Page 74 of Seeds of Malice

He orders, "Open the glove box."

I reach for it and unlatch the lock. The only thing in it is a white box with a fancy pink bow around it. My butterflies increase, and I glance at Dax.

He chuckles. "Well, open it."

"It's for me?"

"Of course it's for you. You're my little sexy slut. Who else would it be for?"

Cindy.

What am I thinking?

I pull the box out.

He leans close to my head. "Open it up, you naughty whore."

More excitement fills me. The only gift I've ever gotten from a boy was chocolate on Valentine's Day. I glance at the box, but there's no way chocolates are inside. I confess, "It's so fancy and pretty, I feel bad opening it."

He groans. "Ivy, more pretty boxes will come when you're with me. Now, open it up."

I gingerly pull the bow and open the lid. A pair of Gucci sunglasses are nestled inside. I pull them out and gape at them.

"Do you like them?" he asks.

"Dax, they're beautiful." But I feel guilty. I know what these glasses cost. I've seen them in magazines, and there's no way I could ever afford anything so nice.

"Try them on," he orders.

I eagerly put them on my face, and he flips down the visor with the mirror.

I glance at myself.

He whistles. "You're stylin'."

"This is too much, Dax."

He groans. "Ivy, don't be like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a poor girl who can't accept a gift."

My gut once again dives. I stay quiet, not sure how to respond to that.

"Hey, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" he questions.

I stutter, "Wh-what do you mean?"

"Because you're taking a lot of things I say very seriously. I thought we were going to be carefree and fun. Your dad's gone, and we finally get to be together."

"Yes," I agree.

"Then why are you so uptight today, baby girl?"

"Am I?"

He nods. "Yeah. Stop taking everything so seriously."

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