Page 30 of We Are Yours
“Since when do you ever listen to me? A favor is my only option.”
“Then why don’t you just ask your stray?”
In a snapped tone, I bit, “Stop calling her that.”
He smirked, shrugging. “How about a pain in the ass instead?”
“You know what?” I pushed off the door. “Forget it.”
To my surprise, he stopped me. “Say what you need, Julius. Just say it quickly so you don’t choke on your words.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered under my breath. “Can you not be so condescending for a minute?”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
I reluctantly leaned against the door again, folding my arms over my chest. Internally counting to ten. “I have to leave town this weekend.”
“So?”
“So,” I emphasized, “I need you to watch Isla while I’m gone.”
He jerked back, confused. “Watch her? I thought you were her guard dog. What?” he mocked. “You scared she’s going to run away while you’re gone?”
“No,” I firmly stated.
“Then why do I have to babysit?”
“Because I can’t be in two places at once.”
“She’s by herself when you’re not here. What’s the difference?”
“The difference is I’ll be unavailable from Friday to Sunday.”
“Unavailable,” he argued, cocking his head to the side. “What the fuck does that mean? Since when are you unavailable?”
I changed the subject. “Will you do this for me or not?”
“Once again,” he stressed, “why is this my problem?”
“It’s going to be your problem if I don’t pay the property taxes.”
His gaze tapered, and his eyebrows pinched together. “Weren’t they due last month?”
“Exactly my point. Now, are you going to help me?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“On what I get out of it.”
“What do you want?”
He smiled, and it reached his eyes. “I want my own street bike.”
In one breath, I snipped, “Hell no.”
“Well…” He paused for effect. “I guess she’s on her own then. I’ll make sure to leave the door wide open for her. Hopefully, she’ll get the hint and run far away.”
