Page 92 of A Little Jaded
“Don’t you dare tickle me,” she warns.
“Then don’t you dare lie to me,” I volley back.
“Okay, okay.” She grabs my fingers, trying to pry me off her. “I can take or leave sausage.”
“Not what you said last night,” I quip.
Her eyes widen, and she shoves at my shoulder. “Everett!”
“I’m kidding…kind of.” With a smirk, I let her go, then turn back to the fridge, searching for anything else I might need. There’s a carton of mushrooms on the lower shelf, and I reach for it, set it on the counter next to the other vegetables, and close the fridge door before opening one of the cabinets behind her head.
As she stares at the mushrooms like they’re a nuclear bomb, I bite back my grin. Does she really think I don’t remember?
“Don’t worry, Stormie. I know?—”
“It’s no big?—”
“No mushrooms,” I push, giving her my full attention.
“No mushrooms,” she confirms.
“But you like the taste.” My gaze narrows as I cage her in on the counter. “Unless you were lying.”
“I wasn’t lying, I swear.”
“Then I won’t cut the mushrooms and will put them on top so I can pick them off and put them on my plate.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“Let me take care of you, yeah?”
She bites her bottom lip but gives me a small nod, making me feel like a fucking king.
“That’s my girl.” I give her a quick kiss on the forehead, then grab a pan and set it on the stove.
My girl.
Fuck, it sounds good.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
EVERETT
Icalled before swinging by Eternal. Lucian seems like a nice guy. After a quick conversation, he promised to have the receptionist put Raine’s things in a box by the front. Sure enough, it’s sitting right next to the same blonde from the first time I stopped by. Fuck, it feels like a lifetime ago. When obligation was the only thing spurring me on instead of the Raine I’ve gotten to know over the past few weeks.
I introduce myself to the receptionist, explaining the situation. She tells me her name and offers me the box. Tucking it under my arm, I place it inside my car, jump in the driver’s seat, and pull away from the curb. My headlights cut through the dark streets while the gas light on my dashboard taunts me, so I pull into the closest gas station a couple blocks down the road.
Turning the ignition off, I climb out of the car, swipe my credit card, and place the pump in my tank. I lean against the passenger door while it fills. A black truck appears at the pump behind me, and a cherry-red Jeep parks up front, blocking me in.
What the hell?
My hair prickles along the back of my neck, but I don’t move, keeping both vehicles in my periphery as I unlock my phone and drop a pin of my location to Griffin along with a quick text.
Me
About to get my ass kicked and need you to pick me up. Bring Reeves. Thx.
After hitting send, I slide my phone back into my pocket when a familiar face climbs out of the truck’s driver’s side. His name is Johnny, and he’s Drake’s friend.