I low-key hoped Mr. Barnes took the opportunity to shove Daniel in front of a bus one morning.
Next to him, Mariah bit down on her bottom lip delicately because no doubt she didn’t want to ding her lipstick while still conveying that come-hither energy—but really, all I got from the vibe she was sending was…Get me, hot stuff. I have no boobs, no ass, but hey, anything from a designer hanger looks fucking phenomenal on me because I’m shaped like, well, a wire fucking hanger.
But what really stood out was how… familiar they seemed with one another. Not a sex level—I mean, Daniel would totally fuck her; he’d fuck practically anything that moved, but Mariah? Despite hating everything about her and what she stood for, I had a hard time picturing her going there. Mariah may be calculating and mean to the core, but she wasn’t stupid. She definitely wasn’t desperate.
Not that I was either, but—never mind. He was an error in judgment. One of many in my life.
My mom’s voice cut through my thoughts, the pitch pleasant to most, but shrill to me. “How funny you two arriving at the same time.” She rested a hand on Nick’s forearm and glanced between us. “We have a surprise for—”
Oh God… here it comes.
And with it, my chill fled.
“We came together,” I blurted.
Two perfectly coifed blond hairdos swung in my direction.
No longer snuggled against Nick’s chest, Mrs. McAdams blinked, an expression I didn’t recognize settling into her gaze. “Together?” she asked, peering up at him, dismissing me entirely.
Ouch.
My mom glanced back and forth between us. “You two? But why?”
Nick’s gaze eyes flicked in Mariah and Daniel’s direction, like a signal just between the two of us. A sort of rudimentary fake dating way of communicating or something. A little on-the-job training.
Sink or swim, bitches.
“Because…” Nick let his mom go, took a step back from her and toward me. Why that was so fucking hot, I refused to examine. Reaching for me, he slid his hand into mine—there was that zing again; I needed to Google how to stop that shit stat—and tugged me toward him. He spun me until we both faced our mothers with my back pressed against his chest and his free hand sliding over my stomach possessively. “Charlie’s my girlfriend.”
Smooth fucker.
God, he was warm. And hard. Muscled. Not hard hard. I’m pretty sure he’d consider chopping his own dick off before letting it get hard for me.
And why the hell was he holding me so tight? Like I belonged to him. I mean, I guess I did. Kinda. For fakesies and shit. But really, did he need to hold me that tight? Where my ass nestled right into his—actually, while I’m here… I wiggled, settling against him tighter.
The pads of his fingers dug into my skin. A barely perceptible growl rumbled from his chest against my back.
I tilted my head and smiled up at him, the absolute picture of adoration and love—and innocence.
It would totally be out of character—and let’s face it, impossible—to give up fucking with him, so until we could go back to the way things were, this would have to keep me satisfied.
And him very dissatisfied.
Our mothers’ expressions were worlds apart. My mom was absolutely ecstatic, judging by her huge smile. The smile she always strived to avoid because of lines and shit. Apparently, my managing to snag Nick warranted the risk of adding to the years that threatened to march across her face the minute she gave up chemical peels, exotic skin regimens, and Botox.
Mrs. McAdams on the other hand… Her lips puckered in the slightest hint of disapproval, and she aimed some serious side-eye at my mom.
I guess that told me where I stood.
Daniel and Mariah sidled up, both looking us over. Daniel glowered at Nick’s hand on my stomach. Mariah wore a more feral version of Mrs. McAdams’ expression, also one hundred percent aimed at me.
Nick smiled next to me, his bearded cheek brushing mine, oblivious to the battle lines forming between two best friends.
“This is actually perfect,” my mother gushed. “There was a problem with the rooms. We were going to be one short, but since you two can room together, I can let the desk know we’re all set.”
ChapterFour
Nick
