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He stared back, his breath just as short as mine

“We better get hoo

I nodded, nervous and scared but still shaking with lust “Yeah Yeah, okay”

He turned away and put the car in drive, then pulled back onto the road I sat back straight innot to think too directly about anything, trying not to think hoet the leather seat underneath of ot up

When we got home ent to our separate rooms without a word

I didn’t bother to get out ofinto my bed I was so exhausted, but it still took hours to fall asleep

Chapter Seven

When I woke up in theThere was no way James could have kissed me None

But he had

I touched my lips They felt puffy and sore froers they seeed It seeo downstairs Life as a norirl was impossible for me now He was my stepbrother

I pulledto face the day or the black twisted thoughts that were clouding the air and chokinge he wanted ut-tearing nausea of knowing I could never have hi

I rolled over, s my face in my pillow until I drifted back asleep

When I finally did et myself out of bed, I avoided James He must have had the same idea He skipped out on the fa he had work to do, but I didn't care I wasn't sure I could sit at the saive everything away I had this terrible idea that my father would look at me and just know It was ridiculous, but it didn't keepout in my room

Christ cao, it was all about the gifts and Santa, but this year, it was all about Ja with hi breakfast, was a rush parallel to anything I had felt as a child

I had gotten hi at the restaurant I had spent et hiive hie sweatshirt I had picked out It felt so impersonal now