He didn’t seem to care that she was bloody. He pulled her hand away and grimaced.
“I am so sorry, Addy,” he said. “You must hate me.”
“No,” she replied. “Just a little freaked out.” She stopped and swallowed hard, trying to contain the tears that were forming in her eyes. Jayden hesitated then wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t expect the warm embrace or the sensations it caused. She was too aware of the heat racing through her, his scent, the strength in the body pressed to hers to enjoy the hug.
“You really think I’m an angel?” she asked.
“Without a doubt.” Jayden hugged her closer. “I can’t tell you how bad I feel. I never should’ve brought you here.”
“It’s okay, Jayden,” she said, lifting her face to see his eyes. “Your grandmama wanted to protect you.”
“That crazy old bat,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I don’t know how she could’ve done that to my angel.”
My angel. Adrienne’s pain almost disappeared at the gentle words. He meant them. She saw his sincerity in his features. For a moment, she was almost glad she’d been attacked by his crazy grandmother.
“Come on. We gotta get you to a doctor,” he said. “You have to be on your feet and ready to sing for the school tomorrow!” Jayden withdrew and took her hand, walking with her the rest of the way to the car.
Adrienne couldn’t answer. First he’d called her his angel. Now, he held her hand.
He really did like her.
If her ear didn’t hurt, this would replace the day before as the best in her life!
They got into the car. She glanced down at her bloodied shirt, uncertain which was hers and which was his grandmothers. Worse – how did she make a decent impression at school when she had to choose between a soda-stained shirt and a bloodstained one?
“You have a doctor in town or should I go to urgent care?” Jayden asked.
“Um, it’s okay. This doesn’t look that bad,” she replied.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” She feared looking in the mirror to learn how bad it really was.
“I’m taking you somewhere. This is my fault, Adrienne. I’ll pay for it, whatever it costs.”
She flushed. She hated that he’d guessed why she didn’t want to go to the doctor.
“You don’t owe me, Jayden. It’s okay. I can take care of myself,” she said firmly.
“Look, Adrienne, I kinda know you’re probably on scholarship for a reason,” he said. “Not being mean. Just saying I care about you. If you’re hurt, let me fix it.”
“You can drop me off at the free clinic,” she said. “But I won’t let you do more.”
He frowned.
“And … maybe you can take me to that arts and crafts fair,” she said then quickly added, “If you want.”
Jayden glanced at her. “Yeah. Okay. It’s a date.”
Adrienne smiled. If her daddy had a phone, she could call her best friend from Georgia and tell her she was going on her first real date. She’d have to email instead.
“There are napkins in the glove box,” he said.
She wiped her hand on her shirt before opening it then grabbed a handful. Adrienne wadded them up and pressed them to her earlobe. Her adrenaline wore off too fast, and the injured body part began to ache badly.
Her thoughts settled as well, and she dwelled briefly on why Jayden hadn’t wanted his grandmama to meet her. Did the older woman always try to cut off the ears of people, or was there something about the white zombie that Jayden had known about when he took her there? She couldn’t think poorly of Jayden, not with how sweet he was being.
But she did wonder how his grandmother knew of the family curse on sight.
You will not take him! What did this mean? She didn’t know how to even get through Therese’s journal, let alone use magic to do anything to Jayden!
“So your grandmama is into voodoo?” she ventured.
“Unfortunately. She’s ruined the lives of all her kids with that nonsense.”
Sore topic. Adrienne said nothing, wanting him to like her. If he thought she was like his grandmama, there was no way he’d take her on a date.
She wanted to know more but didn’t ask. Clutching her ear all the way back, she was almost relieved when Jayden dropped her off in front of the free clinic. It hurt more than she was willing to tell him.
“You want me to come in?” he asked, eyeing the crumbling brick exterior doubtfully.
“No. I’ll be okay.”
“Adrienne – ”
“Jayden! I can do this.”
“I know you can. I’m just worried,” he said, his warm gaze on her.
“I’ll email when I get home. Okay?” she asked, touched that he was concerned.
“All right,” he said grudgingly.
Adrienne got out before he could insist again. She closed the door and waved with a smile, then faced the free clinic.
Ugh. She smiled until she walked in the front door and saw the overflowing waiting room. There was little more standing room than on the city bus at rush hour. Adrienne squeezed herself to the front to sign in then started to make her way back. Even with a bloodied shirt, she knew she’d wait for a few hours at least.
“You again,” a familiar woman said.
Adrienne turned to see Rene and Jax’s aunt waddling with a small stack of files to the front desk. A stethoscope was draped around her neck, and she wore red scrubs that made her round form look like an apple.
“C’mon, cinnamon rolls,” their aunt grunted. “If you walking with that much blood, can’t be that bad.”
Adrienne almost smiled, but didn’t, aware of the glares she was getting from those who had probably been waiting since noon to be seen. She maneuvered through the patient packed hallway to follow their aunt, who disappeared into a doorway.
“Rene, you and yo’ friend need to stop fighting.” The aunt was saying sternly.
Adrienne walked into the room and saw Rene on a chair near the computer, holding ice against what looked like a black eye. His blue-green eyes glowed, and dried blood was on his shirt.
Rene did a double-take, his eyes narrowing as he took in the blood on Adrienne’s shirt.
“Hop up,” his aunt directed her, patting the exam table.
Adrienne dropped her book bag by the door and obeyed.
“What’s bleedin’?”
“My ear.” Adrienne removed the wad of napkins with a grimace.
Rene’s aunt peered at it. “Cut your lobe right off. You need stitches. Wait here.” She left the room.
Adrienne met Rene’s gaze. He rose and crossed to her, resting his hands on the table on either side of her as he leaned in to see her battle wound. Adrienne’s breath caught in her throat at his nearness. Jayden smelled clean and of cologne; Rene smelled of male musk and sweat, a heady combination she found herself breathing more of.
“She got most your hair. You win at least?” he asked, leaning back.
“That’s um … kinda hard to say,” she said. “Someone attacked me with scissors. I just kinda laid there.” She reached back to feel for her hair.
“So you lost.”
“It wasn’t a real fight.”
Rene raised his eyebrows. His face was covered by two days growth of a beard, his direct gaze and heavy features rendering his appearance dangerous. He was so close, and warmth pooled at the base of her belly. She wondered what it would be like to date someone like him, if he was gentle with his girlfriends like he was tough with the rest of the world. He was a bad boy, the opposite of Jayden, and yet, she found herself attracted to him as well.
“Did you win?” she asked curiously.
“It wasn’t a real fight either.” He turned away and returned to his chair, sinking into it. “You have a fallin’ out with cheerleaders over mascara?”