“This looks disgusting,” he says, as he moves his fork around.
“Hey, don’t judge it before you try it. If you don’t eat them, then you don’t get anything else. Those are the rules,” I place my hands on my hips and he sneers at me, before taking a bite, and I bust a gut laughing at his expression.
“You look horrified. It isn’t that bad,” I say.
“It isn’t great.”
“You are such a snob.” I dig into my food and he continues to eat his.
It isn’t long before he finishes, and he is just staring at his bowl.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m still hungry,” he replies with a pout.
“No, you’re not, there was more than enough there to fill you up.”
“I’m telling you, I am hungry. I know how I feel.” His pout is only getting bigger.
“No, you’re not. You just think you’re hungry. Mind over matter, dear.” I pat him on the hand and his glower only intensifies.
“For crying out loud, Luna. I am starving over here.”
“For the last time, you are not hungry. You’re not having anything else, it’s against the rules.”
“You can’t be serious, this is insane.”
“Well, you either admit that you’re fine, or you go to bed.” It’s hard not to laugh.
“It’s only nine o’clock. I can’t go to bed, I’m not tired.”
“Then stop complaining that you’re hungry,” I say with my hands on my hips.
“But I am.”
“Then go to bed.”
“Woman, you are impossible,” he says, as he puts his bowl in the sink, and I’m shaking.
“Such a brat.” He spins me around, until he lines our bodies up, and his hands are on my hips.
“Surprisingly, I had a good time today. I’m glad we did it.” He dips his head closer to mine, and his eyes are staring at my lips.
“Me too, on both counts.” My hand is resting against his chest, and I need to push him away. Is one moment of weakness so bad?
“I’m going to kiss you now, Star,” he says in a low, gravelly voice.
His mouth is on mine in moments, and both slow and hard at the same time. My toes are curling in my shoes, and my hand is fisting his shirt. My heart is racing, and all reasonable thought is flying straight out of my mind.
His hands slide around to my ass, and my head kicks back in. My hand flattens back out against him, and I gently push away.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m scared to say. I don’t want to upset you or worse, make you angry.”
“What, you think I would do something to you?” His lip pulls back as he jerks away from me. I reach out to him, but he only steps even further away from me.
“No, but look what happened last time, and I didn’t mean to offend you. There is no way I can say what is on my mind and not do that this time. It’s messed up and honestly, it’s really…”
“Just say it.” He starts pacing the floor, and he looks at me through narrowed eyes.
“Okay, but I don’t want to spoil this week. Please, Emmet, let me tell you when we get back. I’ll tell you everything then. I promise.”
He agrees and a huge breath of relief washes out of me. At least we have a few more days together. Hopefully, I can keep those thoughts out of my head, and not cause anymore upset.
30
Back To Reality
Things were almost perfect with Emmet, and I’m back to feeling confused by him. My feelings aren’t simple, but there are so many there. Five guys, one I’m in love with, but also feel hurt whenever I lay eyes on him, and four who are meaning more to me every day I get to spend more time with them.
I’ve been back for a week now and Tucker comes back today, while the majority of the Harkwrights are leaving for two weeks for in house training in their chosen fields. Whether they chose them or their parents, it doesn’t matter. It’s what they’ll be doing when they leave here next year.
Which means that Emmet won’t be held back any longer. I’m surprised he’s let me get away with not telling him what’s bothering me for this long. Speak of the devil. That saying has never felt more apt than right now.
“My Star, you’ve been avoiding me,” he says, as he takes the chair beside mine. I’m hoping he won’t say anything while we’re in the library, but I doubt it will stop him. Not Emmet.
“I’ve just been trying to catch up on what I missed,” I say, as I tuck my hair behind my ears and wipe my sweaty hands against my leggings.
“I want to know what happened while we were away. I won’t be held off anymore.”
“That’s fair, I just don’t want to tell you.” Hey, at least he can’t accuse me of not being honest.
“Tough, because I want to know. Oh look, it seems we’re alone.” Damn, I hate that smirk.
“I-I-I f-felt weird having you kiss me...”
“What, because of Tucker?”
“No, because of your... your mom.” Why is it so hard to say it out loud. Because you know how he’s going to react.
“What has she got to do with anything? You haven’t even met her.” He’s staring at me with his arms crossed over his chest, and a hard smile on his beautiful face. Why do they all have to be so... gorgeous? It isn’t fair!
“I look like her, Emmet. How can you be attracted to me? Seriously, it’s messed up.” I shake my head, while my nose wrinkles.
His lips flatten as his nostrils flare. A humorless laugh escapes his perfect mouth, and his hands are clenching onto the armrests.
“So what? You think I want to fuck my mom or something?”
I don’t know what I think, and I can’t answer that. It’s like a loaded gun, and I’m afraid it will point at me when he pulls the trigger.
“Fuck me, you do. You think I want to fuck my mom or something. Jesus fucking Christ, Luna. I can’t even look at you right now,” he says through gritted teeth. He gets to his feet while pulling at his hair with both hands.
“Why, because I look like her?” Seriously, shut up.
“Un-fucking-believable, I’ve got to go. But don’t even think we are done with this, we will talk when I get back. Because I can’t trust myself to be around you right now.” He gives me one last sneer before he storms off.
I should have kept my mouth shut. Better yet, I shouldn’t have reacted when he kissed me.
I’ve baked a batch of cheesy rolls, a loaf of sourdough bread, and chocolate and fudge cookies. I guess I feel a little calmer, but not as much as I had hoped. Tucker will be back any minute, I mean maybe he’s already back. I wonder where he goes. Can it always be business related? Because it sure as Hell felt personal over Christmas. I keep wracking my brain for any clues I may have missed, but I can’t think of any.
I am fully stocked and ready to go back to my room. I think I’ll drop these off up there, and then maybe go for a swim. I walk out of the kitchen and head toward the stairs when a pair of hands grip my hips and spin me around. I come face to face with Tucker, one minute I’m standing here looking at him, and the next his mouth is on mine and he’s claiming me thoroughly. Right here, in front of everyone. The guy who doesn’t kiss is sure of a heck making a show of it. Should I be concerned about this? Because it isn’t him, but I can’t deny that I’m enjoying every single second of it.