Hypnotized (12 page)

He crossed his arms. “I don’t really know, but she seems to have inserted herself into my life.”

“Is that so bad?”

He took in a deep breath and let it out as he fidgeted on his feet. Why was he so antsy? “I guess not. She’s hot, so I can’t complain.”

“I sense a but.” Maybe I shouldn’t pry any farther.

“You do remember what I said the night you spent with me.”

I sighed, disliking the way he insinuated that night had been anymore than it was. “Yes, I do. I think you’re confused.”

“Or I just have to wait until you’re over this Gabe obsession.” He stared at me.

Honestly, I was so sick and tired of hearing that this was just a phase with Gabe. That it was nothing more and would be nothing more. How the hell did anyone know? Last time I checked, no one knew the future, so why did everyone feel like they could predict mine?

“What Gabe and I have is…different. I guess you could call it my first grown-up relationship.”

“Just tell me. Are you going to sleep with him?”

Why was it always about sex? Did the world revolve around it? Why did it matter if I did or didn’t? “Does it really matter?”

My blood was beginning to boil. Maybe the sooner I got rid of my virginity the better. Everyone acted like it was such a sacred thing, and they seemed to know just who I should give it to.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“That’s fine, but don’t forget, this is
my
life. I’m going to get hurt,” I snapped. “And I don’t recall getting upset when you slept with Carry. Or Shelly. Or any of the girls.” For an added effect, I also said, “How many of them were virgins? Huh? Maybe I should accuse you of being a cherry popper as well.”

Evan uncrossed his arms and his expression turned from caring, to just plan old pissed off. “You know what, screw it, Pais. Go fuck the dude for all I care.” He set the book down and headed toward the entrance.

“You don’t want this now?”

He shook his head and kept walking. As soon as the door shut, it reopened. Ms. Clara walked in. Thank God she’d missed our argument. I picked up the book Evan needed and carried it to the register.

“Remind me to pay for this when I leave.”

“Good book. You’ll enjoy it.” She smiled. “You can leave early if you’d like. Though, before you go, would you mind straightening out the kids section?”

“Sure.” As I cleaned up the books and straightened the shelf, I couldn’t believe how much life was changing in such a short amount of time. I definitely wasn’t in high school anymore. This thing with Evan might not blow over.

Nate sat next to me, playing on his tablet, while I put some numbers on the coffee shop together for my dad. Nate had been staying with me the last few days. My parents had gotten into a fight and my mother had taken off. Dad was pretty torn up about it, and to hide the fact my mom was missing, Nate had been staying with me. It was never ending, maybe one day my own parents would grow up.

“Can you help me?” Nate asked, pushing the tablet toward me.

I glanced at the screen. He was playing some water game where he had to fill all the tubes. “Sure.” I studied the screen, trying to figure it out for him. “Ah, here we go,” I pointed, “break this and this, turn that and you should be good to go.”

Nate yanked the tablet away and did as I suggested. “You rock!”

I guess he won the level and I could get back to this spreadsheet. I’d always been good in math, and instead of hiring an accountant for the shop, Dad used me. Which was fine, I supposed. Once a month, I spent a day filling in all the blanks, printed out a sheet of paper, and told him if things looked good or bad. Thankfully, this had been a good month for them.

I was just about done when my phone vibrated on the table. Picking it up, I saw a text from Paisley.

What did I tell you about parking on the sidewalk?

I grinned and turned toward the entrance just as it opened and she came in. My gaze swept over her body. Damn, she was hot in that yellow sundress.

I pushed back my chair and went over to greet her, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Is that your girlfriend?” Nate asked.

Paisley giggled. “Is this your little brother? He’s so cute.” She left my arms and went straight over to him.

I shook my head, my little brother was stealing my girl.

“Yes, this is Paisley, the one I told you about.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Want anything?”

“Got any muffins?”

“I’ll go see.” My dad was behind the register. “We have muffins?”

“Just blueberry and banana nut.”

“Give me one of each.” I was hungry. I’d eat whatever one she didn’t want.

My dad handed them to me the glanced past my shoulder at Paisley. “That one seems different then your usual conquest.”

“She isn’t a conquest, for one.” I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t care less if it was disrespectful or not. When he actually started to act like a father, I might care.

“Don’t forget, you’ve got work to do and a brother to take care of.”

Of course, asshole was good for neither of those. “I haven’t forgotten.” I took the muffins from him and went back over to the table. “I have a blueberry and banana nut.”

“Ooh, I want the blueberry.” Nate snatched it. Damn, he’d take my girl and my snack. Good thing I loved the little guy.

“Thank you.” Paisley grinned sweetly as she took the only muffin left.

“How was class?” I sat back down and stared at the computer screen.

“Long. Lots of note taking today.”

I typed a few things into the spreadsheet. “I’m sure your notes will come in handy on test days.”

“I’ve got a study group tonight, actually, for math. Evan will be there, too.”

