The Trouble With Love: An Age Gap Romance (The Forbidden Love 1)

My mom and sisters left last Saturday. With the girls back at school on Monday and Mom needing to be back at work, it was sad to say goodbye but part of this whole being an adult thing. Despite the distance, I manage to gain some insight as to Will’s whereabouts. Mom has casually mentioned that Dad stayed back in the city to close a deal involving Will’s company. According to Mom, things haven’t gone as planned, and Dad was really stressed. Will, on the other hand, has been working nonstop alongside Dad. It explains the absent contact, but it doesn’t erase the anger that festers as each day passes. I mean, is it that hard to send a text?

Once again, I find myself unable to make the first move out of fear of looking desperate.

By the following weekend, with barely any sleep and my brain wired from late-night cramming, I decide to plan a weekend of absolutely nothing but sleep.

That is, until Liesel jumps on my bed, ruining my peaceful Friday night.

“Get out of bed. We’re going out.”

“Out?” I stare at the window, all fogged up. “But it’s cold, and I’m tired.”

Liesel rips the sheets off, exposing my skin, making me shiver. “Okay, spill it. Who is it making you all broody and desperate?”

I sit up, folding my arms beneath my breasts. “I’m not broody and desperate!”

“Oh, really? You’re always checking your phone, and you’ve been stomping around with a chip on your shoulder. Tell me who he or she is?”

“She?”

“It’s college.” Liesel shrugs her shoulders. “Anything is possible.”

“It’s not a she,” I mumble, lowering my gaze. “And besides, have I really been that moody?”

“Well, you haven’t been a ray of sunshine.”

“It’s nothing. Like nothing.”

“Uh-huh,” Liesel drags. “Well, nothing is obviously not calling you back. So, I have a plan.”

“The last time you had a plan, I got drunk, and well…”

“In the nothing’s bed?”

“Yes, but it’s not what you think.”

“I think you fucked him. He hasn’t called back, and you’re getting all clingy.”

“Clingy?” I shout, followed but an incredulous laugh. “I haven’t called him nor given him any reason to think I’m clingy, and I’m not.”

“So then, back to my plan. There’s a party a few blocks over. I say we hit it, look hot, and post stories to make our men jealous.”

I roll my eyes at the ridiculous plan. “Firstly, I don’t have a man. I’m manless. As single as you can get. Secondly, you have a man, so why do you want to make him jealous?”

Liesel motions for me to scoot over as she lays beside me, staring at the ceiling. “Because he hasn’t called me back since I accidentally blurted ‘I love you’ in the middle of sex.”

“Oh,” I mouth with a scowl. “But did you mean I love you because the sex was great? Or I love you, love you?”

“Because it’s great… hello, it’s only been like two months. You can’t love someone that quickly.”

“I guess not…” I trail off. “But look, I’m tired, so a pass from me. You go, though. I’ll cheer you on in my sleep.”

“Fine, then,” she complains in a huff, hopping out of my bed and leaving my room.

My momentary silence is interrupted by the sound of my phone buzzing beside me. I lazily pick it up, noticing Mom’s caller ID.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, honey, just a quick hello. I’m in the city for one night.”