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Colton’s hand raises to my lower back. “You’re worth protecting, Jade.”
Mom’s throat clears and our eyes go wide before our hands are torn away from each other. “Is there something going on here that I need to be aware of?”
“No,” I rush out as Colton’s eyes fall heavily to his bowl of pasta.
His lips press into a tight line before he looks up at my mother. “This pasta looks great.”
Fuck me. Could we be any more obvious?
Mom’s eyes narrow on Colton before quickly flicking to mine, searching for confirmation, but she doesn’t need it, she can see it clear as day. She just doesn’t know how deep it runs. Hell, I don’t even know how deep it runs.
I hastily scoop a forkful of pasta into my mouth, trying to act busy as mom’s gaze settles back on Colton. She raises her chin, somehow becoming the boss. “Are you in love with my daughter, Colton?”
The pasta practically falls out of my mouth as Colton gapes at my mom. His eyes flick to mine before quickly settling back on Mom with a terror on his face that I didn’t know he was capable of. “I, umm … No. Look, I’m not going to lie to you, Mrs. Munroe. I think your daughter is the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across. She’s like a fireball, always ready to throw down and stand up for what she thinks is right, but no, I’m not in love with Ocean,” he says before his brows pinch in confusion and he looks at me. “At least … not yet.”
“NOT YET?” I shriek, gaping at him. “What the fuck is that? It’s a simple no. No, you’re not in love with me.”
Colton laughs and for a brief moment I wonder if he said that just to fuck with me, but it becomes pretty damn clear that he simply doesn’t know what the hell he’s feeling, and any chance to mess with me in the process is a bonus.
“Wow,” mom says, with a laugh, looking at me. “How could I have not seen this happening?”
“Because there’s nothing to see happening,” I say, refusing to look his way. “He might have accidentally kissed me once or twice, but it was … it was accidental. Nothing worth bringing up with my mother.”
“Geez, thanks,” Colton grunts.
Mom looks between us again. “Are you two … together?”
“Yep.”
My head whips around to Colton so fast that I fear it might spin right off my shoulders. “What? You’re insane if you think we’re actually together. We can hardly stand each other and for the most part of the day, you’re busy bossing me around while I remind you how much of an asshole you are.”
“Don’t act like getting all fired up every time you talk to me isn’t the best part of your day.”
I flop back against my seat and cross my arms over my chest, looking anywhere but at him. “You’re impossible.”
Colton laughs and casually holds out a hand toward mom. “Could you pass the salt?”
My jaw drops and I whip my head back to him. “Can you pass the salt?” I mimic, copying his carefree attitude. “You go and drop all these bombs at the dinner table and then hit Mom with a ‘can you pass the salt?’ You really are insane.”
“I’m sorry,” Colton says, looking back at mom. “Could you please pass the salt.”
Oh, my God. I swear he’s only here to torture me.
“Okay,” Mom says. “Both of you need to shut up and eat your dinner before it gets cold, and then after dinner, Ocean, you need to give Nic a call and let him know what’s going on before he finds out for himself.”
I roll my eyes and pick up my fork once again. “Nic already knows,” I tell her with a low groan. “Not that there’s anything to know.”
Mom lets out a soft sigh. “No wonder that boy’s been coming around so much.”
“Seriously?” I groan. “Can we just pretend this whole conversation never happened?”
“Yes, but don’t think that we’re not going to talk about this afterward.”
My head drops into my hand and my leg shoots out under the table until it connects with Colton’s shin. I watch from the corner of my eye as he jumps and whips his head back to me. “What the hell was that for?” he demands.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Oh, now you want to play stupid?”
“Alright,” Mom says. “That’s enough out of you two. Shut up and eat your dinner.”
I gape at mom, surprised by her audacity to speak to Colton like that. After all, he is her boss, but I guess while she’s off the clock he’s just the guy who’s been trying to put moves on her daughter while also doing his best to drive her insane. Though, from the entertained smirk on his face, he obviously doesn’t care.
