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I scoff. “I happen to be all topped up on hot sauce, actually.”
He smiles with deviousness.
“For now…” I add.
He chuckles, “I intend to keep you topped up.” He puts the bottle back into his fridge and pulls out a box of wine and runs his hand along it, showing it off like it’s something fancy.
I let out a big laugh. “Ooooh, fancy. I was only joking about the fancy box wine.”
“Nothin’s too fancy for my girl…” He pops it beside me and reaches into the cupboard for a long-stemmed wine glass. “I wrote that on Jada’s list before we left Tuesday morning. Thought I’d bring this back to San Diego with me.”
“I’m sure we can get some more there. Crack open that bad boy.”
I dig into my stir fry. It’s delicious.
And so is my view. Not talking about the big apple, either. I’m not sure if I want to ask about that girl that was here or not. I guess I’m asking with my expression, because he grabs a bottle of Booker’s and fills a glass. He sits at the bar beside me. He’s sitting beside me: barefoot, bare-chested, and messy-haired.
“Her name is Sienna Greer. Our parents are close friends. We were one another’s firsts.”
My eyes bulge.
“We were together for one hot summer when we were fourteen. That’s when it happened. It burnt out fast, but our parents were friends, so we spent a lot of time together. Went to the same private school for high school.”
“She’s gorgeous.”
“She’s a man-eating cold-hearted bitch.”
I wince.
“We got back together when we were done college and it was my first stab at exclusivity since puberty. She cheated.”
“Oh.”
“I acted like I didn’t give a fuck, but it was honestly just another case of being let down by a chick. I have had some issues with my mother.”
“Mommy issues. Great.” I roll my eyes.
He stares for a split second and then he cracks a smile. “You’re funny, peaches. And you’re about to get a spanking.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at him and take a bite of chicken teriyaki.
He leans forward. “You and I are gonna work out great if you can joke like this with me, if you can tell me off when I’m bein’ an asshole. If you continue to make me laugh like you do.”
“You wanna talk about your mother? I won’t make jokes. My making jokes just now was my insecurity at you being in a relationship with your childhood sweetheart. A stunning beauty who is still hung up on you.”
“Nothing sweet about Sienna, Carly. Nothin’. You got nothing to worry about. I thought she might’ve ruined me for exclusivity, but I am here, I’m fuckin’ stoked to be getting the time of day from you after the shit I pulled, but I’m just laying it on the table. I feel… possessive about you. I want that on the table, that we’re exclusive, so you know where I’m at.”
“I’m with you.” I say, barely a whisper, my words holding weight, because I’m stoked, too. “I’m stoked about you, too, Aiden. Exclusive sounds good to me.”
“Good. As for Audra, can we leave that for tonight?”
“Audra?”
“My mother.”
“Sure. Whenever you’re ready.”
“Anything you wanna get off your chest?” he asks.
