Page 91 of Don't Leave Me

I looked over at Michael again who was now in the kitchen, but clearly listening in on our conversation.

“I just needed to unplug for a bit,” I shrugged again, not sure how well I was lying.

Emily wrinkled her forehead. “Well, we need to go have dinner or something. I havesomuch to tell you about me and Adam,” she grinned widely.

I perked up and opened my mouth wide for effect. “Like what?” I giggled.

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t tell younow,” she looked around, signaling she needed private time with me. “Get dressed and we’ll go to that cute vegan place we passed the other day,” she instructed me, standing up excitedly.

Before I said a word, I looked over at Michael again.Do I have to ask him permission to go?

“One second,” I jumped up, throwing the sheet off of me and quickly grabbing one of Michael’s t-shirts as I walked out into the kitchen.

Michael raised his eyebrows at me. “I hope you’re not this unabashed about your body with all of your friends,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes. “She’s my cousin. We’re always naked around each other,” I said seriously.

I could see his imagination running wildly quickly.

“Can I go to dinner with her tonight?” I asked quietly, almost pleading.

Michael narrowed his eyes at me. “Ask me nicely, Hana,” he said, a flicker of smile on his lips.

“Please, sir…can I go to dinner with her tonight?” I finally pleaded, still trying to be quiet.

He quickly smirked. “Yes, baby. But no drinking. And be home by 10 PM,” he raised his eyebrows authoritatively.

I nearly squealed. “Thank you, sir,” I wrapped my arms around him.

“But I’m not giving you your phone back. Call me from the restaurant or from Emily’s and I’ll come pick you up,” he went on after he released our hug.

It took everything in my body not to roll my eyes at him. I only nodded and added a “Yes, sir,” to humor him.

I giggled as I walked back into the bedroom, Emily standing near the cracked-open door and staring at me with wide eyes.

“Did youseriouslyjust ask his permission to go out? And did you seriously just call himsir?” she asked in a quick whisper.

Shit. I just laughed it off like it was nothing. “Yeah, Em. It’s our thing,” I explained as I started to pick out an outfit.

Emily closed the bedroom door behind her. “Yourthing? Like the dominant/submissive thing? It’s not just in the bedroom?”

I slid on a pair of jeans, not looking up at her. “No, it’s everything, pretty much. I mean, not everything…but a lot of things. I’m willingly submitting to him to make him happy…and if he’s happy, I’m happy,” I explained cheerfully.

Emily laughed to herself in disbelief as she slumped down on the bed.

“This iscrazy, Hana,” she said, as if scolding me.

I looked back at her and felt a sting in my chest. I was offended that she was judging our situation – I thought I could tell her anything without regret.

“Really? It’scrazy,Emily?” I reiterated, raising my eyebrows at her.

She sighed. “I’m not sayingyou’recrazy. I just mean…is he the one that told you to ‘unplug’ for the weekend?” she interrogated.

I rolled my eyes. “He caught me snooping. It’s a warranted punishment,” I explained, now completely defensive.

“Hana!” she scoffed, now standing up, her hands up in the air. “He’s controlling you. That’s not what a relationship is supposed to be like!” she exclaimed.

My mouth dropped open. Emily, my cousin whom had never been in a serious relationship in her life was telling me what a relationship was supposed to be like? I scoffed and shook my head, crossing my arms and nearly having a fit.

---