Numerous pairs of judgmental eyes all condemn me to hell, and I groan while making a mental note to add this place to the growing list of establishments I will never be able to show my face again.

One thing is for sure, I really hate him.

Leaving my dignity behind, I rush out the door, covering my face as much as possible the entire time. Ethan is waiting by a motorcycle when I get outside.

Of course he drives a freaking motorcycle.

He’s grinning when he winks at me, and he starts taking slow, purposeful strides toward me.

“Told you not to ignore me,” he says while waggling his eyebrows.

“Are you out of your mind? There were kids in there.”

He mock shudders. “How dare I scar them for life,” he says with faux indignation. “Until now, they’ve only heard their parents fucking.”

“You’re an ass. You know that, right?”

“Get on. I’ll take you to grab something to drink. It might help dig that stick out of your ass for a night.”

I eye his motorcycle, then I glance back at him, narrowing my eyes.

“I have to go find another place to sell me a dress, thank you very fucking much.”

“Why a dress?” he muses.

“Because there’s a charity thing this weekend for the hospital. You know what charity is, right? It’s where someone selflessly gives to someone else.”

I start to turn, but he hurries in front of me, blocking my path as his grin broadens.

“Really? You can afford a plate at something like that? Guess a nurse gets paid more than I realized.”

“I’m guessing you don’t work at all, considering you’re constantly finding ways to ruin my day.”

“You do remember you stalked me at the gym, right?”

So he has me there. That was a moment of weakness.

“That won’t happen again,” I assure him, sounding a little too self-righteous for my own liking.

He’s starting to make me hate myself. Freaking eh. It does sound like I have a stick up my ass. But it’s necessary.

Deciding not to delight him in more pointless verbal sparring, I barge by him, and he moves, laughing behind me as I scurry into my car. This is getting ridiculous.

I also realize there’s no way in hell I can ever pull off wearing a clearance rack dress to the charity ball and show up with a Sterling.

Picking up my phone, I dial Allie. I may not be able to ask others for a favor, but I can always borrow a dress from my bestie. We’ve been sharing closets for years.

“It’s about damn time you called me,” she answers, sounding a little breathless.

“You’d better not be having sex.”

She snickers, and I slowly find myself relaxing, feeling more like me. Ethan really does make me turn into a turtle and duck into my shell. It makes me hate him all the more.

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, well, I’d be having so much sex I wouldn’t be able to walk if I was living with Wren,” I joke, not meaning it one little bit. Wren’s cute, but not my type at all. However, he’s freaking perfect for Allie.

“Ha. Funny. He’s out. What’s up?”

Tags: C.M. Owens Sterling Shore Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net