Page 103 of Implode

“What if I—”

“Psst!” Penny hisses, causing me to look over Claire’s shoulder to glare at her.

“What?” I mouth.

“Show’s over. Move it along or get another room,” she teases. “Before Mom notices and starts to plan another—”

I give Penny a look and then pull Claire out of her seat, ushering her back up to the main floor. Penny is right behind us and looking for drama, probably to fill the void left from being at the therapy facility. Staying here with Mom and Dad has to get boring after a while. So, I cut her some slack and don’t make a big deal out of it.

When we get into the living room, everyone is saying their goodbyes and giving Angie hugs and Graham some slaps on the back. Mom and Dad escort the guests outside to their vehicles, and when Claire starts to leave as well, I pull her to me and give her a questioning look.

“I just need to grab my bag.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“It doesn’t feel right to stay,” she says sadly. “Plus, aren’t Graham and Angie going to need to sleep apart before the wedding?”

“They already are in separate rooms,” I point out with a grin. I’m sure my brother is doing none of the separate rooms shit and sneaking into Angie’s room as soon as the house quiets, but who am I to judge? I would be doing the same damn thing.

Claire puts her hands on her hips and narrows her eyes up at me. “You don’t honestly believe that, do you?”

I shrug. “Not any of my business. Want to watch one of those sappy movies that I described earlier?”

“A Christmas movie? Now?”

“Maybe one where someone always ends up with a rare disease toward the middle and we wait until the end to see if they die?”

“That sounds like a horrible idea,” she giggles. “I want comedy.” Then reality hits and she frowns. “I really should go.”

“You really should stay.”

“But what would your parents think?”

I shrug nonchalantly. “Probably that I’m making the single best decision of my life.”

“You cannot possibly know that.”

I glance at my watch. “It’s late. You are staying.”

“You are bossy.”

“Just bask in the freedom of not having to make a decision. It’s been decided.”

“Fine.”

27

CLAIRE

I should have found a ride back to my one-room box, because lying on Nic’s bed while he fumbles with the TV, wearing only low-hanging sweatpants and a fitted T-shirt, is not my idea of relaxing.

I feel the complete opposite of relaxed. I am wound tight like a coil, ready to come undone at the first sight of his exposed skin. That is what Nic does to me, and while I used to think he knew his effect on me, now I am not quite sure he knows the extent to which I find him attractive. Otherwise, he would probably use it against me any chance he got—or just become a nudist.

“I thought you were an expert in electronics and all,” I tease, making him turn back to me with a sexy grin.

“Perhaps you are making me nervous.”

“Me?” I ask innocently. “You’re the one walking around wearing lingerie.”

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