Page 7 of Justus
“Can’tyou just shut up and eat?”
“Absolutely.”He manages about thirty seconds of silence before adding, “We don’t have tosleep together. I can just give you the zombie.”
I’mtotally going to regret asking, but I can’t resist. “What the hell is thezombie?”
“Youjust lie back and get eaten.”
Mymind crafts a picture of his blond head between my legs and I shift in my seat.“You heard the part about there being no sex on this trip, right?”
“Yeah,but that was before you started objectifying me.”
I’mgoing to strangle him. “You’re the one prancing around naked. I know you’re anexhibitionist and all, but you can pack it away for a week. I don’t need to seeit.”
“Fine.”He sits back and takes a drink. “But since I showed you mine, it’s only fairthat…”
“Forgetit,” I laugh, and he smiles at me.
“Justthe boobs?”
“Nope.”
“You’reno fun.”
Afterwe eat, Justus flips through the TV channels until he finds a movie andstretches out on the bed. My eyes grow heavy, so I join him. I do my best toignore him as I snuggle down under the covers, but, damn, the man is a humanfurnace. I can feel his heat from here.
Myphone rings and Mom’s face smiles at me from the screen. Oops, I told her I’dcall when we stopped for the night. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi,sweetheart. Did you make it to the hotel all right?”
“Yeah,just getting ready for bed so we can get an early start tomorrow. How are youfeeling?”
“Excited,”she laughs. It’s good to hear she has some strength in her voice. “I thoughtwe’d hit the spa and go shopping while you’re here.”
Resistingthe urge to groan aloud, I force a smile as if she can see me. “Sounds great,Mom.” Sounds like hell. I’m not the prissy, pampered type, but I don’tcomplain. I’ll do whatever makes her happy at this point.
“Yourboyfriend is with you, isn’t he? What did you say his name was? Mark?” Shit.Yeah, that’s the name I gave her when I didn’t know I’d be bringing a guy forher to meet.
“Uh…yeah,he’s with me, but he goes by Justus.”
“Sendme a picture, no, let me talk to him!”
Herenthusiasm makes me laugh, but I also feel a little guilt slipping in. I’mlying to her, even if it is for a good reason. “You’ll talk to him tomorrow,Mom, we’re—”
Thephone is plucked from my hand, and Justus grins at me as he puts it to his ear.I can only hear his side of the conversation and I’m terrified he’s going tosay something that’ll give away my lies. “Hello, Sadie’s mom, how are you?”
“Yeah,she’s glaring at me, but she’ll get over it.”
“Markis my middle name, but I prefer Justus.”
“Sheis the sweetest thing, isn’t she?” He turns to wink at me while I try to sethim on fire with my eyes.
“I’mlooking forward to meeting you too. Have a good night.”
Hehands the phone back, and Mom gushes, “He sounds lovely!” Not how I’d describehim.
“I’mgoing to get some sleep now, but we should be there before dark tomorrow.”
“Ican’t wait, sweetheart! Good night.”
