I feel the edge of her mouth curve up.“Maybe I have a good tutor.”
Fuck, this girl is addictive.I kiss her again.“Does this mean it’s time for my afternoon snack?”
She giggles against me and raises her hand, cupping my cheek and shifting closer on her chair.My mouth moves over hers as her fingers tickle my jaw.I love it.The gentle exploration.The innocent curiosity.It’s a June-exclusive quirk.One I know I’ll never grow tired of.My hand finds her thigh, and I squeeze.“Yeah.Definitely time for my afternoon?—”
My phone buzzes on the tabletop.
“One second,” I murmur against her lips.Picking up my phone, I find Hawke’s name on the screen.Dammit.Sometimes, I hate how close I am to my brothers.Most families would turn off their cell, making a mental note to call them later.Me?I know I won’t be able to focus on anything else until I’ve spoken to him, thanks to the shit-show that is our business at the moment.Even so, I hesitate, staring at my brother’s name.
“Answer it,” June urges as if she can read my mind.
I give her a scowl, then slide my thumb across the screen.“What?”I groan.
“Dude, what the hell?”
“What?”
“You still haven’t cleaned the hall of mirrors?”
“What?”Hall of Mirrors?What the hell is he—ah, shit.Another groan slips out of me as I piece together what he’s talking about.Slumping back in June’s kitchen chair, I mutter, “Fuck.”
“Gus is pissed.”
Yeah, no shit.He has rules for us using his property, and the most important one is that we leave shit as we got it or better.Considering the paint, feathers, beer bottles and probably condom wrappers I have no doubt are tossed around the hall of mirrors from our last Harden Night on the carnival grounds, Gus has gotta be livid.I shift my phone to my opposite ear.“I’ll take care of it.”
“You already said you’d take care of it.”
“Yeah, but I forgot.”
“Who’s to say you won’t forget again?”Hawke demands.
“Because I won’t, okay?”I snap.I hate that he has every right to be pissed.I dropped the ball.And considering the precariousness of our relationship with Gus at the moment, I didn’t just drop the ball I dropped the ball big-time.Even so, the last thing I need is a lecture.“Come on, man, don’t be a dick.”
“When?”he pushes.“When will you take care of it?”
If I hadn’t already fucked up, I’d bribe a few freshmen to handle it for me, but considering the lack of time and the need to make sure shit gets done right as soon as possible, I run my tongue along my top teeth, considering my options.Trouble is, there aren’t any.Not really.Only one answer will earn my brother’s stamp of approval and stave off a lecture.
“I’ll do it tonight,” I offer.
“When?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes and call him out for being on his man period.I won’t because I was in a good mood before answering his phone call, and if I pick a fight, it’ll only drag this out, but boy, do I want to.He’s in a mood today.Maybe he caught Lexie grinding on some guy’s junk or something.Whatever it is, he needs to calm the hell down.I glance at June and pray for patience.“It’ll be done by nine, all right?”
“AM or PM?”
“PM,” I clarify.Duh.
“That’s four hours away.”
“Would you prefer I said AM and wait ‘til tomorrow?”I toss back at him.
“You’re really gonna get it done before tonight?”
“Jesus, Hawke, I don’t need a babysitter.”
“If you didn’t need a babysitter, you wouldn’t have forgotten.”
“Someone’s pissy this afternoon.Did you forget your Midol?”
