Page 54 of Rebellious

She’s quick to argue. “Ten minutes is adequate.”

My voice is tight. “But you might want cotton candy.”

“Why don’t I look around and come back later?” Liam suggests.

My glare is still focused on Aspen when I clip out, “Sounds good.”

At that, Liam backs off and gets the fuck out of my way. “You’re done for the day.” I bark at Aspen, my voice trembling as the beast inside me rages.

“I hate to break it to you, Bennett, but Mom has me here until three.” She blows a bubble and pops it. “I suggest you go find your chill and settle down.”

My chill? Oh, I’m going to find my chill… at Liam’s throat.

“You’re right,” I agree, stepping up and fingering the jar of tickets. “I need to find my chill.”

She reaches up and touches my chin.

And like an asshole, I step back, but not before grabbing that fucking jar and hurling it behind her.

“Bennett!” She screams. “What’s your deal?”

Leaning down, she picks up the jar. It’s broken in half.I pluck it from her hand and toss it into the trash can next to the booth.

“You’re being a real asshole. You know that?”

Not answering, I dust my hands off before sliding them in my pockets.

“You just cost the foundation a lot of money!”

“Maybe I did,” I agree, approaching the ledge. “But you’re still closed.”

Her arms fold across her chest, her lip twitching. She’s beyond pissed. “And what am I supposed to say to our parents?”

I give her a bored look. “Tell them the same thing you told them last night.”

The words slip out before I can take them back.

This half-laugh, half-growl erupts from her throat. “I see. So you can be mad at me for talking to your father, but I can’t be upset that for the first time in twenty years, you locked me out of your room?”

Regret is best served with the truth.

“I’m—”

“Save it, Bennett. I don’t want to hear your excuses. Answer the real question.”

Tension courses through me. I want to argue with her. I’d like nothing more than to yank her to the car and demand answers. But I know that look of defiance. “Fine,” I grit. “We’ll tell our parents we shut down the booth when you became nauseous after the first round of bad breath.”

She shakes her head, and I sigh, feeling around my pocket for cash. I pull out a wad of bills and slam them down. “Whatever this is, let it be my contribution to funding your sick day.”

“Hilarious.”

I shrug while Aspen unfolds the money, straightening the bills in her hand, a thoughtful expression etched in her features.

It makes me nervous.

“You want to ride the Ferris wheel?” I offer, attempting to curb the asshole, and try a different approach back into her good graces.

Her head raises, and she pockets the cash. “Yeah. Sure.”

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