I tried not to make a face. Hopefully the computer screen hid it. “Oh, yeah. He and Kelly still seeing one another?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed.

I peeked over the top of the monitor; I didn’t like the sound she’d made. “Something wrong?”

“We had a big fight.”

“About?” Her gaze went toward the table. I already knew the answer. They fought about me. “We can talk about it later.”

Even though Nate looked as though he was engrossed in whatever on the tablet, he still listened.

“What are you doing?” she asked. “Writing?”

“I wish. Work for Dad then Nate and I are getting dinner. Want to come?”

“Aw, I’d love to. But I have that study group, and we’re grabbing a pizza before.”

“Can’t you meet up with them after?” Nate asked as he set the tablet down.

Paisley set her half eaten muffin on the brown napkin. “I would if I hadn’t already agreed. I’d rather get to know you.”

“Where are you studying?” I clicked save then told the program to print.

“My place.” She glanced at her watch. “Crap. I need to get going.”

I pushed back from my chair. “I’ll be right back, Nate. I’m going to walk Paisley out.”

A moment later, we were outside in the bright sun. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pushed her against the dark blue wood of the building. Not even giving her time to speak, I kissed her. I was greedy and didn’t care. I probed her mouth open, deepening the kiss. I’d been doing my best to be a gentleman lately, but it was getting hard. Especially when she showed up in such a sexy little dress I only wanted to remove.

Paisley gently pushed me back, breaking the kiss. “Wow, what was that all about?”

“I missed you.”

She let her fingers trail down my chest then back up. “I missed you, too.”

“Hopefully my mom’s back soon so she can take care of Nate again.”

She stared at me quizzically. “Is she out of town?”

I nodded, feeling guilty the moment I did. So far I’d hardly shared much about my family with her. I needed to. I took care of Nate a lot, and I needed to make sure she was okay with that. Though, Paisley was so sweet, I could hardly see how she would have a problem with it.

She played with the hair on the back on my neck. “Let me know when you’re free. Maybe you can come over soon.”

“Maybe. Nate’s going to my grandma’s soon. I have to work. I’ve been blowing it off too long.” I was lucky I still had it after sleeping at her place the other night and not even calling them. I wasn’t about to mention that to her.

“Sounds good.” She stood up on her tippy toes and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Call or text me, okay?”

Paisley left my arms and started to walk away. I watched her leave as the loosely fitting dress swayed against her body as she moved. The next time I saw her, I needed to see what was underneath.

I was about to head back in when my dad opened the door. “Run over to the smoothie shop, will ya?”

I shrugged. “Okay. What do you want?”

“The manager has something for me.”

“All right.” I didn’t really feel like it. “You watching Nate?”

“I got him.” He went back into the store.

Right about now, I could really use a ride on my bike, but unfortunately the smoothie place was within walking distance. The sun beat down on me. In the short walk, I broke out in a slight sweat. Sometimes I hated Georgia. But I sure as hell didn’t want to deal with the snow up north. Heck, it was bad enough here. Half an inch of snow had people skidding all over and in a panic.

As I rounded the corner, I cursed under my breath. Evan sat on the bench outside staring at his cell phone. Maybe I could walk right past him and he wouldn’t even notice me.

“Gabe.”

Luck was not with me. “Hey.”

Evan set his phone down on his leg and stared at me. I don’t think either of us really knew what to say to one another.

“How’s Paisley?” he asked.

I tried to contain the smirk, but couldn’t. “She’s good. Just left the coffee shop, actually, to get ready for a study group.”

“Yeah, we’re meeting at a pizza joint soon before we head back to her place to study.”

“All right, well, I need to get in here and get something for my dad.”

Evan stood and shoved his phone into his pocket. “I’m doing my best to support Paisley with her infatuation with you. But I want you to know, she’s special to me. She’s not a toy.”

“She’s special to me, too. I’m not playing with her. I really like her.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever. I’ve heard enough about you to know you don’t fall for girls.”

“You don’t now shit about me. You’re new to this whole grown-up thing. I’ve been around here for awhile. Pete is a moron. Getting mixed up with him is trouble.” Pete was always mixed up in something, other than women. He was known for partying with more than alcohol. Hopefully, Evan was smart enough not to get involved with that.

“Whatever, dude. I don’t have time for this. Some of us have plans to make a living, some of us don’t.” He brushed past me.

I turned. “Yeah, and one of us got the girl, and one of us is left on the sidelines.”

Evan shook his head and flipped me a bird. “I’ve got a history with her. When you’re done with her, I’ll still be here waiting. The sidelines aren’t so bad.”

“Fucking moron,” I said under my breath then pulled the glass door to the smoothie shop open a little too hard.

How the hell was Paisley friends with that jerk? If it wasn’t for her, I would’ve punched the guy and put his pansy ass in his place. Who was he to say anything about me and Paisley?