Page 78 of The Apple Tree

“I feel cheap. Is that all I am to you? A quick screw?” I said timidly, crossing my arms over my chest so my hands covered my pecs, and I curled my shoulders inward while frowning.

She giggled, opening the bag of chips and popping one into her mouth. “Why would you feel cheap?” she mumbled, sending a few crumbs flying out of her mouth. “I’m the one who babysits for nothing more than your attention.”

“I’ve paid you.”

“Not every time.”

“Well,” I shrugged. “After tonight, I think we’re even.”

“What makes you think you’re that good in bed?”

I rolled my eyes. “I was talking about the hut I built for you. Pervert.”

Eve snorted. “Sorry. Yeah, we’re even then.” She brought a chip to my lips.

“Evil.” I grinned, grabbing her wrist and guiding the whole chip into my mouth along with two of her fingers. I ate the chipandthe tiny gasp she released.

She cleared her throat, taking a step backward. “Erin is my Adam. If you tell me you haven’t talked to Adam about me, I’ll call you a liar.”

“Guys don’t gossip like teenage girls.”

Teenage girls.

Who was I kidding? I was the pervert.

“If I tell Erin we had sex, it won’t be gossip. And if youdon’ttell Adam, then he’s not really your best friend.”

“I’m fine with that. I’m not telling him.”

He would drag it out of me, but I had a point to make with Eve, even if I quickly lost sight of it.

“Because you’re ashamed of me?” She shoved two more chips into her mouth.

“We’ve been over this.”

“Well, let’s go over it again.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Keeping things between two people is okay until you figure it out. Telling everyone, feeling the need to label it or make a grand commitment, is just messy. Keeping something private doesn’t have to mean you’re embarrassed; it might just meanit’s private.”

She frowned, setting the bag of chips on the counter. “You’re treating me like a child.”

“I’m having a discussion with you. If you can’t discuss things, then you’re acting like a child.”

She deflated. “So it’s just sex.”

I rested my hands on my hips and dropped my head. “How do I explain this? When I was recruited to play football in college, the scouts didn’t look at me and think I was ready to join the team and be their starter. They saw potential and knew I would get better with time. So they took a chance on me, knowing I would make many mistakes, but those mistakes would only make me better. And they wanted me to be with them when I reached that point.”

Eve returned a blank stare.

“It’s not just the sex, Eve. I like being with you. And I can imagine—envision—that as you mature and spread your wings, you’ll shine even brighter. So I don’t know anything for sure. I can’t predict the future, but I canimagine. And that’s all we can be right now. A possibility.”

Most of the time, Eve surprised me with her maturity, especially with Josh. I never would have acted on the physical attraction had she not been mature in other ways first. But I never imagined having sex would make her more insecure and immature.

“Just …” She shook her head. “Don’t treat me like a child.”

“Then don’t act like one,” I said. Perhaps I had my own maturity issues. I needed to brush up on my verbal restraint.

The muscles in her jaw flexed. Then she glanced at her watch and shrugged. “I have to get home before my curfew because I’m a child. Good night,Mr. Collins.” She brushed past me.

---