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Nodding, I unbuckle my seat belt and reach for the car door handle. “Yep. That, or Mom’s just sharing her one and only obsession in the entire world: ice cream. She and Aunt Maeve used to sneak ice cream into her room and watch movies.”
“I wish I had something like that with Izzy,” she says staring into the shop, but I’m pretty sure she’s lost in thought. “We don’t have anything in common or a tradition we do together. Cedric and I . . . Well, he has to deal with me because I’m his little sister and it’s his duty to look after me.”
As I step out of the car, the sweet, inviting aroma of chocolate and waffle cones drifts toward us. I take a moment to consider what she just shared but almost immediately she adds, “It would be nice if I knew what Mom likes.”
There’s a pause as we close the car doors and start walking toward the entrance. “You don’t get along with her?” I ask, my tone gentle, conscious of how divorces can be painful.
She shakes her head, her face not giving anything away. “Nope. After the divorce, we never saw her again.”
“Sorry,” is all I can say.
“It’s okay. I was six, and . . . It was a long time ago. I barely remember her,” she says. There’s a detachment in her voice, but the pain is crystal clear.
“And you don’t get along with your stepmother?”
“Helen is like all the others: temporary,” Ameline states. “I don’t see why I should get along with her. In a few years, she’ll just be a bitter memory, and someone else will come along to take her place.”
I’m speechless at that statement. It’s like she’s talking about a seasonal employee, and somehow I feel like she’s avoiding getting attached because everyone leaves. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into this and her stepmother is truly wicked, and she’s hoping she’ll leave. Should I dig deeper? Probably not. I just push the door open and watch her as she admires the place and gawks at the menu.
“I don’t think I plan on leaving this place anytime soon.”
Despite claiming she wouldn’t eat ice cream earlier, Ameline ends up ordering a scoop of cinnamon toast ice cream in a basket, covered with a chocolate hard-shell and sprinkles. As we stroll around the block, savoring our ice creams, I share stories about my six siblings. Her eyes light up with curiosity and amusement when I tell her about how my twin brother and our youngest sibling, who just turned six, are so similar.
When we arrive back at my place, Cedric is nowhere in sight, but Johnathan, our other roommate, is there with his girlfriend. They’re making out on the couch, probably ready to fuck, or just getting ready to film a movie for Pornhub.
Their lack of regard for anyone else’s presence is, as always, evident, so I quickly guide Ameline to my studio. I have plenty of things to do. Hopefully, he’ll be done in a couple of hours. Listen, I’m not a prude, but I wish he would just go to his room when he’s fucking his girlfriend.
“I can stay in Cee’s room,” Ameline suggests.
I shake my head, a wry smile crossing my lips. “Not really. You’ll want to stay far away from that couch—they’re very vocal.”
Her nose scrunches. “But he has roommates.”
“Yep, and they don’t care. It’s like watching a live porn show,” I add.
“And this room will keep them away?” she asks skeptically.
I nod, locking the door and walking over to the sound equipment. “It’s soundproofed. Trust me, your ears will stay pure and innocent.”
“Who told you I’m a virgin?” she retorts playfully, a hint of mischief in her tone.
I shake my head and choose not to take the bait. Her teasing reminds me of the women in my family who love to taunt and tease the fuck out of all the Decker men. We’re too easy to torment. I won’t fall for it.
“You’re welcome to play video games or go through the bookshelf. There’s a book for everyone,” I say, repeating Piper’s words. My cousin is the one who made sure I had enough things to do in case anyone had to hang out with me. Not like that happens often.
Piper makes it sound like torture when she has to come here. But the few times she’s visited, she actually helps me edit music or just plays one of the instruments I have while I’m working. Hmm . . . maybe I’m finally getting the chance to put it to good use. Who knew?
Chapter Four
Ameline
When Dad agreed to send me to Cedric’s place for the weekend, I had no idea what to expect. But it was definitely not his super-hot roommate.
Gabriel Decker is off-the-charts handsome. The guy just has this way of filling up the room, you know? He’s got this athletic look, not like a gym rat, but more like someone who’s naturally strong. His shirt clings just right, hinting at the muscles underneath without showing off.
His face? It’s like he’s got this mix of tough and thoughtful going on. A sharp jaw that makes him look determined, and those deep blue eyes that are kind of intense, like the ocean during a storm. His hair, dark blond and a bit wavy, sort of frames his face in this effortlessly cool way.
There’s something about him, this mix of friendly and confident, that just pulls you in. He’s got this smile, a real one that lights up his whole face, making him seem approachable, even though I’m totally feeling this overwhelming attraction. When he looks at me, it’s like he’s really seeing me. Like he’s got so much going on inside his head, and I just want to learn all about those deep thoughts and everything else about him.
