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Having wasted enough time, we get stuck into our dinner and half an hour later, Colton stands beside me at the sink, passing me dishes to wash up as mom clears everything off the table.
His arm brushes against mine and every little touch sends electricity pulsing through my body. “You’re an asshole, you know that right?”
Colton chuckles softly. “I know, but watching the panic in your eyes was too good to stop.”
I groan and dunk another plate under the water and busily scrub it until it is sparkling clean. We get halfway through the dishes when Mom’s phone chimes on the kitchen counter, indicating an incoming email. She scurries across the room and scoops it up before leaning on to the counter.
A soft smile spreads across Colton’s face and it has me wondering if he already knows what just arrived in her inbox and I find myself leaning around him to watch her.
Mom quickly scans over the email as I feel my phone vibrate in my jeans pocket. I wipe my hands on the dish towel and am just about ready to pull my phone out of my pocket when Mom screeches with joy. Her loud squeal makes me jump and I look back at her to find her jumping up and down.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she says a moment before slamming into Colton and giving him a tight hug.
“What is it?” I demand.
“Oh, Honey,” Mom says, her eyes filling with tears and she falls away from Colton and drops into my arms, giving me the tightest squeeze. “Colton has doubled my salary.”
“What?” I laugh, meeting his eyes over Mom’s shoulder and realizing that there’s no point in checking my phone as it’s just going to be the same email that mom received from Colton’s accountant. “That’s incredible. Congratulations.”
“Oh, my God, Honey,” she whispers into my ear. “The things this could mean for us …” She lets out an emotion-filled sigh and pulls out of my arms before turning and looking back up at Colton. “This is incredible, but I can’t accept it.”
“You can and you will,” he tells her.
Mom shakes her head in wonder. “I … I don’t even know what to say. I just … why?”
Colton meets my eyes, both of us knowing exactly why this happened. I shake my head ever so slightly, hoping he’s able to put his douchey tendencies to rest, if only for a second and tell her what I need him to, rather than admit that she got a raise because I demanded it on her behalf, risking everything.
He looks back at Mom and I hold my breath, the anticipation burning within me. “Because you deserve it,” he finally says, putting me out of my misery. “With Dad gone, I thought it was a good time to review all the finances and decided that all the full-time staff could use a raise. The way my father has treated them over the years hasn’t always been great and they should be compensated for that. But there were a select few who are here every day, busting their asses to make my life easier, and what better way to show my appreciation than offering them what they deserve? I see you, Mrs. Munroe, everything you do here. You’re the best housekeeper we’ve had in years.”
Tears brim in her eyes and she pulls Colton into another hug. “Are you sure this isn’t just because you’re trying to impress my daughter?”
“I seriously doubt that throwing money around is something that’s going to impress a girl like Ocean.”
Mom nods and pulls back. “You’d be right about that,” she says. “So very right.”
We get back into cleaning up and every few minutes, a small joyful laugh slips out of Mom, and every time it does, Colton grins to himself, making all sorts of happiness sweep through me.
We finish up and it’s not long before Mom excuses herself to get ready for bed, leaving me with Colton staring down at me. His hands drop to my waist, just as they always do and I find myself leaning into him, bringing my hands to his wide chest and sliding them up around his neck while wondering what exactly is going on here. Are we more than just two people having a little fun while constantly at each other’s throats? Are we together and I just don’t know it? No. I don’t know.
“What are you doing now?” he murmurs, letting his lips brush across mine.
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I was maybe going to find another book to read.”
His eyes darken. “You could always come and chill with me.”
“Dare I ask what chilling with you entails?”
Colton laughs. “Honestly, when it comes to you, I have no fucking idea.”
I can’t help but laugh with him because he’s never been so right. When it comes to this messed up relationship that continues to grow between us, every step has been taken in the dark. Something sobers within me and I raise my chin to gently press my lips against his. “Thank you,” I whisper.
