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Mom
Stop being a baby. You haven’t been there in almost a week. I did give birth to you, remember? That entitles me to a lifetime of pumpkin chai lattes. I swear she puts something special in these drinks. Could you ask her if she adds cinnamon? I could try to make it here if I knew what was in it.
For fuck’s sake. That would mean I’d have to speak to her. And I highly doubted she’d have anything to say to me after my last visit anyway.
You do remember that the Crawfords screwed over me and River, right? You’re putting me in a bad situation.
Mom
Demi Crawford was young at the time and was not to blame for what happened. I raised you better than that, Romeo. We don’t even know if the parents knew what happened. Should you be held accountable for the mistakes that your father made? Go get the pumpkin lattes and stop this nonsense. And find out what kind of magic she’s putting in there for me.
I slipped on my coat and walked out to find the gym empty, minus Ray, who was mopping the floors.
“You out of here?” he asked.
“Yep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, Romeo,” he called out.
I turned around to face him. “Yeah?”
“There’s only one way to shut down a bully. You know that, right?”
I smirked because I already knew what he was going to say, but I liked to mess with him. “Ignore him?”
He barked out a laugh, and it echoed around the gym. “Nah. Punch him in the fucking face.”
I shook my head and held up my hand. “I’ll think about it.”
I wanted to fight Leo, but I also knew that fighting wasn’t my long game anymore. I’d been reading a lot about real estate and investments. A big chunk of money would allow me to fund a business like that, as well as help my family and secure my future. I knew if I trained hard, I could survive the wrath of Leo—at least, I hoped that was true. My height, my agility, and my youth played in my favor. He was a stocky dude, not very technical, but a scrapper with a badass right hook. Leo was a bitof a wild card at times. He was best known for knocking out his opponents quickly, and the dude could take a punch and bounce back, which had always impressed me.
I stepped outside to see there were barely a few flurries falling from the sky. It wasn’t even February yet, so my mom knew we’d still see snow for a while longer. She’d lived in Magnolia Falls her entire life. But every year, she did this. Complained about the snow after the holidays passed, as if it hadn’t been this way every year since she was a kid.
I walked next door and tugged the door open, seeing that Demi was behind the counter. The place was empty, as it would be closing up in about fifteen minutes. She looked up, and her green gaze locked with mine. She had a little spatter of freckles across her nose, brown hair cut just past her shoulders, and plump lips. She was fucking gorgeous.
Even if she is a Crawford.
She didn’t greet me this time. Instead, she just raised a brow, as if she were waiting for me to act like a dick.
I cleared my throat as I stepped up to the counter. “Can I get two pumpkin chai lattes to go?”
She studied me before ringing up the order. “Eleven dollars even.”
I set the cash in her hand this time and not on the counter. It had been an asshole move.
She dropped the money into the register and moved to make the drinks. I scrubbed a hand down the back of my neck because I knew she hated me, and she had every right to be giving me the silent treatment.
I actually preferred it, as making small talk with a Crawford was never a good idea.
“Can I ask you what’s in the drink?”
“Do you think I’m going to poison you, Romeo?” Her tone was dry, and I kind of liked that she could dish out the attitude.
“I doubt it. I don’t think you’d do well in prison, looking like that,” I said, and I wanted to kick myself for the lame comeback. Even if it was true.
“Obviously, you’re unaware that orange is my favorite color.” She smirked, and it was cute as hell. I pushed the thought away.
“No one’s favorite color is orange.” I leaned over the counter when she turned around to fill the cups with hot water, and my eyes moved down her lean body and soft curves. Her jeans covered her tight little ass perfectly.
