Page 49 of Inflame Me
“This is Cooper. Mine and Cruz’s little guy.” Princess’s face lights up like a football stadium when talking about the little boy. He’s unbelievably cute and definitely resembles Cruz.
“Hi, there,” I say, standing from the bed.
“Hi. I Cooper,” he says, wiggling down from his mother.
“I’m Tanner, and this is my mom, Mearna,” I tell him, and my mom smiles.
“Mearna …” He puts his finger on his chin like he’s pondering something. “LikeBrave!” he yells and looks at Princess.
“Merida isBrave, but close.” I have absolutely no idea what in the world they are talking about. As Princess looks up at me, she smiles. “It’s a Disney movie. He’s watched it about a million times.”
“Okay.” I haven’t seen one of those since I was kid. I couldn’t even tell you the last one.
“I go pay?” Cooper says, looking up at his mom.
“Yep. Daddy’s in church. Stay away from the doors,” she orders. Cooper doesn’t waste another second, darting off down the hallway. “He’s a handful, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Cute kid.”
She enters the room and comes to the bed. “So, how are ya feeling?” she asks my mother.
“Pretty good. As long as I don’t move certain ways, I’m good.”
“So, pretty much when you’re still?” Princess chuckles.
“Not exactly, but something like that.”
“It’ll take a while to heal.” Princess looks at me. “And you?”
“I’m good.” I want to talk to her, but I really don’t want to do it with my mother sitting right here.
“I have something that I want you to see. Will you come with me?” Princess asks, and elation fills me. Is she a mind reader or something?
“Yep, I’ll be right back, Mom.” I kiss my mother’s cheek then follow Princess out of the room and down the hall. She opens a door, and we step inside.
“This is mine and Cruz’s.”
I nod as she shuts the door. The bed is perfectly made, something that doesn’t happen in Dagger’s room unless I do it, but my mother is usually lying on it. I can’t complain. At least all the sheets and blankets are clean.
“Have a seat.”
I take a seat on the bed, one leg bent at the knee and the other leg hanging off the bed.
Princess seems so happy in her own skin. She just exudes confidence, and I admire that.
“What’s on your mind? And don’t tell me nothing, because I know something’s there.” She sits, a mirror image to me with her hands on her legs, looking at me expectantly.
“Rhys scares me.”
She laughs, full-out, no-holds-barred laughs. “Girl, he scares everyone.”
“No, I know like that, but he scares me.” I suck in a breath. “Having sex with him is like no other. He does things to me that I’ve never experienced.”
“So he fucks you right. Good for him. What’s the problem?”
I sigh. “The problem is I can’t distinguish between my heart and just sex. I’m not the type of girl who does that. And then …” I trail off.
“Then what?” she presses.
