Page 10 of Such a Sweet Girl

The frog blinked its beady eyes.

‘I don’t think you’d like the tarts, otherwise I’d share. I promise.’

Sighing, I lay back on the jetty, draping my arms over my eyes while the cool water lapped gently at my shins.

My mind wandered back to Alexander, replaying our brief interaction. The tingles I’d felt at the briefest touch. The way his voice had been firm yet commanding.

I’d all but lost my marbles for a man I shouldn’t desire.

SIX

ALEXANDER

Adistinct hum followed Nick and I down the aisle, the refrigerators protesting their job with as much disdain at the man price checking the frozen goods.

Brakewright’s was the only supermarket in the town that neighbours the lake complex, and boy, did they take advantage of it. Prices gouged high enough to make even a conman wince.

Nick threw packs of popsicles into the cart, paying little regard to the food beneath. I restrained myself from neatening them.

‘So, are things serious with Francesca?’ The need to define their relationship had been itching at me since the moment I dragged myself out of bed.

‘Nah.’ Nick shrugged and piled frozen pizzas on top of the popsicles. ‘She’s a bit demanding for me.’

Wiping his own ass seemed too demanding for Nick.

‘Why lead her on?’

‘She’s just a bit of skirt, Dad. Are you telling me you’ve never just taken advantage of an easy lay?’

The urge to slap him upside the head hit me. ‘No, I can’t say I have.’

‘It’s not like we’re going to see each other after the summer, I’m going travelling, anyway.’

‘What about your studies? How’s college going?’

‘Dropped out. I want to travel.’

Anger bubbled up in my chest, halting my steps as my fingers whitened around the cart handles.

‘You what?’

‘I left. I don’t need to go to college. I have the college fund to cover my expenses, and when I get home, I’m going to make my own video games. Become the next GTA.’

‘With what investment? What knowledge? You couldn’t code a simple switch. Why not switch courses instead?’ The years I’d spent saving up to send him to college with no debt wavered in front of me. The sacrifices I’d made. He hadn’t even called me about it.

Another bag of frozen treats careened into the cart, Nick clearly unbothered by his admission.

‘I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.’

‘You need to get a grip, Nick. At your age?—’

Nick cut me off with a sigh. ‘Yeah. Yeah. You stepped up when you had me and you think I need to do the same. Well, Dad, I’m not the one who knocked some chick up at fifteen. You’re hardly the one to be lecturing on responsibility. Why would I listen to you?’

Sharp knives to my heart.

‘I come here every year to see you. To spend time with you. Yet all you do is play your games. Why are we even bothering with this charade? Do you even want me here?’

Another non-committal shrug.

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