Page 128 of Ominous: Part 1
I don’t look terrible.
Leftover eyeliner smudged under my eyes, a pinched, tired look on my face, but my hair looks good, at least. It’s wavy from the braids, and the chlorine must have somehow helped style it, because as I fluff it up with my fingers, turning to examine it hanging down my back, I realize it looks better than if I had actually put any effort into it. Like mermaid hair. Kinda hot, grazing my waist.
Aphrodite.But maybe his dad wants to meet, like, Snow White or something?
I roll my eyes and spit in the sink, rinse Eli’s brush, and wipe my hand over the back of my mouth, waiting for the pills to kick in as I stare at myself in the mirror, thinking of all the things his dad might ask me. How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to talk about? How long will he interrogate me?
Shit, and I need to change too.
I grab my bag, leaving it propped on the counter as I pull out a pair of oversized, pleated pants Mom had hemmed for me. I leave my necklaces at the bottom of the bag, snatch up a plain white shirt to tuck into the pants, except,surprise,it’s actually cropped with slits in the side, another homemade craft from yours truly.Shit.
At least I have a belt somewhere in here. Belts are fancy.
“My dad came home early.”
I jump, a gasp leaving my lips as I spin around, my fingers closing around the brown belt at the bottom of my bag. “Fuck.” It leaves my mouth before I can stop myself, trying to calm the adrenaline in my body. “I didn’t even hear you come up here.”
Eli is leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom, hands in the pockets of his shorts, and he doesn’t have a shirt on. Just the choker. The one beneath my fingers last night when I almost made him pass out while I dry fucked him on his dad’s couch.
My eyes linger on the tattoo just visible over the waistband of his shorts. Of course, my gaze wanders to the V of his hips, up his lower abs, and—
“Pay attention, baby girl.”
I feel heat creep up my neck, into my cheeks as I bring my eyes up to focus. “I am paying attention.” My mouth feels dry, and I swallow, hard. “It’s just, you know…” I gesture toward him, the belt still in my hand.
His eyes flick to it but come back to me quickly. “Just what?” he asks, but there’s the hint of a smile on his lips. His voice is kind of throaty, I realize, and I wonder how long he’s been up. I can still recall the feel of him curled around me when I woke in the night the first time, before I made those notes.
It felt… good.
“Nothing.” I shake my head, gripping the edge of the counter with my free hand to steady myself.
He just looks at me a moment, a knowing sort of expression on his face, but then he says, “I’m guessing you heard.” He must see my surprise. “Well, I heardyourunning to my bathroom when I was heading up the stairs, so…” He shrugs, sighing. “He’s leaving soon. You don’t have to meet him. If you don’t want to, just say the word.”
Well, I definitely don’t want to. I wasn’t really any good at meeting his friends at Dom’s, now I’m expected to look presentable for his dad in this mansion, all while Mr. Addison knows I spent the night here, without his permission.
I suck at small talk, and I never really make a great impression on parents. I mean, I’m certain Nic’s mom would not recommend me for dating anyone’s son.
Plus, there’s this fucking distressed crop top.
Still, how can I really say no?
“It’s okay,” I lie, glancing at the belt in my hands, remembering to breathe. “I just need to change.” I think about Eli’s half-naked body. “And maybe you could too.”
“My dad has seen me without a shirt on plenty.”
I shake my head, still focused on the brown leather belt clutched in my fingers. “Right, but I don’t want to be thinking about his son promising to take my virginity because I’m so distracted by all your…” I thrust my hand toward him again, not daring to look up. “You know. Muscles.”
There’s a beat of silence as I wish I could take back every word that just came out of my mouth. But the pills must be kicking in because I don’t feel any warmer than I usually do, and I haven’t started to sweat again.
At that moment, when I think I’m going to be steady and calm for meeting the parent, the floor shifts and Eli is standing right beside me. I can see his abs in my peripheral, but I keep my eyes trained on the belt.
“Personally,” he says, his voice low, hands still in his pockets, those green veins snaking up his arms, “the only thing I ever want you to think about is me taking your virginity.”
I can’t breathe.
He leans down close, and I catch his cotton candy breath. He has to eat mints for this or something. No one’s breath can naturally smell so good, not even rich boys. “Don’t stress about this. It’ll be over soon and besides, he’s going to love you.”
I turn my head, finally, meeting his dark green gaze, my mouth inches from his. “How do you know that?”
