Page 18 of Hacking His Code
Now, I’m going to be cohabitating in my tight quarters with a woman that not only knows who I am, but is utterly charming.
It’s going to be torture.
Father’s grinning like an idiot, which only makes me feel worse.
“Ernestine is going to be so pleased,” he says.
“I don’t want to get her hopes up. There’s a good chance mom won’t even like her.”
“Nonsense,” Father says with a glint in his eye. “I knew you’d get that itch eventually. I told Ernestine to be patient, that you needed time.”
“Time is so precious,” I say morosely.
“Look, I know your mom has been…difficult. You have to believe me when I say she wasn’t always like this. It’s just—”
“I know, father. It’s been hard.”
“Please, please—do me the favor of not telling your mother. Not until your little girlfriend enters the room. She’s going to be elated.”
Dread, sorrow, shame all needle me, and I halfway wonder if I should just marry Arinessa to avoid disappointing my mother. She has a heck of a body, and that brain—there’d be no shortage of insightful conversations.
But that’s crazy. There’s no way I’m ready to settle down. Not now, and possibly, not ever.
“I’m not gonna keep you. Go on back up to that girl you’re seeing. What’s her name?”
“Arinessa. Arinessa Sylvan.”
“Arinessa Davies—”
“Father—don’t you dare.”
“What?” He looks innocently at me from behind his desk. “It has a nice ring to it.”
I cast him a glare before leaving the office, a sick feeling in my gut.
I pull out my phone and pull up Arinessa’s text box.
Hunter:My father is excited about meeting you.
Arinessa:I accidentally blurted out that you grunt when you come!!! Then I tried to replicate it. It was awful. I assured them that it was manly.
I reread the text three times, making sure I’m not seeing things.
Joey, Sam, and Vanessa must have had a hand in this.
Two can play at that game.
Hunter:Thanks for telling me. I told my father that you liked being choked during sex, and sometimes you masturbate while listening to Micheal Bolton.
Arinessa:You can’t be serious. I’m pretty sure that was a joke, but I need your verbal confirmation, or else I might die!
Hunter:I’m not serious, but please shy away from my bedroom habits.
Arinessa:They put me on the spot.
Hunter:I’ll be getting the files ready for the mission while you get ready for dinner.
Arinessa:God, this is already going terribly.
