Page 81 of Just My Type of wrong guy

Ah, teenage love.

I discard myDoveand the travel towel I brought and grab the bath kit and the oversized towel from the sink. I’m exhausted, dead tired, but nothing would make me skip a shower after crossing the country.

Especially a premium shower with exfoliant and post-bath oil.

Clean and fresh, I slip into my pajama and step out of the bathroom, ready to sleep for the next eight hours.

“Wow, Dani, I love your bathroom,” I comment as I see the light on again.

“Isn’t your bathroom good?” A.J.’s voice makes me jump. “We can change whatever you want,” he assures me, lying on the bed in the corner.

“My bathroom is perfect, and I’m going to sleep in there,” I say, waiting for him to make some silly remark like, “If you want to sleep with me, just ask.”

But A.J. doesn’t. He just moves to the other bed.

“Is it okay for me to stay here, by the way?” he asks awkwardly, sliding under the covers. “I can go to the living room if you prefer.”

“A.J., we’ve already slept on our couch several times, relax.”

I put my dirty clothes in a bag and stuff it into my suitcase, then turn off the light and turn on the flashlight to guide me to the bed.

“You survived, huh?” A.J. whispers, turning his back to me.

“I missed them,” I confess with a little chuckle as I lie down.

“So, are you feeling calmer about Dani?” he asks, turning around with his phone on, allowing me to see it.

“She’s great. A bit intense, but I liked her.”

“She liked you a lot too.”

“That’s good. I met that girl, she was a brat, now she’s there…” I try to find a way to say she’ssitting all over Richardin English, but it doesn’t exist, so I try something he understands — “banging Richard, it’s absurd.”

His eyes widen, and the grimace seen by the flashlight makes me burst out laughing into my pillow.

“My God,” is all he can say. “Goodnight, Alexandra.” A.J. turns off the flashlight, and I keep laughing into the pillow to avoid waking anyone up.

When I finally stop, I notice his breathing is way too conscious for someone who’s supposed to be asleep.

“What’s up, Golden Boy? You’ve been silent for over three minutes. Traumatized or just thinking?” I ask, turning onto my back.

“Despite you traumatizing me, I was just... grateful. I love being here. I feel part of something...”

“We, starved for parents.” I smile with a tinge of sadness. “At least we still have tomorrow.”

“Yeah, we’re going to enjoy it a lot,” he promises, and we fall into silence.

But he is part of something. Vicious is something. However, after a month without talking to my dad, I understand exactly what A.J. is saying. He feels part of a family.

A family like the one we don’t have anymore.

Chapter Twenty-five - A.J.

If you ever look at me

like I’m more than safe and sweet,

Like I’m someone you could fall for too…

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