Page 46 of Spring Fling
“It’s fine. Just thinking about some things.”
I caught the smile that Chase threw my way in the rearview mirror.
“I’m sure he’ll stay asleep if you want me to take you somewhere else instead,” Chase whispered, a playful smirk spreading across his face.
I chuckled at the suggestion and sank further into my seat. “I appreciate it, but I think it’s best if I go home tonight.”
Chase nodded and kept driving while my head swirled with so many thoughts. There I was, nineteen years old, and still being treated like a damn kid a lot of the time. I was far from it. The last several weeks, hell, the last month or so, I’d been more of anadult than I’d ever been. I’d taken my first vacation alone, lost my virginity, was still doing great in school, and somehow maintaining a secret relationship.
Was that bad?
Maybe it made me irresponsible. Because who hid things like relationships?
Brandon and Andrew had. Even if they’d done a really shitty job at it. Everyone saw what was going on between them from a mile away.
When the car pulled up outside my parents’ house, I climbed out and watched as it drove away. Something funny lodged in my chest because literally everyone, except Joe and me, had gone home with someone tonight. I wanted that. I wanted it so fucking bad. To not crawl into bed alone at night and to feel someone wrapped around me. I’d been spoiled so much lately, but the nights when Joe and I were forced to be apart? Those nights were hell.
Okay, so maybe that was a little more than liking him a lot.
Chapter 30
Joe
McKenzie colored at the kitchen table as I poured a cup of coffee.
“What do you have there, bug?”
Her little curly pigtails bobbed as she looked up at me and grinned. “Mommy gave me a Bluey coloring book. It’s my favorite. You should watch it with me sometime, Uncle Joe.”
I wasn’t big on watching kids’ shows, but some of the stuff my niece watched wasn’t so bad. Part of that was thanks to my sister. Teresa didn’t care much for brainless television and made it a point to only allow her daughter to watch things she could learn something from.
“Sure, McBug. I think I can swing that sometime soon.”
It was amazing how easy it was to please her. She went right back to her coloring, humming a song to herself while I took my coffee into the living room. Teresa had already left for work, and I’d need to help get McKenzie to the bus stop in a little while. It was a fair tradeoff to stay with them. Especially if I technically wasn’t working.
At eight-thirty, I grabbed my jacket and called for McKenzie. She came running into the living room and grabbed her backpack and jacket before racing out the front door. Ever since she’d started first grade, she’d been a little more independent.
“Don’t walk too close, Uncle Joe.” Like she was some sort of teenager who was too cool to be seen with her favorite person. Because that’s who I was. It made me feel amazing just how much that little girl worshiped me, even if I didn’t do anything to deserve it.
A crowd of parents stood at the bus stop, waiting. McKenzie ran to her friends, who were also standing there. One thing was for sure, the girl was never shy. The group of girls talked and giggled while I stood to the side, and another mother came over and talked to me.
“So you’ve been coming out here for a while now.”
How did you gently turn somebody down when they were clearly trying to flirt? I’d seen this woman out here numerous times and she flirted with several dads who used to come out here with their kids. Now those dads no longer came, and I assumed she had something to do with it.
I chuckled, my feet shuffling awkwardly on the sidewalk as I watched the kids run around each other. “Yeah, I help my sister with my niece.”
The woman’s eyebrows rose. “So you’re not spoken for?”
The smile stretched my face, because I didn’t have to lie to her about that. “I didn’t say that. Just said that McBug isn’t mine. I’m very happily in a relationship, thank you.”
The woman looked around for a moment. “Well? Where is she?”
I rolled my eyes and laughed again because that was such a typical response. “He. He’s not here right now because he’s taking classes at the U-Dub.”
Her smile fell a little, but even telling her I was seeing a man didn’t deter her. In the past, I might have entertained this lady. Pre-Aiden Joesph was all about the crazy and wild hookups. This woman screamed ‘a good time,’ but even thinking about entertaining the thought felt like it was cheating on Aiden. He was too special and important. I’d worked hard to earn his respect and keep it.
“Well...”
