Page 51 of The Chemistry of Us

“Come here,” he ordered, sitting me on his lap once the curtain was closed and no one could see us. We were both facing the camera in front of us.

“You feel good on top of me, Cinderella.”

I smiled. “You have to stop calling me that.”

“You like it.”

My heart sped up.

“I thought you didn’t like taking pictures?” I asked, trying to calm my racing heart.

“I don’t,” he whispered in my ear from behind me. “I’m doing this for you.”

I smiled wide, my stomach fluttering.

We took five pictures in different positions. The first was with us facing the camera. His arms were around my waist, and his face was nuzzled in my neck. I could feel his breath on my skin, igniting tingles to stir down my spine.

The next one, he started tickling me, and both of us laughed like fools as the camera clicked for another photo. The third picture was a funny one, where we were both sticking out our tongues. The fourth photo caught me by surprise as he spun me around so we faced each other.

I gasped when I realized I was straddling his waist, making him grin. Pulling back my hair, he kissed my lips, and the next two images were just of us kissing.

He rasped against my lips, “I’m going to like taking pictures with you.”

Everything was perfect.

He was perfect.

CHAPTER 20

TRU

Now

I couldn’t believeI kissed him to get him to focus. It wasn’t just my job at stake or the money I desperately needed to continue to afford school without my adoptive parents' help, it was the fact that he could fail. And while I hated Vaughan most of the time—I hated his father more. I’d never forget the day I overheard their conversation, and I’d never forget the look on his dad’s face. So empty, so angry, and I knew why.

I never told Vaughan.

Once I made a promise, I kept it, but I always wondered if things would have turned out differently if I’d been more honest about the why behind things. I got it—communication was number one—but what if that communication broke someone? What if it broke multiple someones? Then was it better to shield them from the truth and allow them to believe the lie in order to save them from one more stab to the heart?

I shook my head, physically trying to get my inner thoughts to calm down, and continued my walk back toward the house. I swear on Vaughan's life, if they have another party tonight or if Isee one more pizza box, I was going to commit murder. I was still pissed about the piss!

Weirdly enough, things were silent when I entered the house.

Brady was girlfriendless, which was semi alarming, and he wasn’t taking selfies, which was also troubling.

“Cinderella,” he called from the couch, not looking away from the TV. “Big plans this weekend? More sexy dresses you need to burn so you don’t force Vaughan to end up in prison?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sadly, that was the last one.”

“Thank God.” He made a cross over his chest and leaned back against the couch. “So? Plans?”

“Ah.” I looked down at my cell. She’d called again. Then texted me the time to arrive. Be punctual, she’d said as if I couldn’t tell time.

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “Yeah, well, it’s kind of my birthday tomorrow. My adoptive mom wants me to come to some event with her and catch up.”

Brady frowned and paused the TV. “Wait, it’s your birthday, and you have to go to her event?”

I sighed. “Long story short. I’m a very good trophy child. Bonus points for being short and cute. The donors love it.”

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