Page 132 of Return Policy
“No!” I laugh, struggling to show my sincerity. “I promise I’ll have Elijah try the vibrating O on me when we’re back on campus. Okay?”
“Mm-hmm,” she sasses. A look of disapproval is evident on her face as I toss the pink bullet back in the drawer, slamming it shut. “Okay, we’re going shopping.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m not letting you go on a winter vacay with your man dressing your lady parts like his grandma.”
I groan, knowing she’s right. “Sage, sexy lingerie is not a priority item on my skimpy ass budget.”
“Consider it an early Christmas present.”
“I can’t let you spend all your lunch money covering my lady parts.”
“Trust me, I won’t,” she says, throwing an arm around me. “I’m going to spend my money making sure your lady parts arecompletelyvisible.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I love you, Sage.”
“Love you too, Joey.”
38
ELIJAH
I white-knuckle the steering wheel, driving up the desolate country road I haven’t been on in months. Every time Mom asks me to come home, an excuse flies off my tongue quicker than a speeding bullet—it’s just so damn hard being here whentheyaren’t. Being away makes it easier to ignore the emptiness created in their absence.
Muddy boots sitting by the door.
Hazelnut coffee infiltrating my senses at six in the morning.
Music blaring into my room even with all the doors closed.
Tools and grease-stained rags scattered around the house, driving Mom crazy.
Instead, all that’s left is a clean, quiet, and unbearable shell of a house.
“Elijah?” Sophia’s sweet voice says, pulling me out of my trip down memory lane.
“Yes?” I glance over, and her forehead is full of worry lines.
“You look a little stressed.”
Reaching out, I rest my hand on her thigh, squeezing it gently. “I’m fine, Sunflower. Just haven’t been home in a while.”
More like freaking out about surviving the next few days without another whiskey induced breakdown.
She places her hand on mine, brushing over my knuckles with her thumb. “Well, I’m here for you. And if you ever get too stressed, I knowexactlyhow to calm you down.”
“You better be careful, baby. I’ll pull over this truck right here, right now. That little sundress you’re wearing would be pretty easy to take off.”
“We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Exactly. Who’s going to see us?” She shakes her head in amusement, returning her attention back to her book. “Whatcha reading there?”
She clutches it to her chest, smirking over at me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Actually, I would. Is it another one of those sex books?”
“What?” She throws her head back, laughing. “They’re calledromancebooks.”
