Breathe Me (A 'Me' Novel) by Jeri Williams Page A

during lunch breaks.
    Asshole was either stupid or had a death wish, because Deklan was clenching his fist so hard his knuckles were turning white and his eyes had turned dark gray, they were almost black. If I saw him on the street, I’d cross it.
    “Look, kid, I told you—”
    Deklan punched him so hard he had to be seeing stars.
    Asshole stumbled but didn’t go down, looking at Deklan as if he wanted to murder him. He flexed his jaw like he was testing it out to speak, but Deklan beat him to it.
    “I don’t give a shit what you told me. I suggest you take my advice. Otherwise, it’ll be like popping Pringles in this bitch. I won’t stop at just one.”
    Asshole looked from me to Deklan then back again, deciding something, then said, “Whatever. No pussy is worth this, even if it is from a virgin.” He brushed past Deklan, hitting his shoulder, before getting back in his car and speeding off.

Chapter 15
    Harley
    “You good?” Deklan asked, coming over to me. The street thug I saw a few minutes ago was not quite gone but definitely simmering under the surface. I knew that kind of anger, saw it almost every day, and while I was 89 percent sure Deklan wouldn’t hurt me, it ignited in me the same reaction it always had and probably always would.
    Fear. But a different kind. I wasn’t scared of him, just scared of the day when I wouldn’t see him again and how that made me feel like I couldn’t breathe.
    “Golden, thanks.” I stared at him as he flexed the hand he’d just used, wondering what it was like to punch someone. I was morosely curious about it, too familiar with the other end.
    “Who’s the dick?” He looked in the direction of the fleeing car as if he wanted to chase after it. His voice was softer now, seemingly calmed down now that the threat was over. I, however, was still frozen on the spot, unable to move. I was also pretty sure he heard that asshole’s little “virgin” declaration when he walked off.
    “Just some guy my mom’s…my mom knows,” I amended, nervously. Forget that I was already nervous around him, but knowing that he heard, that he knew, made me almost turn into an invalid.
    “Come on.” He grabbed my hand and started to tug me along, causing me to whimper a little at the sudden movement. My back, I had forgotten.
    His brow furrowed as I resisted. “Did he hurt you?” He stepped closer to me, eyes roaming all over my body, inspecting me for visible bruises.
    His search was so careful it rocked me. No one was this nice, people didn’t come to my rescue, and no one cared that my life was shit. I learned those things at a young age. Everyone had problems, and no one wanted your problems on top of theirs. Yet here he was tenderly stroking his thumb over the back of my palm, asking me if someone had hurt me. I wanted to tell him yes, someone had hurt me. I wanted to tell him like I had never wanted to tell someone something so badly in my life. I wanted for him to beat the bad away like he did with the asshole because I didn’t know how to do it myself, because I was too weak.
    Too scared.
    “Harley?” He ducked his head so that he could look into my eyes. His probing eyes were silently willing me to tell him.
    “No, I’m okay.” I forced a small smile, trying to throw my shields back up and stamp down the urge to trust him. As much as I wanted to tell him, I knew it wouldn’t do any good. No one could save me from my life. It was always going to be this way. What was I expecting him to do about it? We had kissed, he wanted to get in my pants, but that didn’t mean he wanted to sign up to take on a lost cause.
    A weakling.
    What would happen when he found out? He would be disgusted that I was so weak and stupidly fearful to allow myself to live this way. That I would allow this to happen to me. I knew what he would feel because it was what I felt every moment of every day.
    He didn’t say anything, just nodded and tried again to tug me forward. I tried to take