Confused, I look down at myself. I’m in a baby-blue v-neck and a pair of white jean shorts. Hair in a messy bun. Barely-there makeup. It’s not like I’m dressed to impress.
“What?” I frown. “I literally threw this on.”
“You don’t even realize,” he mutters, shaking his head. “You have no idea how beautiful you are.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks.
“And that’s the worst part,” he adds, almost to himself. “You’re just being you. And you’re fucking perfect.”
My mouth pops open, totally unsure how to respond.
“Forget it. Forget I said anything,” Johnny groans. “It’s a me problem, not a you problem. You look gorgeous, honey. Have a great day.”
He presses a quick kiss to the top of my head and strolls out like he didn’t just scramble my brain.
I’m left standing there, mouth still hanging open, practically catching flies.
What the hell just happened?
Also, it hasn’t escaped my notice that he’s taken to calling me a pet name.Honey. I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it.
Thinking about the sudden shift in our dynamic gives me whiplash.
Needing some air with my caffeine, I transfer my coffee to a to-go thermos and grab a donut before heading to the front porch to wait for Axel. I don’t have to wait long.
“Let’s roll,” he says, as he saunters out the door.
He hums. Theentiredrive to school. I give him major side-eye.
No one is this happy in the morning. Especially not after the kind of night we both had.
The moment he parks, I leap from the car. But thanks to his stupidly long legs, he catches up fast and trails me like a human shadow all the way to my locker… whilestillhumming.
“Axel, do me a huge favor and fuck off.”
He barks a laugh, completely unfazed. If anything, my irritation seems to fuel his amusement.
“Why’re you in such a foul mood, Princess?”
“Why’re you being so annoyingly happy?” I counter, arms crossed.
His smile turns positively devious. He leans in close, dropping his voice to a whisper that grazes my ear.
“Maybe it’s because I have a super-hot stepsister who wears tiny black lacy panties to bed.”
My gasp is audible. I smack his arm hard.
“Ouch!”
“You can’t say stuff like that!” I hiss, feeling my face catch fire.
“Why not?”
“Because people will get the wrong idea!”
“Wrong idea about what?” Jessie chimes in, appearing behind us.
I glare at Axel, threatening to dismember him with only my eyes. He grins.
