Page 37 of Spring Fling
“That’s cool. I’d like to see it.”
Mom nodded, looking at the dumped box on the floor. “And I’d like to show you. If I can only remember where I put it.”
I laughed as I left them to handle things. Mom always misplaced things. It wasn’t anything new.
Walking out of the building, I stuffed my laptop into my bag. In true Washington fashion, it was drizzling out. I already missed the sunny beach in Mexico and days like this only made me miss it more. My professor had been impressed with some of the shots I’d taken on the trip. I’d panicked for a few minutes, hoping I’d remembered to transfer all of Joe’s dirty pictures to another drive.
I stumbled over my feet when my eyes landed on the man leaning against a tree up ahead. It was as if my thoughts had summoned him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, coming to a stop at his side.
“Can’t I walk with you?”
I grinned. “I was just surprised to see you, is all.”
Joe wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. His scent of musk and something uniquely his washed over me as I melted into his warmth. “Get used to it, sweetheart.”
My stomach did a little flip. This had to be why people liked being in relationships. It was nice to be spoiled by someone and have someone who wanted to spend time with you. And not just as a friend.
“I showed my professor the pictures I took on the trip today.”
Joe stopped moving, and I realized what I’d said. I rushed to fix things. “Not those photos. But I am worried about it. I kept wondering the whole time if I’d forgotten to take them off mycomputer. That’s the last thing he needs to see. Unless he’s into that. I don’t want to know if he is—”
My rambling only stopped when Joe placed his hand over my mouth. “It’s all right, sweetheart. I wouldn’t think you’d show him those. Might make things a little more interesting, though. Sounds like something I would do.”
We both laughed and continued to walk. The rain was still falling in a fine mist, but it wasn’t enough to bother either of us. When you were raised experiencing weather like that all the time, you barely noticed it.
Chapter 24
Joe
Iwas on cloud fucking nine. For the last few days, I’d been meeting Aiden after his classes and walking with him. It was worth it to see the way his beautiful face lit the fuck up whenever he saw me standing there waiting for him.
Nathan was still giving me dirty looks whenever he saw us hanging out, and it was really starting to bother me. There was being a protective older brother, and then there was being a dick to your friends. He was treading into dick territory more often than not.
My head swam with a few ideas for some content to film as I walked up the front steps to Teresa’s house when my phone went off in my pocket. Still feeling ten feet tall, I pulled it out and answered it without even checking to see who was calling. It was a mistake because there was something that could kill my mood, and it was on the other end of the phone.
“Joseph.”
My spine straightened at the use of my full first name.
“Dad?” I opened the front door and entered the house. Teresa and McKenzie were sitting in the living room and my sister’s eyes widened when she heard who I was on the phone with.
“Any word yet on a perspective job?”
I blew out a breath, pinching the skin on the bridge of my nose. “Hi, Dad. Things are great. Thanks so much for asking.”
Maybe it wasn’t appropriate to be such a sarcastic asshole to my parents, but what was I supposed to do when this was the norm? It wasn’t like my parents actually cared. I’d done everything right until graduation. My parents had even turned a blind eye to all my other theatrics because I’d not fathered any children, my grades never suffered, and I was in school. But the second I failed to get a job? Yeah, I was out on my ass. According to them, I deserved to still be struggling. It pissed them off that Teresa let me live with her.
“You know why I’m calling. We gave you a time limit, son. You can’t mooch off your sister forever.”
It would be so easy to just hang up the phone and not let him talk down to me, but there was still that silly small child inside of me that wanted to earn their approval. God, they’d have a fucking field day if they ever found out what I was doing for money.
Teresa grabbed the remote off the arm of the couch, turned up the TV volume, and ushered me to the kitchen, away from McKenzie. She was used to me dealing with Mom and Dad, and it never ended well.
“Jesus, you act like it’s all so damn easy.”
Dad sighed. “It is that easy. You went to school, got good grades, put it to fucking use, kid.”
