Page 44 of Blurry Little Lines
“No, you don’t have kids together. You’re cursed when you don’t have enough love for everyone,” Mallory says, and thankfully it was their turn to order snacks and the conversation was dropped.
Mallory takes my hand as we walk the few blocks home in silence. Half of what she said tonight makes zero sense, and I am still trying to process how to bring it up or if I should even mention anything to Kelsie right now. Mallory stops a block before the hotel and looks up at me.
“Thank you for loving me.” Her smile is wide, and her dimples are prominent like her mother’s.
“You’re not hard to love, Mallory.” I give her hand a slight squeeze and take another step.
“Tell that to the guy whose last name I’m branded with.” That halts me.
“Do you want to talk to someone about what you’re going through?” I’m not sure how to respond.
“I talk to Lauren when I need to. She helps me a lot. Especially a while back when I last saw Benson.” I remember Mallory spending a couple of days locked in her room when her father said his final goodbye. Lauren, who related on a similar level, spent ten minutes in Mallory’s room and changed her complete mood. Whatever Shirley Temple said to Mallory was game-changing for the best.
“I’m glad she is there for you.” My throat tightens. “Nobody is cursed, Mallory. Sometimes people get too caught up in other things and don’t take time to appreciate what they have in front of them.”
“Well…” She raises her eyebrows with a smirk. “I really appreciate you and won’t ever leave you.”
“I’m always here for you, Mal.”
“Promise?” I’m hit with a flashback of being in an elevator. “You’ll always be there for me?”
“Anytime you need me, I’m here for you.”
“Good. Because I might need you to kick Julien’s butt one day.” She looks down the street with lost eyes.
“Why do you hate him so much?”
“I have my secret reasons.” She mentions as we walk into the lobby. “All I can say is that he believes he is better than me and says he is going to go further in life.” They were project partners a few months ago, and it only spewed their hate for each other. Not exactly what the teacher was expecting. “He also went on about how he plans to swim from Alcatraz to shore next year.” Mallory laughs as we step into the elevator. “That boy’s doggy paddle skills at Jason’s birthday party were pathetic. Julien is nothing but shark bait.”
“Maybe he will change schools, or you will have a different teacher next year.” I attempt to lighten the subject.
“His parents are always in Europe.” She pauses, looking me straight in the eye, and places her hand on my arms to make sure I have her full attention. “My biggest wish ofall time, like the number one wish upon a star, is one day he decides to move to Europe.” I’ve never seen her wear a more serious look, and I fight back my smirk. “That way I never ever, ever, have to see him again!” She takes a deep breath to collect herself dramatically.
“And if he stays local?” I ask.
“Oh, he won’t. I am putting the energy into the universe that he will move far away. In the meantime, I will be counting down the days until high school graduation.” She places a hand over her heart as if she’s struck by pain and enters the penthouse. “Hi, Mom, I did good tonight. I need to review my spelling words and get some sleep. Julien has left me mentally drained.” She heads to her room as Kelsie’s lips part, unsure of what to say.
Kelsie looks cozy and cuddly in her sweat suit and messy bun. The urge to pick her up and squeeze her grows as her arms cross, waiting for me to speak. Her dark lashes and full face of makeup give a sultry effect, and I’m torn between wanting to cuddle her or bend her over the couch. Reading the underlying thoughts on my face, a smirk plays on her lips and her thick eyelashes drift down my body. Her tongue brushes her lips before she clears her throat. Knowing damn well the effect she is having on me, her smirk grows tight. As she lifts her arms to fix her bun, a sliver of skin across her stomach peeks through with the rise of her sweatshirt.
“Not happening again, Max,” she taunts with a flirty tone.
“I’ve never cared to repeat women anyway.” I shrug and instantly wish she’d punch me in the mouth. Why did that have to be my quick-witted joke response…What the fuck is wrong with me?
Her lips roll in as her eyes avoid mine. With a slight nod of her head, she disappears down the hall. My fists ache from how hard I’m clenching them as she leaves me feeling like the biggest jackass. It’s clear she has confidence issues with feeling desired. I should know not to toy with her emotions, even if she has with mine. I play around on my guitar in my room and wait for her to say goodnight. She doesn’t, and I don’t blame her.
She accepts my apology in the morning, and I take it we bounced back into being friends.
Chapter 18
Kelsie
Patron swirls in the bottle as I lean over the kitchen island, muddling my thoughts, debating drowning them in liquid sin. Resorting to this every time I’m desperate to clear my mind is irresponsible. But, so was fooling around with my best friend who will never see me as more. Not that I want him to. I imagine after this week, he will be back to his normal ways, and I’ll be a brief thought as the best friend he once got a fix from.
It’s obvious he is already blocking me out of his mind with not even an attempt to challenge my flirting like he had the other night with my tentacle comment. My skin lights up as I remember him holding me against the shower wall, the showerhead beating against my clit, but refusing to let me come until I admitted he was better than the toy.
“I should spank you for even debating about drowning in that.” The bottle slips from my fingers, but my other hand catches it. “Sorry, I thought you heard me approaching.” Max’s voice is soft as he walks to the opposite side of the counter and leans forward on his forearms.
I shake my head. “I was lost in my thoughts.” I keep my eyes glued on the clear liquid bottle I want to escape in. “I wasn’t going to drink any.”