Page 31 of The Neighbor's Son

If the feelings bursting inside of me are a view into a future with Brayden, I don’t want to undo a thing.

In fact, I want to toss gasoline on the small fire.

This thing between us burns hot.

All I want to do is keep stoking the flames.

Brayden

Casey: OMG. Thank you! The fruit is such a hit here at work. You’re such a sweetheart.

Igrin at her text. It’s been a few days since she gave me the blowjob of my lifetime and I can’t stop thinking about her. Every second of every day is Casey. Sexy, sassy, perfect Casey.

And, as much as I wanted to hop into bed with her like we were planning to before getting interrupted by Maggie, I’ve kept my distance.

If I come on too strong, she might think I’m too much.

I wasn’t lying when I told her I wanted to get to know her.

So, I’ve kept my distance, physically, but have started texting with her.Don’t tell Dad I broke into his phone and grabbed her number from him.The break we’ve had has also come out of necessity. She works during the day, and I go to school. The past few nights, though, I’ve been working my ass off with Dad on Gordon’s old unit. He wants to get it ready to rent out as soon as possible. If he knew I’ve been slacking off so I can play grab-ass with my girlfriend, he might get pissed.

Me: It took a long time to cut the cantaloupe into star shapes.

Casey: Wait. You made the fruit bouquet?! I thought it was from that one place that delivers. Your talents never fail to impress me.

That one place that delivers was going to charge over a hundred dollars. I knew I could make the damn thing for less than thirty.

Me: The delivery was tricky, but I got Savvy to run it in for me on our way to school this morning. I was hoping you didn’t notice that.

Casey: I was too busy. Wow. You’re an incredibly thoughtful man.

Me: Can I take you out tonight?

Casey: I was hoping you would. I miss you. Gordon’s place must be almost finished by now.

Me: It’s getting there. I’ll be at your place after work.

Casey: Should I dress practical or sexy?

Me: You’re always sexy no matter what you wear.

Casey: Ugh, my client just walked in. Talk soon.

“Are we interrupting social hour, Mr. Foss?” Coach Long asks, deep voice booming in the quiet classroom. “There’s a detention slot with your name on it after school if you can’t part with your phone for the rest of class.”

I stuff my phone into my pocket, face burning hot with humiliation. A few other students snigger at my expense. Detention for chatting with Casey would be worth it though. But, since I have a date with her later, I can’t jeopardize my time with her by spending it here at school.

Later, at lunch, I plop down next to Savvy who’s already scarfing down her sandwich.

“Did she like the fruit bouquet?” she asks around a mouthful of food.

I give her a sheepish grin. “Yeah, especially when she found out I made it.”

“It was badass,” Savvy agrees after she swallows. “They’re doing a baby shower for Vale at work later this month. Maybe I could get you to make one for that. I could totally pay you.”

I’m not looking to have a side gig making fruit bouquets, but Savvy is my best and only friend at school, so I’d do whatever she asked me to.

“Of course.” I take a bite of my burger, grimacing at the generic taste. Dad makes way better burgers. These are borderline poison. “Can I ask for advice?”

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