Page 56 of Infatuated as They Come
“What’s wrong? Tell me.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
“Did your daddy’s best friend happen to tell you something?” I asked. “Hm? Because I was planning on telling you, but he beat me to it.”
“You said you were gonna go to the studio!”
“And I was, okay?” I sighed. “I planned on going. I talked to my boss and everything, but then some shit happened at work and they needed someone to stay back.”
“And you volunteered, of course.” She threw her hands up. “No one else could do it and I already know why you did it. You’re doing exactly what you said you wouldn’t do. You didn’t come here to just look after me, right? I don’t need looking after. I can look after myself. Why can’t you do whatyouwant?”
“I’m here with you,” I said, letting my fingers brush along her arm, but she quickly jerked herself away from me. “That’s all I need.”
“You barely even paint anymore.”
“I paint.”
“All you paint is me!”
“So?”
“So, no one wants to buy paintings of me.”
“I wouldn’t fucking sell those in the first place,” I muttered. “Those are for my eyes only. My point is that there’s no reason for you to be this mad at me.”
“I’m not mad, okay?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m… frustrated.”
“That makes two of us.” My eyes moved along her body, taking in the way she looked in her uniform. Stomach on show, tiny skirt hitting mid-thigh, top straining against her chest. “Been kinda hard watching you prancearound in that little skirt all night.”
One eyebrow raised, she took a slow step closer to me. “I do notprance. I cheer.”
“You’re right. And you’re real good at it and I love watching you do it, but right now, you’re being a brat.”
“And?”
“And I see you still love mouthin’ off at me like it’s your job,” I said, my voice raising a little.
“You call being supportive mouthing off?”
“Yes. Only you could pull that one off.”
“I’m just trying to help, okay?”
“And I appreciate that. I do. But even after all those talks we’ve had, you still don’t seem to be getting it.”
“I get it.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. More than you think I do. You think I’m some dumb spoiled rich girl who doesn’t understand where you’re coming from.”
My head shook. “I don’t think you’re dumb.”
“You think I’m spoiled, though.”
“You are spoiled.”
Tongue clicking, she flicked her long hair over her shoulder. “Can I go have a shower now, or do you wanna stand here and argue all night?”
