Page 35 of Pretend You Love Me
“The hell you can,” I say. I point at her and continue, “I forbid you from riding that bike.”
She scoffs. “Youforbidme?”
“Yes, you’re forbidden.”
“You can’t forbid me from doing anything. What the heck is wrong with you, Grumpasuarus? Is this why you haven’t had a girlfriend in a while?”
I freeze and stop breathing. Her face softens a little.
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was too far.”
“You can’t ride the bike,” I say, ignoring her apology. “It’s mine, and it will be stealing if you take it.”
She closes her mouth into a hard line and just gives me a look that makes my balls shrivel just a little. I’ve got to get out of here as soon as I can. She needs to stay occupied. Out of my hair.
“You need to take it easy for a few days. Let your body heal,” I say.
She eyes me suspiciously.
“Why don’t you find something to read in the library or watch a movie?” I continue.
“Fine,” she says, throwing up her hands. “I am quite sore today. Help me pick something to read.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
I follow her toward the library and watch her run her fingers over the spines of the books. She stops abruptly and pulls out a book.
“Elliott Wells. I love his books.” She carefully opens a copy ofRumination.I hear her gasp, and I know why immediately. Her eyes flash up to mine.
“It’s signed,” she says.
“I know.”
“I didn’t think Elliott Wells signed books. He’s so reclusive.”
“My mom was a big fan,” I shrug.
“This is a first edition.” She turns the book over in her hands, studying it with care.
I just shrug again.
“This is worth a fortune.”
“You can have it,” I say.
My jaw drops open. “What? You can’t give this away.”
“Like I said, my mom was the fan.”
“You’re not a fan?”
I sigh. “It’s pretty pretentious and contrived.”
She carefully closes the book and places it back on the shelf. “Pretentious and contrived? It won a Nobel and Pulitzer, not to mention the movie won the Best Picture Oscar.”
I roll my eyes. “Exactly. Pretentious.”
