In some way, now I understand that keeping your life a secret from the media is not a bad thing. The world out therecould be cruel and take advantage of people like us who build their lives around an important value. Family.
We are one big family here and we will stand and protect everyone who enters this place and dismiss those who are not welcome.
“Mine too,” he comments.
His piercings glint and add a level of roughness to his already rough appearance and he taunts me every chance he gets when he licks his lips or bites them.
The top section of his dark hair is tied to the back of his head, making me want to run my fingers through the strands reaching his neck.
“Your eyes are doing that thing,” he smirks, fixing his nose piercing.
I question, “What thing?”
“Undressing me.”
My mouth curves into a smile. “The only thing I’m undressing is the bottle of whiskey behind you, champ.” I mouth the last word.
“Do you always have to say the last word?”
“Do you?” I wiggle my eyebrows once and run my hungry eyes all over his delicious physique. “I kind of had it under control back there.”
“You don’t have to be right all the time.”
“You don’t have to stick your nose into my business all the time.”
“But it’s so much fun with me in it.” His elated tone tickles my ears.
“Ugh, getover yourself,” I say in amusement.
“With you on top,” he whispers so only I can hear, extending his hand across the bar and curling a finger beneath my chin, nudging it upwards until our eyes meet.
I nibble on my bottom lip and so does he.
His cute dimples pop as he smiles, and I prod my index fingers into them right as Chemical by Post Malone starts playing—everywhere we go that song finds us.
“I just called you my girlfriend.” He says as an afterthought in a low voice as if he reconsiders his choice of words.
“But you didn’t mean it, you said it so he wouldn’t dare to hit on me again.” I put it to rest. We don’t need to define ourselves right now.
“True...”
“Get back to work, love birds.” Russ punctures the momentary bubble that sucked us in.
“We’re not—”
“Yeah yeah, I’ve heard that before,” Russ cuts us off.
Slowly pulling away, “I’ll see you later,” I say to Meadow before I head toward the door.
Chaos and Arrow run toward me when I reach the convenience store, jumping on me in excitement. “Girls, I missed you too, I’ll take you to sleep soon.” I glance at the darkening skies.
“What brings you here for the hundredth time?” Milo jokes as I enter. “Let me guess… Pepsi.”
“You got me,” I mirror him, snapping my finger in his direction.
Grabbing one from the cooler, I place it on the counter and exhale a huge sigh, surprising myself at my sudden mood shift. My chest aches and feels heavy. Sadness takes over and my eyes glisten as tears are about to barge. I clear my voice silently, trying to shake it off but one look at Milo and it’s like I can see Dad, and the tears finally flow down my cheeks.
“Hey,” he quickly rounds the counter and embraces me in a big bear hug—the same one my dad always rewards me with. “Shh, it’s okay, I’m right here.”
