Page 44 of Sweetest Hate

Me:So you stole my number.

The reply was immediate.

Arsen:Why are you avoiding me?

Me:I'm not.

Lie. And we both knew it.

Arsen:No? So you're backing out of our deal?

My brow furrowed as I read the message.

Me:What deal?

My phone rang, and Arsen's name flashed on the screen.Shit. I glanced again toward my parents, who had moved on to vines of tomatoes. My mother now held the basket so she could police whatever my dad tried to add to the haul just to ruffle her feathers.

"Mom." I waited until she glanced at me, a ready smile on her pink-painted lips. I waved the phone. "I'll be right back."

"Sure thing, hon." She waved me away and turned back toward the rows of freshly picked goods.

Hitting answer, I brought the phone to my ear as I walked around the vendors until I reached a quiet space with some privacy. "What deal?" I repeated and was met with a raspy chuckle.

"Hello to you too, little mouse."

"Kellan, damn it," I hissed. "My name is Kellan. And what deal are you talking about?" I wasn't about to admit that his annoying nickname was growing on me and the rasp of his voice made my body react in a way I hadn't given my permission.

"The deal,Kellan, where I stay buried inside you while I'm here."

"That was only for the cabin, and I don't remember agreeing to that anyway."

"The minute you climbed into my bed after I took your ass, you agreed to it. Are you backing out?" he asked, but it sounded like a dare. One I was tempted to accept because Arsen in bed was a rapidly growing addiction.

I gnawed on my lip. It was on the tip of my tongue to remind him if we did this, it wouldn't mean anything, but the truth was after the night he'd watched me paint, it might. What was I supposed to do with that realization?

"I didn't think… You didn't say anything about when we got back," I pointed out.

Arsen paused. "I want you. You want me. I don't know about you, but I did okay with math in school... Besides, I have something for you."

My gaze darted to a couple who had wandered close to where I stood and I lowered my voice. "You got me something?"

"I did, but you have to come over to find out what it is."

Curiosity burned in the corner of my mind as I wondered what Arsen could have possibly gotten me that he thought I'd want. "Maybe I don't want anything."

Suddenly my parents were standing in front of me. "All done. Are you ready to go?" Mom asked as she slid on her sunglasses while Dad stood beside her, dutifully holding paper sacks filled to the brim. If I knew him, he'd somehow snuck some dried deer jerky in the mix as well.

"Tell them yes," Arsen said, overhearing my mother. "Come home and meet me at the back door of Ivy's. I'll be waiting." The line went dead, and I ground my molars at his bossy attitude.

"Are you ready?" Mom repeated, and I forced a smile.

"Whenever you are."

She tutted. "I'm telling you, George. It's a girl. It's always over a girl."

My dad scoffed. "I never walked around all mopey and confused lookin'."

"Ah-ha!" She pointed at both of us. "See? I told you. Now, what did this girl do?"

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