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“I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I didn’t want to take thisjob.”
“Why? Because you think I’m a terribleperson?”
“Never saidthat.”
She leans back against the cabinet and crosses her arms. “Actions speak louder than words,homeboy.”
“I don’t knowyou.”
“Exactly, so you have no right to judge me soearly.”
“But,”I stress. “I’ve heardstories.”
She snorts. “Didn’t think you were one of those dudes. Stories fromwhere?”
“Not from my brother.” I want to make that clear. Dallas has never muttered a bad word about her and has always kept her business private. “From magazines and shit.” AndCameron.
She snorts, rolling her eyes. “Magazines and shit? Those are some credible sources, let me tell ya.” She grins arrogantly. “It’s okay. You don’t have to like me. Not everyone has goodtaste.”
Damn.Maybe she does have some spark in her. I love me a smartasswoman.
“Trust me, I have good taste,” I correct. “And a good eye for character. So far, you haven’t done anything too diva-like or whatever they say, but we’ve only known each other for a few hours. No one shows their flaws and bad side thisearly.”
She stares at me blankly. “So you’re hiding your flaws from me until later? What do you have some demon hidden away in there? Are you a psychopath or one of those men who like to be dressed up in a diaper and changed as sexualforeplay?”
I can’t stop a smile from flashing over my lips. Spunk, yeah she has it. “The last two are a huge ass negative.”Internal demons? Possibly.My stomach knots. “I’m sure you’ll find qualities I have that you don’t like. No one isperfect.”
This conversation is taking a huge turn from where I wanted it to go. My plan had been to drink some of this supposed miraculous tea, have limited conversation, and then get my ass tobed.
“Have you even watched my show before?” sheasks.
“Can’t say I have. I tend to be an action fan. Teenage witches aren’t really my first choice.” Maven has asked me to watch it with her countless times, but I’ve never beeninterested.
A hint of sadness flows over her face, and she turns around when the teapot whistles through the awkward tension. She grabs two tea packets and places them in thecups.
“So why can’t you sleep?” she asks, keeping her attention on pouring water into thecups.
I scrub a hand over my face. “It’s only my second night back in the States. It’ll take some time for me to adjust to a different sleep schedule. It alwaysdoes.”
She hands a cup to me. “Where were youstationed?”
“Afghanistan, bothtimes.”
“Do you think you’ll go backagain?”
“I promised my family that it would be my last, but I’m not so sure now.” I have nothing to stay here for. I take a sip of the tea, feeling it scorch the tip of my tongue. It’s a little bland for my taste, but not toobad.
She puckers her full lips and blows into her cup. “Why aren’t yousure?”
“Shit changed. People changed.Ichanged. My situation is different now than when I made thatpromise.”
“I say do whatever makes youhappy.”
I yawn, and she holds up her cup,grinning.
“See. Told you it works.” She slides across the kitchen floor in her socks. “Goodnight, Hudson. Hopefully, you’ll like me tomorrow because we have a long day ahead ofus.”
I turn around in my chair to look at her. “What do youmean?”
“We’re flying out in the morning to finish off the promotional tour. Didn’t Dallas tellyou?”
“Nope. Must’ve slipped hismind.”
“Now you know. Get somerest.”
I give her a small smile. “Goodnight,Stella.”
I turn off the lights and bring the cup back to my room with me. Even though I can feel myself growing drowsy, something irritating is playing with my mind. I snatch my laptop from its sleeve and open up iTunes. I type in the name of her show and buy every season. I only make it through the first three episodes before dozingoff.
