Everything She's Not

Mikey

Mikey leaves the room after grabbing a snack and winking at Lilly. She smiles and turns her head back to Gabe, his jaw clenching again from the jealousy that his brother caused.

They spend the first 30 minutes focusing on Essay Composition. He struggles with the wording part of the essay. All of his research checks out and is actually noted really well. His laptop has a whole separate file for his essay notes. She realizes he's actually a very organized person now.

"I don't get it!" He raises his voice, frustration in his tone.

"What do you mean? It's easy, just find the best way to place your notes into the essay without sounding like you're reciting facts."

She types a few sentences in his rough draft, showing him how to word one or two of the facts he's researched.

"Okay, but why does it have to be in a certain format?" He stands up, walks to the cabinet above the stove, and grabs a whiskey glass.

" I don't know, that's just how we're supposed to do it." She responds, eyeballing the large bottle of whiskey he pulls from the bar in the corner.

He pours about half a glass and adds two ice cubes before taking a large gulp. "What're you doing?!" She looks at him, shocked.

He stalks around the island, leaning over to be eye level with Lilly. Their faces are close enough to touch. "You watched me hold a Glock to a man's head today. This..." He holds the glass up between the two of them, "Surprises you?"

Gabe takes another gulp, so close that she can smell the whiskey. He straightens up with a chuckle, running his hand through his short, styled black hair. His dimples are prominent when he grins in amusement.

"Let's just move on to the reading assignment. That's easier, I can read in my sleep." He paces back and forth before removing the forgotten weapon from his waistband and setting the safety to "ON," placing it in a drawer near the fridge.

"Alright, where's your book?" Lilly asks him.

"I don't have one. Could I read yours? You can read the smut story in your bag while I read the boring ass book from school." He stops, stares into her eyes from the other end of the island, and gulps his drink.

"I'll just read aloud."

Lilly begins reading Pride and Prejudice aloud while Gabe listens. He turns off his phone after it rings for the third time, entranced by Lilly's voice. She peeks over the top of the book and watches him remove his shirt to get comfortable on the couch while she reads. He pats the cushion next to him. Lilly moves to sit beside him. She slips off her flats and tucks her feet under her, sitting to the side, facing Gabe. He rests a hand on her bare knee, drawing circles with his thumb. Lilly continues reading, trying to ignore his large hand on her skin. When it moves up, caressing the hem of her skirt, she stops reading.

"Pay attention." She demands.

"I am." He responds.

She reads one more page, and he slides his hand under her skirt. Her hand flies to his, squeezing. "Stop." Her tone is serious, and her grip is threatening. His grip tightens, and he presses his fingers into her skin, causing her pain. "Ow, Gabe! Stop!"

"I'm just trying to make the most of this arrangement." He responds, moving his hand to the book and setting it on the coffee table.

"Hey! I was reading that!" She raises her voice.

"Lilly..." He pauses, thinking of how he wants to say what's on his mind.

"Tell me about the books you read for fun. The ones where the main character gets f****d like a good girl." Gabe's tone deepens, and Lilly feels a flutter in her stomach.

"Ya know, I need to get home. We can pick this up again tomorrow. My dad's gonna start worrying, and I don't want that. I'll get my things together. Can you take me home?" When she stands, he looks down from her face to her thigh. The skirt is higher when she's standing, so he sees the hand-shaped bruise forming.

Lilly follows his gaze. "s**t! Gabe, you don't know what kind of problem you just caused! It's okay, I'll wrap this around my waist and turn it to cover the bruise. Just don't touch me like that unless I lose my damn mind and ask you to." Lilly frantically wraps the purple jacket from her bag around her waist and positions it over the bruise.

Gabe gets ready to go and opens the door for her after disarming the security system. Once they're in the car, he arms it again, peeling out of the driveway with a squeal. Lilly fidgets with the jacket, cursing to herself. "Lilly." He waits for her to look at him.

"Text my number so I know yours. I need to talk to you about tutoring." She texts him and then guides him to her house.

She lives in one of the crappier parts of town, in an old two-bedroom house with not a lot of outside appeal. She starts to walk towards the house when he rolls down the passenger window and hollers her name.

"Lilly, see you tomorrow." He smirks at her.

Lilly fakes a smile, barely covering the worry on her face. She tugs the jacket down again before turning back towards her house.

Gabe rolls up the window and watches her walk inside. He wants to take her back to his house so she doesn't have to go inside and face her dad. He knows about her dad's drug problem because the dealers who work for him sell to her dad. He drives away after she walks through the door, a gut-wrenching feeling gnawing at him.

When he gets home, his brother is waiting for him on the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table. "She's filled out nicely. So much sexier than she used to be. All the curves in all the right places." Mikey smirks to himself, holding his hands up like he's holding a woman's chest.

"Don't f*****g touch her," Gabe says through gritted teeth.

"I've already had my fill." Mikey gets up from the couch in a nonchalant manner.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gabe steps toward the couch, his brother standing up and grinning at him.

"She tried to tell you years ago. She gave me head when we were younger. That's all a little piggy is good for." Mikey glances down at Gabe's hands, watching them clench into fists.

"You made her do it; she wouldn't have done it on her own." He protests.

"You're right. She did it to save you. Too bad, you decided to join the business on your own, thinking you were protecting her." Mikey sidesteps and waltzes up the stairs to his room, pleased with himself.