The cold blast of outside air fades as warmth cocoons me once more. Amber and cypress fill my lungs. A shudder rolls through me at the memory of Ryder’s body over mine and his deep, husky voice filling my head with naughty things no brother should ever say to his sister.
“Spending the day doing what, exactly?” Ryder’s voice is flat, like he’s already bored with the conversation. It’s the complete opposite of how he talked to me not even ten minutes ago.
Carolyn huffs, but a playful smile lifts her lips. “What, are you too good to hang out with your mother now? We can goshopping for Halloween. Maybe even have brunch at Susana’s. It’ll be on me, of course.” Remembering that I’m still here, she frowns at me. “Honey, go to your room and get into something more appropriate. There are men in this house.”
I glance at my top and leggings. How is this inappropriate? It’s weird she would think that, especially around people who are supposed to be family. It's also odd, considering I wore this to dinner. Is she afraid my father will lose all willpower if I'm showing too much skin? Gross.
I glare at her and cross my arms over my chest. Now I don’t even want to go to my bedroom, just out of spite.
Ryder’s hand ghosts over my lower back as he moves in closer behind me. I peek at him from the corner of my eye as he pretends to step around me, but then his hand descends to my ass and squeezes. Right here, in front of his mother, who doesn’t even notice because she’s too focused on his face.
“I’ve already got plans,” Ryder says.
Carolyn’s shoulders slump, and her previous excitement fizzles out. “Really? With who?”
There she goes again with the twenty questions, but I would be lying to myself if I said I’m not curious who Ryder plans on hanging out with when I’m dying to spend more time with him.
Ryder squeezes my ass again, and I turn, catching his brief smirk before he schools his expression once more. “Friends.”
Carolyn sighs and shakes her head. “Fine. When are you next free?”
Seriously?Fine?No pressure to tell names and spill all the juicy details?
My earlier irritation spins back. I bite my tongue so I don’t lose my cool on her again. I drop my arms and storm out of the room.
I need to get out of this house and away from everyone for a while. The best way to cope and clear my head is a dayspent with my friends. When Carolyn brought up Halloween, it reminded me I still need to shop for my costume for the party.
“So why are we eating here at the mall and not at Susana’s?” Nova asks, then picks up her half-eaten slice of pizza.
I shift in my seat and swallow my bite of food. The cheeseburger isn’t as good as Susana’s, but I don’t want to risk running into Carolyn while she’s out shopping. I don’t want to tell the full reason to my friends. We’re talking about my stepbrother and me. I can’t tell them what’s happening without them scrunching their noses and heavily judging me.
“Well,” I say, drawing out the moment so I can think of something good and believable.
“Bet you ten bucks it’s because she doesn’t want to see Justin,” Olivia says around a mouthful of sub sandwich. She smirks and uses a napkin to swipe some mayonnaise from her lips.
Nova snickers. “Justin would never show his face in that place. It’s too low-brow for him.”
I shudder at the mention of him. My best friends hate Justin as much as I do.
My mind goes back to the bathroom, when he forced me onto my knees. Then last night when he almost pushed me off the deck.
“But going to Susana’s would hurt his precious reputation.” Nova bites into her pizza with a smug smile. She’s right. Justin may be unhinged, but he would never dirty himself by going somewhere on the poorer side of town.
“It’s not because of Justin,” I say, ready to change the topic.
Olivia turns to me. “So why are you avoiding Susana’s?”
I look away from my friends to focus on my half-eaten order of fries. “I just wanted a different view this morning. Besides,shopping.” I wave a hand toward all the shops that are calling my name. We barely touched the stores here, and I still need a few more items for my costume.
Nova snorts a laugh. “Girl, you’re turning different shades of pink. You’re hiding something from us. Spit it out.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I say a little too fast.
They share a look, then turn to me at the same time with smirks that are downright evil. It spells trouble, and I’m not prepared to get them off my trail.
“Uh-huh. Sure,” Nova says.
Olivia leans forward and whisper-yells, “Are you messing around with a server at the restaurant or something?”
