Page 42 of You've Got Male

Dexter’s brows caved in with confusion. “Who?”

“Never mind. This”—she waved between the two mismatched teens—“isn’t happening.”

“Oh, it’s happening,” Camila challenged. “You said I needed an adult to go to the wedding. Here’s my adult.” Camila went up on her toes and kissed the guy. Dexter seemed surprised but not disappointed as if that was a green light for other things.

“Exactly, he’s an adult. You’re a minor, and in the state of Colorado, I am in charge of you until you’re eighteen.”

“My body, my choice.”

Evie opened her mouth but nothing came out. What could one say to that? Plus, she was so shook by Camila’s comments and blatant disrespect that she didn’t know how to proceed. Wasn’t she just happy and sunshine-y three hours ago? There was no way Evie was that moody at her age…right?

Moira’s hand rested on Evie’s shoulder. “Why don’t you let her go?”

“Because he has to be pushing twenty-five.”

Lenard looked him up and down. “I put him at twenty.”

“He said he’s nineteen,” Camila said. “And we can hear you.”

“Nineteen is too old,” Evie said.

“Ryan is almost nineteen and you don’t freak out when I’m with him,” Camila said.

“Because he’s our friend.”

“Well, Dexter is Ryan’s friend. So one degree of separation.”

“And one degree from getting his ass kicked if he even decides to take things past hand-holding.” The serious-as-shit voice came from the shadow behind the porch.

Then Jonah appeared, holding a grocery bag, and his gaze was dialed to locked and loaded.

“Hey, Mr. Stark,” Dexter said with a large gulp. “What are you doing here?”

“I should ask you the same. Does Ryan know you’re taking out Camila?”

“Uh, yes sir. He was there when Camila asked me out.”

All five sets of eyes flew to Camila, who was toeing the porch plank with a pair of thigh-high boots that looked suspiciously like Moira’s.

Evie was about to send Camila to her room like she was six and throwing a tantrum when Moira said, “Milo, how about we make this a double date?”

“Seriously?” Camila blinked as if she’d never imagined that she’d get a yes out of this situation. Meaning, she was purposefully setting Evie up to be the bad guy.

“As long as your mom’s okay with it,” Moira said and Evie felt torn. She didn’t want to reward this behavior, but if Camila was going to go on a date with a guy who was a little too old, what was safer than with Ryan’s friend—who was clearly already scared shitless of Jonah—and a sixty-five-year-old chaperone?

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but be home by ten.”

Camila jumped into Evie’s arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks Mom. We’ll be home by eleven.”

“Ten or no deal.”

Camila rolled her eyes, but she was grinning from ear to ear.“Fine. Ten.”

“That gives us four hours to paint the town red,” Moira said, and Evie wondered just what she’d agreed to.

Chapter Sixteen

Evie