“Can I have that one, Mama?” the kid pleads up at her, and my lip twitches. The little dude is cute as hell, I’ll give him that.
She’s still completely unaware of my presence, and that pisses me off.
Does she not crave my company like I do hers?
“Okay, but only because you’ve been using your voice.” She smiles down at the kid.
Using his fucking voice? Jesus, what the hell has the world come to?
My pop would hit me at the back of the head and tell me to shut the fuck up when I used my voice. This kid gets a… Is that a box of chocolate car parts?
The store guy shifts from side to side. “So, I was thinking…”
Here we fucking go, another bastard itching to have his digits removed.
“Don’t fuckin’ think; it’s gonna’ get you in trouble,” I mumble, and Cass turns to me.
Her face pales, and her mouth falls open before she quickly snaps it shut and pulls her lips into a tight line.
The kid giggles, and the sound has me smirking. “You cussed,” he declares, and I wink down at him. I don’t give the store guy my attention, that lays solely on Cass, and he has the foresight to leave while we remain in a stare-off.
“Are you following me?” she whispers.
“Are you gonna give me my answers?”
“Ugh…I don’t have any, but you seem to have a problem hearing that.”
My fists pump beside me.
“Come on, Noah. We’ve got everything we need.” She takes the kid by his hand and turns toward the checkout.
If she thinks she can get away with speaking to me like that, she can think again.
You can run, Little Demon, but I’ll always fucking chase you.
CASSIDY
Chewing on my nail, I line the items onto the conveyor belt, one by one. Noah is bouncing on the balls of his feet, despite me telling him he needs to eat his dinner before he gets to open the little box containing some chocolate car parts the kids at school have been discussing all week.
“You sure you can afford all that shit?” His gruff voice sends a tremor down my spine, and I slice my gaze up to meet his. My hearts skips a beat and a whoosh of air leaves me when his handsome face stares blankly back at me. Why does my body react to him in such a way? “Don’t you have other things to buy?” My mind races as to what he could mean.
He’s being an ass. I have five items on theconveyor. Bread, sanitary pads, a small block of cheese, milk, and the little chocolate car parts for Noah. It’s hardly a spending spree, but all of them are necessities. Including the chocolate that I promised Noah if he continued going to the therapy classes he doesn’t need and hates going to. I figured I’d appease the teachers and hope they realize their mistake.
“You lost your tongue now, huh? Better make sure I put it to work again later.” His lip twitches when I scowl in his direction. “Thought you might have purchased something more important.” He nods down toward the conveyor, and when realization comes over me, my cheeks redden. Birth control.
Thankfully, I had my period this morning, so I don’t need to worry about that, but still, I can’t allow him to keep having unprotected sex with me despite how good it feels.
His cologne filters through the air, and I sway, captivated by his proximity. Why does he have to be so damn hot? Tall too. He’s like one of those big guys in the movies who looks after their girl, protects her, and don’t even get me started on the thick veins on his tattooed hands. Holy shit, I never realized what a turn-on those could be.
“That’ll be thirty-two dollars and fifty cents.” A voice breaks through the haze, pulling me out of my wanton thoughts.
Oh shit. I’ve gone over.
I rummage through my purse, even though it’s hopeless. I don’t have the fifty cents, let alone the two dollars, I only have thirty.
My cheeks flame. “I’m sorry.” I cast my eyes over the bagged items, knowing my next move is going to devastatemy son. My precious little boy who never asks for a damn thing.
“Can you get a fuckin’ move on. Got somewhere to be,” Killa grunts, and I glare back at him, then lower myself in front of Noah.
