Page 31 of I Don't Need Your Protection
She doesn’t say anything.
“It probably won’t be long,” I continue. “And then you can live your life and flirt with whoever you want without any worries.”
She squints at me. “Are you making fun of me? Maybe Mr. Big Muscles like you flirts with girls left and right, but I’ve never gotten much attention from guys, okay? So excuse me for getting a little excited that a guy might possibly be interested in me.”
“I’ve never flirted with a girl in my life, and as you’ve witnessed today, I didn’t flirt with the girls here. Seems like a waste of time.”
Her jaw nearly drops. “You’ve never flirted with anyone?”
“No, and I don’t plan to.”
She looks like she has many questions, but decides to drop them. “Yet, arguing with me isn’t a waste of your time?”
I bend close to her. “If you wouldn’t be so difficult, I wouldn’t have to argue with you.”
“Right. I’m the difficult one.”
We eye each other for what feels like hours. Then she tears her gaze away and focuses on her homework.
Honestly, I’m a little disappointed. I like our arguing. I like seeing the fire in her eyes. I like how she challenges me.
I think about what she said about flirting. Is it really as big of a deal as she made it seem? She looked like she was having fun when she talked to that guy…Warner.
I have no reason to suspect him, but there’s something about him that I just don’t like.
Chapter Eleven
Addie
A trumpet blasts in my ears the next morning. Oh my gosh, is that my wake-up call again? I mean, yeah I kind of forgot to set my alarm again this morning, but my warden has no right to nearly give me another heart attack.
Groaning, I roll onto my other side and shove my pillow over my ears. “Make it stop!”
“I already let you sleep for five extra minutes,” Caleb says. “It’s time to wake up now.”
I vaguely remember the trumpet going off already this morning, but I thought it was a dream. “Five more minutes.”
“That’s not possible, Addilyn. You need to be in class in less than an hour.”
“More than enough time.”
I hear him step near my bed and can feel him crossing his arms over his chest. “You claim you don’t want me to be yourbabysitter. Perhaps it’d be wise for you to stop acting like a child.”
I roll over and open my eyes. Sure enough, he’s standing there with his arms crossed and his legs spread apart. He looks like a drill sergeant. He’s wearing a sleeveless top and sweatpants. “My parents always had a hard time getting me up in the morning,” I admit. “It’s not because I go to sleep late. I’m just not a morning person.”
He bends close. “Your teachers don’t care if you’re a morning person or not. They expect you to be in class on time, as does your grandfather. No bringing attention to yourself, remember?”
Groaning again, I sit up. I know my hair is a mess and that I don’t look flattering in the morning at all, but that’s the last thing I care about right now. Especially in front of Caleb.
“Addilyn?” he says with a raised brow. “Do I need to drag you out of bed?”
I shoot him an irritated look. “I just got up. I’m groggy. Give me a second, will you?”
He taps his foot on the floor. “I still need to go to my room and change, but I can’t do that until you’re dressed and ready to leave.”
“Why? You’re worried I’ll fall asleep again?”
He inclines his head.
