“I didn’t really answer him.”
“But are you going to do it?”
“I’m thinking about it. It might be better than the paintball field. He invited me out tomorrow night. Apparently they do readings there or something, I don’t know.”
“And are you going there tomorrow night?” he pressed.
“Well, I don’t know yet. I need to think about it.”
Aston pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose and breathed slowly. “I’m going to assume you’re not going to take a random job some stranger offered you, El, because you’re smarter than that.”
I was taken aback by his change of tone. I scowled at him and replied, “I’m a big girl, Aston.”
“You’re eighteen.”
“And you’re nineteen.”
“But I’m smarter.”
My jaw dropped and I immediately scooted away from him. “You’re smarter?”
He winced. “Shit, I swear I didn’t mean it like that –”
“You did mean it like that! Just because you have nice grades and a bigger brain, it doesn’t mean you know everything about everything –”
“All I meant was you’re really young, and maybe naïve to think it’s safe to agree to some guy’s job proposition, or to even go out tomorrow night after everything that’s happened to you already–”
“I’m not listening to this anymore,” I sharply interrupted, crossing my arms and leaning back against the headboard. I stared ahead, fuming. He didn’t respond, and for some reason that ticked me off even more. “You’re being unreasonable. I’m not that gullible, Aston. If it concerns you so much, Cindy can be there with me.”
“Great, two one hundred and twenty pound girls,” he sarcastically retorted. “That changes everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be a dick.”
“You don’t know who this guy is!”
“Yes, I do!”
“So because he’s a doctor that makes him safe?”
“I’ve spoken to him a couple times already.”
“Wow, that sure does change everything! It makes him less of a stranger, right?”
I almost growled. “How am I meant to meet someone if I should steer clear because they’re all strangers? Everyone is a freaking stranger at one point, Aston.”
“I’m just concerned for you. Look what happened to you last night –”
I vehemently cut in. “I will never repeat that behaviour again! It was a huge mistake. I wasn’t myself. I felt so lonely thinking of Dad and how robbed I felt not being able to share another birthday with him. I’ll never do it again. Never.”
He sat up and rested against the headboard beside me. “It’s just…We’ve just fucked twice, El, and you’re going out tomorrow to see some guy. How do you think that makes me feel?”
“Congratulations for making me sound like a slut.”
He let out a frustrated breath. “No, you’re not a slut.”
“You’re the only guy I’ve been with.”
“And I want to be the only guy you’ll ever be with.”
I tensed and looked at him evenly. “You just told me to be happy with or without you. You’re sending mixed signals.”
He sulked for several moments. “Fine,” he eventually gritted out. “You’re right. I’m sending mixed signals, so I’ll stop. You can do what you want. You’re a grown woman now. If you want to meet some doctor tomorrow, be my guest.”
“Maybe I will.”
“Fine.”
He slid off the bed and stood up. Seriously, he was getting off the bed because of this? With a dark expression, I watched him gather his clothes, unable to look away from his naked body flexing naturally as he moved. Why was he so big and sexy? This defied stereotype.
“Why can’t you thin out a bit?” I asked him, annoyed. “Why must you look like that?”
He paused and turned to look at me. “How am I meant to look?”
“You’re meant to be a scrawny nerd with a pedo moustache and coke bottle glasses.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Would it have been easier to see your lover tomorrow if I looked ugly? Oh, wait. You’re already seeing him, so it doesn’t matter either way.”
I rolled my eyes. “Who’s being naïve now?”
“Just stating the facts.”
“Why are you getting dressed?”
“Because I’m going.”
“Shut up, Aston. It’s midnight. You are not going. When would you get back to your place?”
“Three.”
“You’ll fall asleep at the wheel.”