Chapter nine
Paxton Ross
Iwantedtokissthe shit out of Cotton Candy. She’d never looked more beautiful with her hair wild and free, her clothes rumpled, and her lips begging me to capture them with mine and dip my tongue into her mouth.
Lana, completely unaware she’d become a cockblock, bounced onto the bed, reaching for my guitar.
“Uh uh,” I said as I grabbed the instrument’s neck and tucked it back into the open case on the floor.
“Will you teach me how to play, Pax?”
After snapping it shut, I leaned it against the wall and sat on the bed.
She climbed into my lap and hugged my waist.
Warmth flooded my chest and I smiled. “It might take a while. Plus, we should probably get you your own guitar, one that’s a bit smaller.”
Her coffee-colored irises seemed to brighten. “Yeah, that sounds—”
“Like something Mom would never allow,” Terri said. “You know she isn’t gonna let either one of us learn music, or anything else she thinks is a waste of time.” Her eyes met mine. “Not thatIthink it’s a waste.”
“So, you’re just going to accept her opinion, huh, and let her win?” I hated how matter-of-factly Terri repeated her mother’s words.
“No,” Lana said, jumping off the bed and propping a fist on her hip, which looked absolutely adorable on her childish frame. “We ain’t. I’m gonna tell her I’m learning how to play the—”
“Lana,” I interrupted. “How about we talk about his later? I’ll read you a bedtime story tomorrow if you let your sister and me talk privately.”
She chewed her bottom lip. “Which story?”
“Peter Pan. Unless you’d rather listen to something else.”
“You have to promise to read for at least an hour. And I’ll know if you skip anything.” Her eyes narrowed on me, like she already suspected me of nefarious paragraph hopping.
I crossed my heart. “You have my word I’ll not skip a single page, okay?”
Terri’s eyebrows lowered as she watched me. I could almost hear the wheels turning in her head.
“Fine. I’m going to tell Moira she doesn’t need to tuck me in tomorrow, then.” She padded to the doorway and laid a hand on the doorknob. “Why can’t you talk to me privately, too?”
“Because…” I widened my eyes at Terri.
She raised an eyebrow and held out a palm, as if to saybe my guest.
Fine. I wasn’t getting any help from her. I think she enjoyed watching me flounder.
“Because we have to talk about High School stuff in our secret High School group.”
Lana frowned, moving her gaze from Terri to me. “Hmph.” Turning to the door, she opened it and left.
Terri giggled. “That was probably the worst lie I’ve ever heard in my life.”
I approached her slowly.
She straightened but didn’t meet my stare.
“CC, I just wanted to give you something.”
“What?” she asked warily, her gaze flickering to mine as her lips parted.
