleywrites.com