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“I didn’t say it was.” My palm hits the counter as I back up. “You don’t understand.”
“Because I’m too young,” she says for me, her brown eyes flaring. “I’mtwenty-threeyears old. I grew up in Pacific Palisades but I had to work for everything I have - including that Jeep.” She points outside to the Jeep I fixedandwashed before delivering it to her like she was some incapable child. “My grandparents are wonderful people, but even I don’t get a free ride.” She continues to move closer to me, and like a magnet, I want to reach for her and take her in my arms, but I grip the counter for support.
“I don’t have a job so that I have ‘fun money’.” She uses air quotes. “I have a job because I need the paycheck for everything else besides my college tuition. I don’t know if you noticed but I haven’t graduated yet. While most of my classmates only had to worry about attending classes, I had to worry about having money for food and tampons. Part of my predicament is my fault because I chose to leave my dorm and move in with a shitty musician who used my hard-earned rent money for band equipment, and then did me a solid by fucking my best friend.” She throws her hands up in the air.
Her chest heaves and she takes another step closer. I close my eyes, and I can’t help but focus on the fact that some asshole would cheat on her and steal her money.
I clench my fists, nose flaring. “Idiot,” I say angrily about the guy that broke her heart. I open my eyes and look at her while I say, “If I had you in my bed, I wouldn’t go looking elsewhere.”
Her eyes widen and I realize what a stupid thing that was to say, but I couldn’t help it. It’s true. Anyone who would cheat on her is a fucking moron. Not because she has legs that just won’t quit or those pouty lips, but because she is so beautiful on the inside. She is a capable, strong woman whom I made feel incapable by fixing her Jeep for her without asking.
“That’s probably the most honest thing you’ve said to me so far.” She moves closer, the counter no longer a barrier between us, and the excuses in my head get quieter.
My stomach tightens as I watch her lips part. Knowing that someone else had those lips on their skin, those long fucking legs wrapped around their waist, and had the privilege to make her sigh, causes a jealous heat to bloom up my neck.
The closer she gets to me, the more I want to take those things from her.
But they are dangerous thoughts.
Sasha is a bad decision wrapped up in a pink, glittered bow.
All I have to do is move my fingers mere centimeters and I could pull her into me; have those legs wrapped around my waist. It would be so easy to ruin her with my baggage when she deserves so much more. Being selfish has never ended well for me.
I watch the pulse tick in her neck and the rise and fall of her chest. It’s almost painful having her this close and not touching her. I can’t let myself get wrapped up in her, even if it’s just for the summer. I’ve already had a taste, and that was enough to tell me that once I’ve had all of her, I won’t want to give her up.
The bell rings over the door and in walks Gabriel. I’ve never been so happy to see that little shit, and I move away from Sasha, breaking the tension. I can see by the look on her face that she’s disappointed and hurt which I hate being the cause of.
“Looks like I’m interrupting something.” Gabriel states as he strides over to the counter, looking between Sasha and me.
Sasha squares her shoulders, “Not at all,” she says to my surprise. “Actually, I was in the neighborhood and was about to look for you.”
“Is that so?” Gabriel leans against the counter, chewing on a toothpick.
He slides his eyes to me for a second.
“You said your dad has a landscaping business,” she says, and I narrow my eyes at the two of them.
“What do you need?” Gabriel tips his chin.
“We need to clear all the dead brush from the house in preparation for the wildfire that started up north. My grandpa isn’t young anymore, and whether he likes it or not, he needs help,” she says.
Gabriel pulls the toothpick from between his teeth.
“We would pay you, of course,” she adds.
“I’d need to see how big of a job it is so I know what equipment and how many guys to bring.”
“Are you free now?”
“Let’s do it.” Gabriel pushes off the counter but still looks in my direction. Maybe he’s thinking I’ll throw a fit like I did last time, but I keep my mouth shut. I’m not her dad, I’m just her boss.
They leave the store and I slam my fist on the counter, but not because she left with Gabriel… because once again, I almost got myself in a situation with her that would only lead to trouble. If I was Jack, I would have fucked her by now and dealt with the consequences later, but I’m not Jack.
17
FOREVER GUY
SASHA
