THE BAD BOY BARGAIN

Chapter 11: Uninvited Ghosts

Kyle’s yell—“She’s here, Jake!”—hit like a gunshot, and the crash from the hall rattled the walls. I jumped, heart slamming, as Jake shot to his feet, face a mix of fury and dread. “Stay here,” he said, voice tight, already moving toward the sound. But I didn’t—couldn’t—stay put. Not with Lexi’s shadow creeping back in, not after everything he’d just said. I followed, steps quiet but quick, the air thick with something sour and electric.

The hall was a mess—Kyle sprawled against the wall, a shattered bottle at his feet, amber liquid pooling on the hardwood. He laughed, sloppy and mean, as Jake shoved past him to the open front door. There she was—Lexi, leaning on the porch rail, blonde hair glowing under the dim light, red lips curled in a smirk. She wore a leather jacket, too much like Jake’s, and her eyes flicked from him to me, sharp and amused.

“Cozy,” she drawled, stepping inside without asking. “Didn’t know you had company, Jake. New girl’s sticking around, huh?”

“Get out,” Jake snapped, blocking her path. His shoulders were rigid, fists clenched at his sides. “I told you no. We’re done.”

Lexi laughed, high and cutting, brushing past him like he was nothing. “You don’t get to decide that, babe. Not after you left me hanging tonight.” Her gaze landed on me, standing by the couch, and she tilted her head. “What’s she told you, huh? That I’m the bad guy?”

“She doesn’t need to,” I said, voice steadier than I felt. “You’re doing fine on your own.”

Her smirk faltered, then sharpened. “Cute. But you don’t know s**t, new girl. Ask him about the money—how he got it.”

“Lexi, stop,” Jake growled, grabbing her arm. She yanked free, spinning on him, and the room crackled—Kyle’s drunken snicker, the hum of the busted lamp, my pulse in my ears.

“Tell her,” Lexi pressed, stepping closer to him. “Tell her how you paid my debt. Or should I?”

Jake’s face went pale, then red, and he shoved a hand through his hair. “It’s not her business. Or yours anymore.”

“Wrong,” she shot back, voice rising. “You think you can play hero for her and forget what you did? That cash wasn’t clean, Jake. You—”

“Shut up!” He lunged, not touching her but close, towering over her. “You don’t get to come here and pull this. I paid you back—end of story.”

I stepped forward, heart racing. “Paid her how?” My voice cut through, small but firm, and they both turned—Jake’s eyes wild, Lexi’s triumphant.

“Go on,” Lexi said, crossing her arms. “Tell her about the fights.”

Fights? I stared at Jake, waiting, but he wouldn’t look at me—just glared at Lexi, breathing hard. “It’s nothing,” he muttered. “Old shit.”

“Old s**t that got you that scar,” she said, nodding at his eyebrow. “And my money. Tell her how you punched your way out of my mess—underground rings, bloody knuckles. Real romantic.”

My stomach dropped, cold and heavy. “Jake?” I whispered, stepping closer. “Is that true?”

He finally met my eyes, raw and cornered. “Yeah,” he said, voice low, breaking. “Last summer. Lexi owed some guy—bad guy—five hundred. I didn’t have it, so I fought. Three nights, cracked ribs, won enough to cover it. That’s it.”

I blinked, the image sinking in—Jake, bruised and bleeding, not just from a wall but fists, for her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t want you to see that,” he said, softer now, turning away from Lexi. “The guy I was then—angry, stupid. I’m not him anymore.”

Lexi laughed, sharp and hollow. “Sure you’re not. That’s why you ran when I texted. You’re still mine, Jake, whether she likes it or—”

“Enough!” I snapped, surprising myself, stepping between them. “He’s not yours. He’s here, with me, and you don’t get to waltz in and claim him.”

Her eyes narrowed, but I held her stare, adrenaline buzzing. Jake touched my arm, light but there, and I felt him behind me—solid, tense. “Mia,” he said, quiet, “let me handle this.”

“No,” I said, turning to him. “We’re in this together, right? No secrets?”

He nodded, slow, a flicker of something—relief, maybe—crossing his face. “Yeah. Together.”

Lexi scoffed, backing toward the door. “Sweet. You two deserve each other—broken and boring. Don’t call me when it falls apart, Jake.” She spun, heels clicking, and slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing.

Kyle clapped, slow and slurred, from the hall. “Nice show,” he mumbled, then stumbled to his room, leaving us alone.

I turned to Jake, the silence heavy. “Fights?” I asked, softer now. “That’s what you hid?”

He sank onto the couch, head in his hands. “Yeah. Wasn’t proud of it. Still aren’t. Lexi dragged me into her s**t, and I… I let her. ‘Til I couldn’t.”

I sat beside him, close, my knee brushing his. “You’re not that guy now. I see you—here, trying. That matters.”

He looked up, eyes searching mine, and a small, tired smile broke through. “You’re too good, Mia. Don’t know why you’re still here.”

“Deal’s a deal,” I said, echoing him from the wedding, and he laughed—real, rough, warming me. His hand found mine, tentative, fingers lacing through, and I squeezed back, heart racing but steady.

Then the phone buzzed—his, on the table. He grabbed it, frowning, and I saw the screen: “Coach. Locker room. Now.” His grip tightened, and he stood, pulling me up with him.

“What’s this?” I asked, dread creeping in.

“Dunno,” he said, voice hard again. “But it’s not good.”