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“I agree. You’re entitled to as much dirty, hot, sweaty sex as you like. I’d just prefer not to know about it.”
Fuck me. Hearing those words come from her mouth was downright sinful.
Aurora blushed, and I smirked. “Jealous, shortstack?”
I waited, anticipating the flicker of irritation in her eyes. But it didn’t come. Instead, a sad kind of expression washed over her.
She inhaled a thin breath. “Do you know the first time someone called me that? I was eleven. My body was changing. I was already bigger than all my friends, and it was like overnight I woke up and grew two cup sizes. As if I needed any more excuses for guys to leer at me or boys in my class to tease me.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” A strange sensation curdled in my gut.
“That nickname. Shortstack.” She flinched as if it physically pained her. “It might be a harmless quip to you, but it means something else to me.”
Fuck. Guilt slammed into me.
“Aurora, I didn’t—”
“Look, Noah, I didn’t tell you for sympathy or anything. I just really don’t like remembering that time of my life, so I’d appreciate it if you could not call me that again. And you’re right. I was judging you before with the girl. It was wrong of me, so I apologize. You’re an adult. It has nothing to do with me what you do or don’t do with your body.”
My expression crinkled. I had questions, so many questions. Like, who the fuck had leered at her when she was just a kid or teased her for having boobs? But I was so stunned by her little outburst that I didn’t have a clue what to say.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling like the asshole I was. “I didn’t know.”
“Strange because I vividly remember repeatedly asking you not to call me that,” she pointed out.
“Yeah. I know, but I thought… It doesn’t matter.” I rubbed my jaw, seriously regretting my decision to come to Joe’s today. “I’m sorry. Me calling you shor… that word has no meaning for me besides the fact you are kind of short, and it sounded cute.” I smiled weakly, feeling all kinds of awkward.
“Apology accepted. Now, can I leave?”
“Still so eager to get away from me, shorty?”
“No.”
“Half-pint?” My mouth twitched.
“Absolutely not.”
“Shortcake?”
A faint smile tugged at her mouth. “Please, God no.”
“You sure about that? Because you’re smiling.”
“Am not.”
“Oh, you definitely smiled, shortcake.”
She wasn’t smiling now, but I’d seen it.
“Noah.”
“Aurora.”
“You can call me Aurora or Rory.” She sounded exasperated, but I kind of liked pushing her buttons. “Or Vivienne if you must.”
“Vivienne?” I asked, intrigued.
“Vivienne Westwood. Mom’s doing. Don’t ask.” A flash of disdain passed over her face.
