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I nodded. “Sort of.” When Andrew looked at me expectantly, I knew I couldn’t keep silent about my dilemma anymore. “Mom and Dean threw me out,” I said flatly. “I…I came up here with my friend Megan, from school, and I lied because Mom wouldn’t have let me come otherwise.”
“Go on,” Andrew said, taking a sip of his bourbon. His dark eyes flashed mysteriously.
“It’s just…” I sighed, setting my martini glass down on the bar. The alcohol was starting to make me feel warm and relaxed, something I wasn’t used to feeling. “You know how it is,” I said finally. “Mom and Dean are just so strict! It’s like, I never do anything wrong but I get punished anyway! It’s not fair, Andrew. I’m an adult – I’m twenty-two. And I can’t even spend the night away from home without getting the third degree!”
Andrew nodded slowly. “You’re completely right,” he said. He smirked. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Dad wasn’t always this bad. But something changed, I guess. I mean, I had to get away from them. And now you don’t blame me, do you?”
I shook my head. “I understand,” I said. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.
“So, do you have a place to stay?”
I couldn’t meet Andrew’s eyes. Instead, I just shook my head. “I don’t,” I said flatly. “I can stay with my friend Megan’s relative here for a few days, but not more than a week. She said her landlord is really strict about extended guests.”
“Makes sense,” Andrew replied. “Well, why not stay with me?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Really?”
Andrew smirked again, looking devilishly handsome. “Sure,” he said. “You just have to promise me one thing?”
/> I frowned. “What’s that?”
“Promise me you’ll learn to lighten up,” Andrew said dryly.
I swallowed nervously. I wasn’t sure what that meant, and I didn’t like the sound of it.
But I didn’t have any choice.
“Okay,” I mumbled. “I promise.”
Andrew’s dark eyes flashed. “Good.”
It was then that I got another sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wondered what exactly Andrew meant, but I didn’t want to seem like a bratty little kid by asking too many questions.
Still, I knew I had to agree to his terms. After all, I didn’t have any other choice.
Andrew paid for two more drinks and then we climbed in a cab and rode to where he lived, in the South End. It was a much posher neighborhood than Jamaica Plain, and I couldn’t help pressing my face against the window and watching as we rolled past gorgeous, antique homes.
“How can you afford this,” I breathed. “This is incredible, Andrew.”
Andrew smirked. Then he did something very strange – he rested his hand on my knee. At first, I squirmed under his touch. But after a few seconds, I began to enjoy the heat radiating from his palm and sinking into my skin. Andrew slid his hand further up my thigh. When I looked over at him, he raised his eyebrow.
“Just remember what I said back in the bar,” Andrew said smoothly.
The cab slowed to a stop and Andrew paid, handing the driver a twenty. I followed him back into the cold air, shivering as it hit the exposed skin at my neck and hands. Andrew led the way into a gorgeous, older building with an intricate brass gate.
“This is beautiful,” I said, craning my neck and glancing up. “You live here?”
Andrew nodded. “I have for a few years,” he said. When he opened the front door, I was startled by the sight of another man on the couch.
“Hey,” the guy greeted Andrew. His eyes flicked over me with interest. “Who’s this?”
“This is Kristin,” Andrew said. His voice contained just a hint of mocking. “You’ve heard me mention her, right?”
The guy nodded. He stood up and stared at me, raising his eyebrows as his eyes took in every inch of my appearance. I blushed – between Andrew and this guy, I’d had more attention paid to me by men today than the rest of my life combined.
“I’m Victor,” the guy said. He held out a hand and we shook – his grip was soft but strong, and I was surprised by how thoroughly he shook my hand.
“Kristin is going to stay with us for a while,” Andrew said. “Dad and Carissa kicked her out because she lied about going to Boston.” He rolled his eyes. “She’s twenty-two, if you can believe that,” he added. “My parents are such fucking prudes.”
