Page 72 of No Place Like Home

“Nooooo!” I screeched.

This wassomuch worse. Like, this was the worst possible outcome.

“Dude, why did you stay naked?!” I punched his arm.

When he started to laugh, I was seriously confused, but I couldn’t help observing him.

“I’m just kidding, Jess, but he did seem to know what happened. Or at least have an idea. You wanna tell me why?”

To delay my answer, I took another sip of my cold brew.

“I might have mentioned my water wasn’t working,” I mumbled into the lid.

“Come again?”

“Fine, I freaked out!”

“Are you going to freak out next time?” He cocked his head.

“What?” I stood up, aware that I was now between his body and the desk. Yeah, no, that was something else I did not need.

“You made me tell a lie, and everyone knows I’m not a liar.”

I looked at him so he could elaborate. I wished I hadn’t. I mean, only in this freaking town would everyone know our business.

“I’m pretty sure Em and Freya think we fooled around, but nothing happened, so everyone else should think the same.”

“Dude, the number one rule of having a one-night stand is you don’t talk about it! Ever!”

He grabbed my arm and used it to pull me into his lap.

“We weren’t a one-night stand, Jess.” He sounded offended. “That’s for people you don’t ever want to see again. And I have every intention of still talking to you.”

My heart pounded, and my belly did a funny dip. I made a mental note to go to the doctor. My body kept acting out on me, and I needed to make sure I wasn’t dying.

“Now,” he went on and forced me to look at him. “I’m going to be real with you. You were right. I was a pussy. I let myself throw a tantrum just because life didn’t go my way. I worked my ass off once, and I can do it again. So, I have you to thank for that.”

“You’re welcome.” My soft words were full of emotions.

It took a strong person to pick themselves up and try again. Falling from the top must have been hard, but picking yourself up was something beautiful.

Quincy shook his head and smiled at me. “Modest much?”

“You were being a little bitch.” I agreed with his earlier statement, trying to focus my energy on anything other than the fact that I was on his lap.

His eyes flashed, and I knew I was in trouble. I just didn’t know if this was good or bad.

“You didn’t think I was a little bitch last night.” Quincy pulled me up and then arranged me so I was straddling him. “In fact, you were very vocal about asking for more.”

“Dude!” I hissed. “We’re at aschool—scratch that, an elementary school. I’m sure talking about sex is illegal.”

He laughed some more. Asshole.

“Now, real talk,” he said in a solemn tone. “I wanna work on myself, so that means I don’t need complications, and I trust you, so if you’re down to keep fucking, I’m game.”

Those green eyes bored into me. They weren’t overcome with the need for me at all. This wasn’t a declaration of any sort. Just an itch he needed scratching.

“So romantic,” I whispered, because I wasn’t done processing what he’d said.

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