Page 16 of Darlin'

"Yes, a tantrum," he says, plopping down on a chair, cereal bowl resting on his chest as he looks up at me. He shoves a milky spoonful into his mouth before adding, "By the way, your tit's out."

"What—" My cheeks burn with crimson embarrassment as I look down at my exposed left breast, hanging over the towel's edge. "Oh my God!" Spinning around, I whimper. "Oh, Lord, please give me strength."

"Ask him for a bra too," Jesse quips from behind me. "Size...34C?" He pauses, a proud chuckle rumbling from his chest. "Right?"

"Excuse me?!" I whip my head around, shooting him daggers. "Ibegyour pardon?"

"Begging so soon?" He smirks. "Must be a personal record." Before I can release an onslaught of verbal assault upon him, he sits up straight, placing his bowl on the table. "So that was Rad on the phone." Jesse rubs his chin, eyes glistening with toying trouble. "You know, your brother."

"I know," I state slowly, chest rising with agitation. "You wouldn't let metalkto him."

"Mmm..." Jesse frowns. "Nah, I wouldn't do something like that."

"Itjusthappened."

"Did it?" He cocks his head. "You sure?"

I see what he's doing. It's blatant now. So freaking obvious. He wants to rile me up. He wants to get under my skin. But he won't. I can't give him that satisfaction.

Must. Remain. Cool.

"Then maybe I misinterpreted your actions," I state, keeping my breathing level. "My mistake,Jesse."

"Really?" This time his frown is genuine. "That's it?"

"What?"

"Shit, babe." Jesse clicks his tongue, slapping his hands on his thighs before standing up, his enormous frame hovering over me. "You gave up far too quickly. I definitely thought you had a couple more rounds left in ya." He nods down at my breasts. "Whoops. Tit's out again." I snap my gaze down, and he lets out a sly laugh. "Kidding."

Screw it.

Cool is a setting for my car seat,notmy personality.

"What iswrongwith you?!" I shove his chest. "Are you a child? Is this some sort of game to you?"

"A little bit, yeah," he says. "I don't know aboutyou, butI'mhaving a fucking blast." He traces the pulsing vein on my forehead, the pad of his finger rough and textured. Like a feral cat, I swat it away. "Oh, come on. Lighten up, princess. Life's too short to get this worked up over a joke."

"I donotfind what you're doing funny," I state, crossing my arms. "At all."

"See? And this is why I told Rad you can't stay here. You're kind of a buzzkill, babe." Jesse shrugs noncommittally. "Plus, I have enough problems as it is, and babysitting a spoiled Southern belle just isn't something I can take on right now."

"Spoiled?" I scoff. "I am not spoiled, darlin'."

"Not spoiled? Shit, maybe youarefunny after all." Jesse lets out a boisterous laugh as his phone vibrates. He reads the message, his smile melting into a frigid scowl. "Fucking Rad. Are you shitting me right now?"

I bite my lip, attempting to read the text. "Is that Beau?"

"Nope," he says flatly, grabbing the bowl of cereal off the table and circling the dining room. The airy brightness that was radiating from his body vanishes as he stomps away from me. "Let me show you around."

"Show me around?" I ask, trailing behind him. "What is going on? What did that message say?"

"You ask a lot of questions," Jesse muses, stuffing hisface with empty carbs as he walks around the one-story house. "This is the living room. You've seen the kitchen." He looks back at me, winking. "Clearly, you found the bathroom." He passes the guest room. "Your room." He nods at the closed door at the end of the hallway before turning around. "And that's my room." Sighing, he walks back through the living room to the balcony that leads into the backyard. With one hand, he opens the sliding door, revealing a gorgeous terrace with a wooden gazebo, a modest-sized pool, and various blooming flower trees. "And this is the yard."

"Why are you showing me all this?" I ask skeptically. "I thought I could only stay one night."

"The powers that be say otherwise," Jesse huffs, placing the cereal bowl on a side table before checking his watch. "Your brother went over my head. Looks like we're stuck together 'til they're home."

"Are you serious?" Relief washes over me. I knew Beau would be the solution. This means he wants me here. This means there's hope. "I can stay here?"

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