Page 38 of The Plan

I pull away to look at him. “They’re not dates.”

“Right.” He nods. “I mean, we’d hang out at the aquarium or the movies, mini golf, maybe even go on picnics.” He lists all the things we've done these past few weeks, all besides picnics.

When I nod again, he nods slowly and then leans back in so our faces are inches apart. I let out another soft sigh as his hand cups my ass, and he moves me, so I grind against him. “Move your hair for me, my love.” His voice is low and soft, and God, he sounds so good saying that.

I turn my head to the side and move my curls, giving him access to my neck. I’m still grinding against him as he leans into my neck. He rubs his nose against me first, and a shiver runs down my spine at the contact.

Slowly, he leaves a path of kisses, pausing a few times to suck lightly as he makes his way to my ear. “Those are all things youdo when you date someone,” he whispers. In a quick move, he pushes me off of him and onto my ass, where I was sitting a few minutes ago. What the fuck?

“You can leave.” My jaw drops. No way he just said that. He looks over at me with a bored expression. “You just said you don’t want to date me, and all of those things are what you do when you date someone, so you can’t get a kiss, and I won’t be touching you or fucking you, and we definitely won’t be hanging out in any setting that couples go to.”What the hell is this?

“You can say goodbye to our naps, too. With the way you be all up on me, it isn’t very friendly.”He’sthe one who wants to nap withme!?

I turn my head, confused. “Fine.”

He shrugs his shoulders and starts typing on his iPad. Whatever. I lean over him for my bag again, but he pushes me back. “Please don’t try to flirt with me. We’re just friends.”

I break into a laugh, and my jaw drops again. He’s being ridiculous. “I wasn’t flirting with you. I was getting my—''

He pulls my bag over and plants it in front of me. Oh, he is being so dramatic right now. I roll my eyes at him and grab the last of my things before standing from the couch. When he doesn’t get up after me, I turn to him, but he’s writing something from his textbook into his iPad.

“I’m ready to go?”

“Bye.”What?!

“Um… can you walk me to my car? You know… like you always do?”

“I don’t walk my other friends who are girls to their car.” What other friends who are girls? He’s very popular but only ever hangs out with his baseball team or me.

“Well, that's a rude hypothetical, but you don't have any other friends who are girls.”

“It isn’t a hypothetical. I have quite a few girl friends, actually, but you're not mygirlfriend,so you don’t need to worry about them.” Asshole. He’s full of shit. I stand in front of him and wait for him to get up, but he doesn’t.

“Whatever. Get up so you can at least walk me to the door.” He doesn’t move a muscle. “It’s rude not to walk people out of your home, Sire.” He better at least give me a damn hug.

August walks into the living room, and Sire turns to him. “Brother, be a lad and show our guest out. Will you?”What?August looks at him with a mix of confusion and disgust.

“What type of weird role-play is going on here?” What?! Ignoring him, I turn back to the child on the couch.

“You are being very petty and dramatic right now.”

He throws his iPad aside and crosses his arms on his chest. “Do not invalidate my feelings, Vidia.” Vidia? What happened to Vid?

“Oh, please, okay. Just get up so you can walk me to my car. I have places to be.”

“So go be there.” Am I the one being dramatic here? Is he… What is he doing? He always walks me out, and he doesn’t even seem like he’s actually mad.

“Sire, why are you being rude to her?!” August says like he’s in complete shock and this is the most absurd thing ever, and that’s because it is.

“Yeah, Sire, why are you being rude to me?”

“Don’t bring him into this.” He shakes his head warningly, but it’s because he knows August won’t quit bothering him once he’s involved. He’s persistent.

“You can bring me in all you need, V.” August sounds so hopeful to be of help, and I crack a smile, although Sire and I are still holding each other's gaze.

“Forget him. I’ll walk you to your car.” August comes up beside me and nudges my arms. I hold eye contact with Sire for a few more beats as I wait for his jealous ass to object.

“She’s a big girl. She can walk herself to her car.” Wow. Okay.

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