Page 211 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

Once out of the car, Alex leaned back into the space. “You want anything, baby?”

I shrank, glancing surreptitiously toward his dad. His very hot, very nosy dad. Who was watching us. Smirking. “Um.”

“Water? Juice? A donut? Whatever you want.”

“Water is fine.”

“Alright.” Alex paused. His pale gaze darted to his dad in the back seat before his attention was mine again. After a second of deliberation, he pecked me on the mouth. “Be right back.”

My hands drifted up, tracing the memory of his touch as he disappeared. The door slid shut with a thunk.

And then it was just me.

Me and Alex’s dad.

Hishotdad.

Who was hot.

Did I mention that?

Flustered, I didn’t know what to do. Was it polite to speak to him? I’d nevermet the parents of anyone I’d dated before. Not thatwewere dating. I was under no illusions. Roderick’s family didn’t count. They were practically my aunt and uncle.

“It’s—” I started, unsure what I was about to say, at the same time Alex’s father spoke.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he purred. He leaned forward, an imposing figure—or he would’ve been, if his energy didn’t feel so welcoming.

“Likewise.”Likewise? Who the hell even says that? C’mon, George.I twisted to look at him. “Alex is uh…um. He’s—” Oh god. Why had I began the sentence this way? Anything that came out of my mouth was going to sound horrible.

“Alex is smitten with you,” Mr. James finished for me. My heart lurched. I shook my head.

“No. He—I mean.”

“You don’t need to be so nervous around me,” he reassured, eyes dancing. “I’m not going to bite.”

“It’s not that—it’s just…”

Apparently more time had passed than I’d accounted for, because Alex’s door swung open and Alex was leaning back into the car.

“He thinks you’re hot,” Alex said. “Don’t tease him.”

Like an idiot, I belatedly realized that the window had been rolled down and he must’ve heard the whole thing.

Alexwas the one teasing. The shit.

“I do not—” I gasped, offended. “That would bewildlyinappropriate.”

Mr. James chuckled. “Would it? Considering he’ll look like this in a few years if another puck doesn’t mar his pretty face.” He gestured toward himself. “Maybe slightly less handsome though,” he added with a wink.

“Ha,ha. Sofuckingfunny.” Alex rolled his eyes, moving to chuck the aluminum tea can he was holding at his dad. Only he paused, rethinking the motion, and carefully handed it to him instead. Suddenly, the air in the car thickened, tension growing.

Until that moment everything had been lighthearted.

“I’m not going to break,” Mr. James growled, popping the tab on his drink with a grumpy huff. It was so unlike his earlier amusement I shrank back. “Jesus Christ. You drive me nuts.”

“Feeling’s mutual, asshole.” Alex flipped him off, and I was genuinely shocked speechless. If I’d flipped my mom off I don’t know what would’ve happened. The apocalypse probably. Even thinking about it made me shudder.

Was this…because of the car accident Alex had mentioned?

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