Seth
This was stupid.
Claire was going to laugh her arse off. Laugh at me. Not that I could blame her. It was completely ridiculous.
I was sitting in her driveway, staring up at the house already running five minutes late, but I couldn’t go up there like this. I needed to think of another option. This was dumb. I don’t know why I even thought for a second this was a good idea.
A knock on the window startled me. Winding down the window, I came face to face with Claire’s overly protective and slightly scary brother.
“You gonna grow a pair and come upstairs?”
“I was just…just…” I couldn’t even come up with a bullshit excuse, let alone a good one.
“Hiding in your car?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, come on then. She’s waiting inside.”
I climbed out of the car and followed Isaac up the stairs. At the front door, he turned and stopped me. “Look, Seth, you seem like a good guy, and I know Claire really likes you, but she’s had a rough couple of weeks. Be nice to her.”
“Yeah. Wanna share with me what the story is?”
“It’s Claire’s story to tell you when she’s ready. Just try not to push.”
“Message heard loud and clear,” I confirmed.
Isaac studied me for a minute before he opened the door and invited me in. “Claire! Seth’s here!” Isaac called out.
“Okay. Be out in a minute,” came her reply, floating through the house.
“So, where you guys heading tonight?” Warner asked as he sauntered into the room. Guy definitely had swagger.
“Ummm…” The last thing I wanted to do was tell them what I’d been thinking before I realised how stupid I sounded.
Claire appeared, saving me from having to answer. She looked happier, lighter than last time I’d seen her. Her long blonde hair was curled on the ends and danced around the top of her boobs that were propped up and peeking out the top of her pink dress.
“Hey, Seth! You ready to go?” Claire smiled up at me, and suddenly all my worries vanished.
“Yep. Let’s do it!”
Grabbing her purse off the counter, Claire stepped in beside me, tangled her fingers with mine and started to lead me out the door. Behind me, I heard coughing and turned back to find Warner and Isaac eyeballing me with their arms folded across their chests. I think they were trying to look menacing, but the truth was they just looked constipated.
“Problem?” I challenged.
“Remember what I told you,” Isaac warned before turning and walking away leaving me there with Warner.
“Warner, go away,” Claire shooed him and pulled me down the stairs.
Satisfied with the annoyed look on Warner’s face, I pushed their threats away and focused on keeping that smile on Claire’s face.
She waited until we were in the car before she spun in her seat and faced me, “So, now that those two butt heads are out of earshot, are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?”
“Nope.”
“Are you at least going to tell me how long you plan on keeping me?”
“Did big brother give you a curfew?”
