“Um… I don’t know, because she’s what? Sixteen?” he asks, lifting his arm and pointing it at her. His face is turning red, as though I’ve somehow done something to offend him.
“I’m twenty-three! And you’re not as quiet as you think you are. The house has great acoustics!” Mikayla yells from the kitchen.
Lance closes his eyes and has the presence of mind to turn red.
Rather than leave, which is what I’d prefer, I was actually looking forward to being alone with Mikayla after my long day,Lance walks back into the kitchen.
“I’m sorry.”
Mikayla turns and looks at him and tilts her head to the side as she regards him. “You’re sorry I heard.”
I quirk a brow as Lance stiffens.
Mikayla looks at me and frowns. “There’s enough food for you both. I’m gonna call an Uber.” Mikayla turns the oven off and places the spatula down and walks aways and I feel… panic.
“No, wait!” I holler as I follow her out of the kitchen.
Mikayla may be short, but her legs are fast.
“Mikayla!” I take her hand before she makes it to her bedroom. “Please.”
“What?” she asks, jerking her hand out of my grasp. “You can get pussy anywhere.” She repeats what Lance said earlier, somehow looking down her nose at me.
“You aren’t that Mikayla, and you know it.” My jaw clenches, and I try to keep my temper in check. I feel like an asshole because she looks near tears.
“Come here.” I reach for her and pull her into my arms.
“You smell terrible.” She crinkles her nose, but she still hugs me, her arms tight around my waist.
“Please—don’t leave,” I practically beg. Okay, I’m fully begging. She can’t fucking leave!
“This is so weird,” she whispers.
“Why is it weird?” I have never been more nervous about a response to a question in my life!
Chapter Sixteen
Mikayla
Why is it weird? Isn’t it weird? I’ve only met this man once. I had dinner with him and his brother, and I never saw him again until I unexpectedly called him.
Isn’t it weird to be this attracted to a man I barely know? Living in his house? It’s weird! And his other brother?
“I don’t know you,” I say, not knowing what else to say.
I expect Caine to agree with me because that seems like the reasonable thing to do under these circumstances. But rather than nodor say, “That makes sense,” instead he laughs.
“Isn’t that why people spend time together? To get to know each other?” he asks with a goofy grin on his face.
I pull back and look up at him, his arms still wrapped around my back, and I frown. “To what end?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, his brows furrowed as he looks down at me, his smile fading.
“I recall a man who looks a lot like you saying something to the effect of, ‘It isn’t you, it’s me. I’m shit at relationships,’” I remind him. “I’m not saying you’ll become something, but I definitely don’t want to invest time into something when the outcome is assured to be nothing.”
I can’t believe I’m actually saying the things that are coming out of my mouth! Yet, I mean every word, but to actually say them out loud. I just keep telling myself, what do I have to lose? Right?
“What if I said that I would like to get to know you?” he asks noncommittally.
