Page 47 of The Anti-Bachelorette (The Anti-Bachelorette 1)

He just grunts. “Since when do you try to help with anything?”

I punch him in the back, and he laughs. “You know that just feels good right?”

I punch him again. “Yeah, it’s because you have too many muscles back here.”

He laughs again. “All I’m hearing is that you’re jealous of my body.”

He closes his eyes as I continue to rub his back, and I swear he fell asleep. I get off of him then. “You can keep your body. I’m ordering pizza.” We never ended up eating back at the motel earlier, and I am starving now.

I grab my phone and look up the pizza places around the hotel. Luckily, it’s Friday now so they are all open late. Alaric sits up in the bed. “Get those cinnamon bread sticks too.” He grins at me like a little boy at the candy shop.

I laugh and raise my eyebrows at him. “Anything else?”

He looks back at me. “Can they deliver a beer?”

I laugh. “We can go down to the liquor store on the corner.”

Alaric comes up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. “No. I don’t want to leave the bed. Come back and sit on my back again.” He places a gentle kiss on my shoulder.

I turn and smile at him. “You’re going to fall asleep.”

He shrugs. “So? I’ll wake up when the food gets here.” He grins at me. “If the smell doesn’t wake me, I’m sure your bear eating noises will.”

I laugh and then raise my eyebrow at him. “You know you keep bringing that up. It almost seems like maybe it turns you on or something.”

He just laughs harder. “No it’s just fascinating. Kind of like watching an animal at the zoo or something.”

I push him back down onto the bed and climb on top of him. “I’ll show you an animal at the zoo.”

???

We get back to the house in the early afternoon the next day. My dad hugs me for a full minute straight. I pull back from him. “Dad. I’m fine. Relax. You and Alaric are too much alike.” I smile over at Alaric. My dad raises an eyebrow at me. “I don’t know how to take that.”

I laugh again. It’s weird being back here though. I keep wanting to reach over and touch Alaric. I want to cuddle up in his arms again. I just hope I don’t accidentally slip up in front of my dad. I’m going to have to talk to my dad about this if we keep this up.

My dad smiles back at me, but his eyes narrow in concern. I can tell he’s still worried about me. “I want you to stay in the house with us for a couple of weeks. I don’t want you all alone at your place.”

I open my eyes in surprise. “Dad. It’s literally right next door. I’ll be fine.”

My dad continues to insist. I look over to Alaric then back at my dad. “This is Alaric’s place too. I’m sure he doesn’t want to deal with me for any longer than he already has.”

Me and my dad both look over to him. He just shrugs. “I’m with your dad on this one.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” I place my hand on my hip.

He just smiles. “Yeah. It’ll be easier for you to cook for us if you’re here too.”

I roll my eyes and turn to leave. “I’m going to go shower in my own bathroom. Is that okay?” I ask sarcastically, but I don’t wait for an answer and walk out the door. What is Alaric thinking? I can’t be staying over here with both of them.

I head back over to my dad’s place after I shower and grab a few things to put in the guest room where I’ll be sleeping for the next couple weeks. I see Alaric working on his laptop in the kitchen when I walk back in.

I stomp over toward him and shove his shoulder. “What the hell Alaric?”

He looks up at me surprised. “What?”

I just roll my eyes. “Don’t be dumb. You know what. Why did you tell my dad you wanted me to stay?”

He just shrugs again. “Because I do.”

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