Page 38 of Between Now and Forever

She looks too young to be his mother, much less the mother of his brother and sister who both look older than him. She’s either got great genes, a great plastic surgeon, or she startedreallyyoung.

They’re a very attractive family. They’re all tall and gorgeous and stylish even as they sit around their kitchen table. Carter, though, stands out because in that sea of blonds, he’s the only one with dark hair. His sister and brother look just like their dad – from their golden hair to their large brown eyes. I wonder briefly if they’re twins.

His sister notices me first.

“Oh, hey,” she calls up to me and nudges Carter. But everyone turns to look at me.

His eyes come to me and light up. He smiles, but his gaze is as probing and hot as it was upstairs before his mother interrupted and separated us.

My nipples pebble and the space between my thighs pulses at the memory of it and at the promise in his gaze when he’d looked over his shoulder at me.

I don’t look away from him though, even when his smile widens like he knows exactly what his look is doing to me.

“Hi, I’m sorry to interrupt,” I step into the room, feeling awkward that I’ve been caught lurking and sure that everyone can see my body’s reaction to Carter’s nakedly lustful looks.

“You’re not interrupting anything, come join us.” Carter points at the empty chair between him and his father.

“Thank you,” I sneeze into my elbow right as I sit down. His father stands up, and I start to assure him that I’m not sick.

Before I can say a word, he’s back and placing a steaming mug of something that smells spicy and sweet in front of me.

“It’s chai tea; Penn mixes it herself,” he says and pats me on the shoulder.

“Wow, that’s nice,” I cup the mug and savor the heat in my palms and take a huge whiff of the aroma wafting from it.

“It’s a cure all, kind of like Robitussin – but it tastes better,” Penn says.

“I’ve never had this before; it smells really good.” I take a sip of the drink. It’s delicious - sweet, fragrant and soothing.

“Thank you,” I say as I savor the warmth that spreads through me and then take another sip.

His sister leans across the table, grinning with an eager look on her pretty face. I feel a pang of jealousy at the flawless bare skin she’s flaunting. I wonder if she can tell I’ve got a layer of spackle on my face.

“So,I’mNadia.” She points at the man next to her, “That’s our big brother, Jack, and of course, you know Carter who has terrible manners and didn’t introduce us—ow!” She winces when Carter flicks her cheek with his finger.

His father reaches out to take my hand.

“I’m Lorin Bosh, head of this motley crew of misfits. Welcome to our home.”

“Hi—”

“How old are you?” The question bursts out of Nadia like she couldn’t hold it in one more second.

“Excuse me?” I say, confused not just by the question, but by the chorus of groans from the rest of the family.

Nadia casts an annoyed glance at them. “What? We’ve been arguing about it. Mom and I think you’re jailbait. Of course, the guys say there’s no way.”

“Nadia, thatis rude,” her mother says sharply and then casts an apologetic smile my way. “I’m sorry, we weren’t talking about you.”

“We were, though,” Nadia interjects and looks at her family like she can’t believe them.

“Shut up, Nadia,” her mother says, reaching over to smack her hand lightly.

“Ouch. Why? You’re not offended, are you?” Nadia rubs her hand as if it’s really hurt and I can’t help but smile at the domestic tableau they present.

“I’m not offended at all. I’m twenty. Almost twenty-one." I don’t add that my birthday is tomorrow, because I don’t want the obligatory wishes. “My haircut just makes me look really young,” I say and run a self-conscious hand over it.

“You owe me ten dollars, loser,” Jack says to Nadia, and everyone laughs. I join them, surprised by how relaxed I am.

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