Page 81 of The Addict

“Well,” Alex sighed. “Let me tell you something.”

I looked up at the calm exterior of Alex’s face and expected the blond to tell a heartbreaking story about his past, about how it was okay that I kissed him because he understood. Perhaps, something like that happened to him in his past too.

Alex narrowed his eyes and stuck a finger dangerously close to my nose. “Next time you want to kiss me, you treat me to dinner first, jerk!”

“WHAT?”

“I said–”

I rose from my spot on the pier, my face reddening. “I heard you! You– You idiot!”

Alex catapulted to his feet, following me as I stamped away in the opposite direction.

“What? I’m not a whore, so I should charge you shouldn’t I? Huh? Do you think I’m a slut, Noah? Hmm?”

“Alex, shut up!”

“You do!”

I stopped in my tracks, unable to hold back my laughter. Just the look on the dobe’s face made me snicker. He was actually offended. Alex grinned as well, rubbing the back of his head.

“Ah, I knew I could make you laugh.”

I gave him a light punch in the arm. “Yeah, shut it.”

Alex’s face got serious. “No, but for real. You owe me a burger or something. Maybe a steak. You can afford it.”

I smiled. “Fine. Deal. But–” I glared at him. “You forget that I ever kissed you.”

“And you never mention that I let you buy my kiss. I’m VERY classy. I mean, if I’m going to be a future politician, I shouldn’t be seen as a prostitute.”

A brief pause.

Then we both busted out in laughter.

Chapter twenty-two

Deja Vu

DELANE

“Hey!”

I jumped when books were slammed down in front of my face. Crap. I had successfully avoided Chelsea for the first half of the day, but now that my lunch break came around, I was caught.

“I have been trying to track you down, for like, two whole days!” She hollered, ripping the chair out from opposite of me and sitting down. “You haven’t even answered my calls! And you’re such a grandma—you’d think you’d answer a phone call.”

“Chelsea,” I sighed, ignoring the irony of her insult. She was the one who couldn’t answer the damn phone when push came to shove. “What do you want?”

She licked her lips and flashed a wicked smile. “Details, bitch.”

I shook my head. “I already told you. It wasn’t what you thought, and it is definitely not worth telling you. Trust me. You’ll grow bored.”

Please, just drop the whole thing. I still don’t want to talk to you about it, anyways.

I resisted the urge to get up and walk away from her. Part of that night still felt like a betrayal of our friendship, and I didn’t know how to express that to her without needing to reveal the entirety of what happened to me.

Chelsea scowled. “Fine. Be that way. I don’t care anymore.” She smirked. “Because I have news to tell you.”