Page 79 of Trust Me

“Such a good man. I can’t believe how big he is now,” my mother comments, sipping her tea.

“Uh, I guess.” I grab a blueberry scone and shove it in my mouth to avoid smiling. If only she knew how big he really is.

“So tell me, how’s life going? I miss you.” She smiles while reaching out to grip my hand. It warms me, reminding me that even though we don’t always see eye to eye, she’s still my mother, whom I love.

“It’s honestly great. I love this time of year. The crisp air, the color of the leaves changing, comfy sweaters, all the fall foods, and Halloween,” I ramble, feeling myself getting giddy. Even though Halloween is over, I am a fall girl through and through.

“You always loved fall as a kid, too. You’d spend hours outside jumping in piles of leaves, collecting your favorite ones to keep in your room. Then you’d wake up sad when they finally decayed.” Her hazel eyes sparkle, lost in the memory.

“Yeah, I did,” I reminisce along with her, the scene playing out perfectly in my head. My halmeoni would always have a snack waiting for me inside, and the fact makes my chest ache since she’s no longer here.

“Enough about the past. Let’s talk about the future.”

There it is.

“Have you thought about what you want to do? It’s nearly the end of the first semester, and applications are due in January for positions that start grad school.” She claps her hands together in her lap, looking at me expectantly.

I take another bite of my scone, trying to buy myself some more time to think of what to say. “You know how stressful midterms were, and now it’s already finals season soon, so it hasn’t crossed my mind.”

“I know there’s a lot going on, but you can’t let your future slip through your fingers because you’re busy.”

“I know, Mother, I know.” I blow out a breath, doing my best to keep my composure. We can never have a normal conversation, it seems.

“Once that’s in motion, you should let me introduce you to my friend’s son,” she prattles on, telling me all about this man I have zero interest in meeting.

Sometimes I feel like my mother’s personal Sims character, where she dictates and plans my life out for me. I rub my temples, the beginning of a migraine coming on. Thankfully, my mother notices.

“What’s wrong, a headache?” she asks, looking at me with genuine worry.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to go lie down in my room for a bit. Is that okay?”

“Of course, go on up. I’ll be out in the greenhouse if you need me,” she assures me, walking with me to my room, then leaves once she sees that I’m resting on my bed.

Unable to get comfortable considering my outfit, I pull out my e-book app and begin reading where I left off. It was about a twenty-something Margo who has the hots for her dad’s best friend, Ford.

“We can’t do this,” he breathes, backing up for every step I take toward him.

“Can’t do what?” I play coy, running a single finger down his bare chest.

“Margo, you can’t be touching me like that. I’m your dad’s best friend.” He looks anywhere but at me.

“No one can make me come,” I whine, stepping into his space, rubbing my bathing-suit-clad body up against his. He inhales sharply, looking down to see me pressed against him. “I bet you could with all your experience, but maybe I’m wrong.”

He grips my chin forcefully, making my thighs quiver. “Make no mistake, I’d make you come ten times over. But I can’t.”

“Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll leave you alone.”

War rages in his blue eyes. “I can’t do that either,” he whispers, reaching behind my neck to undo the tie of my bikini top, letting it fall, revealing my breasts to him. Before I can even process what he did, his lips are wrapped around a nipple.

I gasp.

“Mmm, so perfect,” he growls, switching to the other breast as he ravages me.

“I need you inside me, Ford,” I pant.

“Such a dirty mouth for such a sweet girl, my sweet girl,” he rasps, kissing his way up my neck while his hands grip my ass. “Tell me you didn’t let that fucker take your virginity?”

“No, I wanted you to have it. Only you.” I jump up and he catches me, my legs wrapping around his waist.

---