Hellion, a New Adult Romance Novel (The Rebel Series) by Elle Casey Page A

done.   That doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun at the same time.”
    “Maybe not for you,” I say, feeling bitter over my circumstances.   Usually it just energizes me to think of all the things I’m going to do, but now all I feel is regret and unfairness at it all.   Why can’t I just be a party girl who doesn’t give a shit about her future or her family?   Just for one night, even?
    Mick responds.   “Definitely not for me and definitely not for you either.   How about you just give me a chance and we take it from there?”
    My new smile has a tremble to it.   I’m afraid to hope for what he might be proposing.   “Did you just ask me out?”
    He smiles back.   “I think it was more me asking for permission to ask you out.   I’m a little to scared to go right for the asking at this point.”
    “Permission not granted.”
    “Come to the movies with me tomorrow night.   My treat.   I’ll take you out to eat after at a really cool place.”
    “No.”
    “I’ll pick you up at six.”
    “No. I’m busy.   Washing my bedspread … and stuff.”   I have no idea where that came from.   My brain has a tumor in it, apparently.
    “Okay, then, I’ll just take Jersey instead.”
    I yank my hand out of his, all my flirty happiness dissipating into thin air.   “No!” I take two steps towards the car, beyond pissed.   “See?   This is what I’m talking about!   You can’t ingratiate yourself into my family like that!”   I feel like I’m about to lose it.   If I don’t get a grip on myself soon, I’m going to be screaming and crying at the same time.   Looney bin city.
    “Why not?   I like your family.”
    “So?!   Who cares!   Go get your own family!”
    His face falls and he steps back, like I physically rammed into him or something.   “Yeah.   Okay.   I got ya.”   He goes over to the car, leaving me standing there on the sidewalk like the total asshole I am.   God, I hate myself right now. What is wrong with me?
    “Mick, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”   Who tells a foster kid to fuck off her own family and go get one of his own?   Yeah.   That’s me.   I’m the dirtbag who someone should run over right now.
    He opens the door and gets in, starting the engine up.   It rumbles to life as I stand outside his door.
    “Are you just going to leave me here?” I ask.   I fully expect him to drive away and leave me in a cloud of exhaust, and I wouldn’t blame him for a second if he did.   I’m definitely going to get a blue ribbon for biggest bitch of the night.
    He faces out the windshield, his expression serious.   “Get in the car.”
    I want to stand there and beg for his forgiveness, but I don’t. Because I’m a coward, I do what he says instead and ride all the way to my house without saying anything.
    When he pulls up to the curb, I put my hand on the inside door handle and turn to him.   “I really am sorry.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” he says, staring out the front window.   “I got the message loud and clear.”
    I sigh and get out.   There’s no point in trying to smooth this over.   Besides, it’s for the best if he decides I’m a bitch and better left alone.   The two of us getting together would only lead to heartache, and not just for me.   I cannot imagine the pain Jersey would go through losing Mick when Mick decides he’s had enough of my nonsense.   It would probably be worse than my own pain, and for that reason, I have to cut this thing off before it grows into something bigger and harder to end.
    “Thanks for the ride,” I say as I go up the front walk towards my door, walking backwards.
    He drives away without a word, and my heart feels like it’s bleeding in my chest, it hurts so damn much.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    MY MOM STICKS HER HEAD in the door to my room.   I can see her through a crack in my covers.   “Teagan’s here, sweetie.   She brought you lunch.”
    I close the crack made by my