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Carter moves closer and tucks my hair behind my ear before whispering into it so closely I giggle and shiver. “Why don’t we bail for an hour? Pick up where we left off.”
I squirm in my seat when his hand slides up my thigh and his fingertips barely graze my heated sex. I hate that I’m wearing jeans today. Hate it.
He bites on the lobe of my ear and strokes the tip of his nose along my hairline. Goose bumps break out across my skin, and my panties, only recently dry, are wet again.
“Guys, get a room,” Asher snaps, covering the mouthpiece of her phone with her hand.
Alice is staring at us with a weird smile on her face while eating potato chips. “Don’t listen to her. I’m happy to watch.”
Laughing, I shove Carter away but he lunges back and bites my lower lip. When he kisses me, I hum and twist towards him, giggling when he whispers against my mouth, begging to go do our own thing for just an hour.
“Mom said no,” Asher says, slamming her phone on the table. “She said after Halloween and the fall festival we threw a few weeks ago they cannot afford anymore parties.”
Carter and I separate, upset by the news.
“We’ll figure something else out,” Alice claims.
“What’s going on?” Presley asks when he returns.
“No party,” I grumble and his face falls. “Do you have news? Who called?”
“They’re still looking into what started the fire, I should hear back in a week or so.”
I nod. “Well, at least there’s that. Any word on your dad?”
“Nope. Still incognito. I hope he fucking stays that way.” He crosses the room and stands behind Carter and me. “You’re in my seat, bro.”
Carter looks at me and clicks his tongue against his palate. “Actually, I’m sitting here now.”
Alice eyes the exchange with rapt enthusiasm and excitement, Asher is just gaping like a fish with a stone stuck in its mouth.
“How about I sit in the middle?” I question, my tone high-pitched and one showing major discomfort.
“How about we go get some fresh air?” Alice suggests.
“Great idea.” Carter stands and stretches. His shirt rises showing me a glimpse of dark hair leading down beneath his jeans, and the bottom curve of his abs that I know he has six of, eight when he tenses. “Scandal was just talking about us going off for an hour or so. So we’ll be back at around two. That cool with you guys?”
“Going off where?” Presley asks.
“Just… off,” Carter replies, giving his friend an imploring look.
“Great, I’ll come too.”
I pat Carter’s arm. He looks ready to sob, but he’s not about to reject his friend after all he has just been through.
“Have fun,” Alice tells me suggestively with a wag of her brows.
I cringe and head upstairs, leaving the boys to follow one by one.
I check my phone on the way and wet my lips.
Stanley: Can you stop by the shop? I need help with something.
“Actually, guys, rain check? I’ve got to go to Stanley’s body shop.” Saved by the foster block.
“I’ll come with; I need to talk to him anyway.” Presley takes my hand in his as though it’s a perfectly normal thing and I feel the awkwardness rise. “That cool?”
“Sure.”
Carter glares at our hands and then gives me an imploring look.
I try to pull my hand free but Presley squeezes it tighter. Is he staking his claim? Do I not get a say in this? “Are we walking or driving?”
“Driving,” Carter grumbles and we make our way back to the car.
“So you’re both coming?” I mutter and they totally ignore me. “Well, okay then.”
I climb into the front, Presley climbs into the back, Carter drives. This is so awkward.
“Hey.” Stanley wipes his hands on a rag and glances at the boys at my back. “You brought friends.”
“They brought themselves,” I respond and pull myself up onto the workbench, letting my legs swing beneath.
“Lane just called actually, she said Paisley has new pajamas,” Stanley tells Presley who smiles.
“I bet she’s happy.”
“She’s taking her to see your mom during visiting hours. I’m sure she won’t mind if you wanted to tag along.”
Presley shakes his head. “I should be taking her. It’s not fair for me to burden Mrs. Oaks. She’s my sister.”
“Leave her, son, she’s not burdened at all. Truth be told, after spending a month with this frosty little bitch—”
“Well, that’s not very nice,” I mumble and he just grins.
“—she needs a cute little girl to spend time with.”
“Didn’t Mom and Lane used to be buddies back in the day?”
“Up until she got with your dad.” Stanley nods for me to follow. “Need you to thread a wire through, your hands are smaller.”
I lie down on the tarpaulin beneath the car, back to the wheeled board, and slide under the raised vehicle.
Stanley guides me verbally and pulls me out by my ankles when I’m done, making me giggle like a little girl. Not a frosty bitch like he said I am. Though I know he was half kidding and I’m not offended in the slightest.
