Page 82 of Prove You Wrong

‘She can’t know,’ I hiss in panic.

‘It might be a bit obvious,’ he murmurs, eyes twinkling.

He gestures both hands open to me, in a ‘let me handle this’ kind of way and then calmly manoeuvres me so I’m backed against the kitchen counter. He places one hand either side of me and drops a kiss on my nose before reaching past and grabbing the kettle. As I watch him fill it under the tap, I try and ratchet in my breath.

Once he’s clicked the kettle on to boil, he settles himself on the opposite side of the kitchen, folding his arms across the muscular chest I’d recently been worshipping.

‘I’m back,’ Chloe calls out.

I don’t want to reply too soon in case it draws her into the kitchen before I’ve had the chance to think of a plan.

‘We need a cover story,’ I mouth under the noise of the kettle.

‘Is anyone home?’ she yells.

Nate taps a finger to his lips as if pretending to think.

All those orgasms have left my head completely devoid of useful thoughts and all I can focus on is that having a strange man in the house is the last thing my sister needs, the complete opposite of the steady environment I want her to have.

The kettle’s roar gets louder. Suddenly Chloe bursts into the room.

‘There you are. Oh, hi?’ She stares between Nate and me expectantly. ‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Nate.’

Nervous, I move my hands to hug myself and then, realising that looks awkward, slide them behind me, leaning on them.

‘Tea?’ Chloe’s pulling mugs out of the cupboard.

‘Yes please,’ he replies before I can proclaim he’s leaving.

‘I’ll make it.’ I launch myself at the box of tea bags. Doing something is surely better than fidgeting in panic. ‘Nate’s just popped in for er … ’

‘I was passing and I, ah … ’

‘Err … ’ I chance a peek at my sister who’s looking confused and bored in a way only a teenager can.

The kettle reaches its boiling climax and then starts to quieten.

‘I figured he’d come over to try and fix Helena,’ Chloe snarks over the hubbub.

‘Yes!’ We both agree far too loudly.

Chloe rolls her eyes ‘I hope so. How am I going to get to school on Monday?’

‘You could walk,’ I say as I make the tea.

‘With all my ingredients for food tech, sports kit and art portfolio?’ She curls up her nose.

‘Take the bus like everyone else?’ I offer, half feeling bad that Mondays are particularly manic for her and half irritated by her expectation.

‘The bus? Ew!’ Chloe grabs the milk from the fridge and adds it to the steaming mugs. She grabs her drink and stalks off. The sound of thudding footsteps announces she’s gone to her room.

I slump back against the counter and sigh. My gaze is drawn to Nate’s chest and I track up, eyes locking on his. I’m not sure who cracks first but we burst into giggles, lips pressed together, shoulders shaking, trying to suppress the noise.

Moving towards him, I link my hands around his neck and he leans down to kiss me.

‘You think she bought it?’ He rests his forehead on mine.

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