Aria covered her ears. “I really don’t need to hear this. It grosses me out.”
“Ah, young virginal ears, what would you do?” Chris asked.
“Stop bringing my cherry into the equation. Rach, I’m worried seeing as your boyfriend is obsessed with my virginity.”
Even as she spoke, her cheeks went bright red. She was a fighter, and Eli adored her for it.
“Can we get to my place, please? The last thing I need is for plastic baby mom to come looking for me. It’s so embarrassing.” Chris shook his head, and made some gagging noises.
“Do you think your dad loves this one?” Aria asked, heading toward Eli’s car.
“Nah. He likes the fact she’ll suck his dick. I’ve heard them screwing, and it’s enough to make me blush. Gross shit and all.”
Aria shivered. “Ew. I don’t even think my parents sleep in the same room anymore.”
“Since when? I thought your parents loved each other.”
“I don’t. Since my dad has been an imposing prick, and driving my mom crazy. I’ll never understand them, never.” She opened the car door, and climbed inside.
“See you guys back at the house.”
He got behind the wheel, turning over the ignition. “So, a virgin, huh?”
“Not you, too?” she asked.
“I’m just curious how a beautiful girl like you hasn’t been snapped up.”
She rolled her eyes, laughing. “What has gotten into you? I’m a beautiful girl? Please, Eli. I’m the fat girl at this school. You know it, I know it. Even if I was to lose a ton of weight, nothing would change. I’d still be, and always would be, the same old fat girl.”
“I don’t like it when say shit like that. You’re not fat, baby.”
“Eli?”
He grabbed her hand, cupping her face, and forcing her to look at him. “You’re not fat. I mean it, and I don’t want you saying that kind of shit in my company.”
“Military school sure made you bossy.”
“You got to believe it, babe.”
“You’re so different. Take Joanne for example. You always said you liked her.”
He cringed. “I don’t want to talk about it, okay? Those girls, that life, it’s all over.”
She tilted her head to the side, and he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her skin was so soft.
“What changed, Eli?” she asked.
“I changed. I came to realize something.”
The tension between them grew. Did she feel it as well? He wasn’t sure, but the desire to kiss her was strong. He leaned forward intending to do exactly that, when a car beep interrupted them.
“Come on, lovebirds,” Branson said, shouting.
She laughed, pulling away from him.
He was going to beat the shit out of Branson.
Starting up the car, Eli followed Branson all the way to Chris’s house. Climbing out, he made sure Aria left her books in the car.