Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 111038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
“Why not?”
“Because it’s not you. I don’t care about anyone else. What are you doing here? You want me to let those girls go at you? You nuts?”
“No.” I laughed. “And I brought you up because no one could control what you say or do to people. And those people either fight back or they don’t.”
“Babe, I annihilate people. I don’t ever want you to be on the end of that from anyone.”
“Well, while that makes me feel good, you know people are going to be mean. It’s the world out there. And if you think I haven’t had to deal with mean girls, you’ve got your head in the sand.”
“The fuck?” He shot me a look. “Who was mean to you?”
“Girls at Hillcrest. They didn’t like that I started setting the curve in our classes, especially when I wasn’t supposed to be in their grade. Some girls targeted me when Owen didn’t want to date them. He was like you, you know.” My smile turned sly. “Not promising anything and actually sticking to that, even if the girl got mad, thinking she could trick him into dating her. He wasn’t as blunt as you are, but he was honest.” I thought a moment. “I think that’s why I like when you’re blunt.”
“Aspen.” He took my hand and pulled it back to his leg. He entwined our fingers. “I’m never bluntly honest with you.”
My throat tightened at that. “I wish you were, and you were in the beginning.”
He glanced over, slowing for a stoplight. “You want me to be a blunt dick to you?”
“Not a blunt dick, but you can be honest. Bluntly honest. I respect that. You have no idea how many people say nothing through lies and pretty words. I hate that stuff. Loathe it.”
His gaze dipped to my mouth. “Noted. Does that shit turn you on?”
I barked out a laugh, my throat loosening again. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Jesus.” He leaned over. “I think we need to further explore this conversation at my house.”
“Yes, please.” My lips grazed his, and he applied pressure, starting the swirl of goodness and pleasure in me even as he pulled away.
The light turned green, and he eased forward.
We didn’t talk the rest of the drive.
We pulled up at his house after a stop at mine, and his mom’s car was parked outside. She never used the garage. There was another vehicle there, and I had learned over the last two weeks that it was Stephen’s car.
We could hear laughter as we entered.
Blaise reached behind me, shutting the door and locking it.
“Blaise? Honey, is that you?”
“Yeah, Mom,” Blaise called, his hand moving to the small of my back. “Me and Aspen.”
The TV silenced.
A chair squeaked.
She came around the corner a second later, smiling warmly. “Hi, Aspen.” She took in the bag Blaise held for me, her smile slipping a little. “You’re spending the night?”
“Yeah,” Blaise answered.
He wasn’t asking, but neither of us moved, so we were asking, in a way.
Marie blinked a few times. Her voice came out raspy. “Oh yeah. That’s fine.” She cleared whatever emotion was pulling at her face and smiled. “I know you like coffee, but do you enjoy donuts, Aspen? I can run to the store and grab some in the morning.”
I waited, expecting Blaise to answer for me.
He didn’t.
His mom seemed surprised by that too.
I nodded. “Yeah. I’d love that.”
I wasn’t like Blaise. I was kinda in love with his mom. She’d only been kind to me. She also seemed broken in a way—like now, when she was holding her breath, as if preparing for Blaise’s harshness. It didn’t come, and she blinked again.
She nodded, her smile growing wider. “Aces. I’ll do that then.”
Blaise groaned. “Okay, Mom. We’ll be downstairs.”
She held a hand up, waving. “Do you—do you need anything tonight?”
Blaise eased in front of me, herding his mother back and out of the way.
She backtracked.
I followed.
We went through the kitchen, and I looked over. The television was still paused in the other room. Stephen sat on the couch. He lifted his hand in a wave. “Hello, Aspen.”
“Hi.”
He didn’t greet Blaise. Blaise didn’t look over at him.
“Mom, I’ll handle it. I’ll come up if we need anything.”
“Okay, but it’s not too late. I can order pizza. Maybe I’ll do that? I’ll do that. Just in case.” She reached for her phone.
Blaise took the phone out of her hands, but he did it gently. “For real, Mom. Don’t order food for us. If I get hungry or Aspen wants something, I’ll make something here. You don’t need to order anything.”
“Are you sure?” She looked around him to me. “Aspen, what’s your favorite food? I feel like I should know this by now.”
I opened my mouth.
Blaise shot me a look, but it was tempered by a slight, crooked grin. “Don’t tell her. She’ll order it tonight no matter what I say.”