Hellion, a New Adult Romance Novel(33)
“Wow. She was basing future marriage proposals on after-work sex and no dates?”
“Apparently.” Teagan shrugs again.
“And you believe him?”
She sighs loudly. “I didn’t at first. But then I played back in my head the things Olga said and did and what I know about Rebel, and I decided that if I’m going to distrust anyone in this thing it’s going to be her, not him. He’s done nothing but be good to me from day one, so I have to believe he wouldn’t lie to me.”
“Well … except for stealing your ID at the club that night.”
“He did that to keep me close. He knew I’d come back for it.”
The silly smile on Teagan’s face tells me she considers this romantic somehow. My memory of the event was much more of the annoyed variety, but I keep that comment to myself. I’m not going to be the one to stand in the way of her happiness.
“Okay, fine. So your lovelife is back online. I’m happy for you.”
“Are you really?” She puts her drink on her thigh. “Tell me the truth.”
I scoot back so I can lean on my headboard. “Listen, if I thought he was messing with you and doing bad things, I’d say something. I don’t want you to get hurt, especially with all the other shit you have going on. But every vibe I get from him is good.” I shrug. “I think he really likes you a ton. Shoot, maybe he even loves you.” A spark of jealously flickers in my heart, but I stomp it down in a nanosecond, knowing shit like that has no place in a BFF relationship. “I just want you to be happy, and as long as he’s the guy making that happen, he’s on my good list.”
She nods. “So what’s up with you and Mick?”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling and take a long drink of my soda. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” I burp, and it turns out to be the perfect expression of the whole affair. Blaaaaapity barp! What a mess.
“He gave you a ride home, right?”
“Yes, he did. But only after making me act like a total fool.”
“How’d he do that?” She takes a monster bite of her burrito and bits of refried bean ooze out of the corners of her mouth.
“You have a serious problem, you know that?” I throw a napkin at her.
“Whaaa?” she asks, letting more beans fall.
I have to look away. “Seriously, I’m hung over. You have to stop.”
“Maybe you should skip that empanada if you’re not feeling well,” she says, reaching over.
I slap her hand away. “And maybe you should skip trying to get bitch-slapped into next week. Hands off the empanada, Tea-bag.”
“Stop stalling,” she says, leaning away from me and wiping her mouth. “Tell me about Mick. What did he make you do?”
“Mick is … Mick is …” I sigh. “Mick is too charming for his own good and I cannot deal with his ass right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because. I have to graduate and get a job and a house and adopt Jersey.” I don’t meet her eyes.
Teagan laughs seriously at first and then with a confused tone. “Wait … what?”
My jaw goes off center as I wait for her arguments to come. I’m staring at the ceiling. I don’t want to see her looking at me like I’m crazy.
“Seriously? You want to adopt your own brother? Is that even possible?”
I finally look at her when I realize she’s not mocking me. “Not adopt him, but take him into my custody, yes. That’s my plan.”
“But … that’s your parents’ job.”
“Yeah, while they’re young and able to do it. But soon they won’t be and then it’ll be my job.” A lump develops in my throat as I picture Jersey and me all alone for the rest of our lives. I guess life could be worse, but it sure looks kind of lonely from here. It could be that the taco shrapnel all over my lap isn’t helping. I’ve obviously lost my touch with the taco-inhaling system I developed over about a hundred meal deals.
“But that won’t be for another twenty years.” Teagan’s looking at me like I’m nuts now. And maybe I am, but that’s not going to change anything.
“They shouldn’t be taking care of a kid in their seventies, okay? They got started late as it is. They need to be retired and enjoying grandkids, not chasing after a dumbass who eats chalk as soon as their backs are turned.”
“I thought it was chapstick,” Teagan says.