Craving Trix (The Aces' Sons 1)

“Gonna let me in?” I asked, taking a step forward.

“Nope.”

“Wasn’t really a question, Sweetbea.”

“Don’t call me that.”

I ignored her scowl and kept moving forward until she had no choice but to step out of my way or be pressed up against my chest.

“Is this really necessary?” she asked, shutting the door as I walked farther into her living room.

“Yeah.”

“I don’t want you here.”

“That’s pretty clear,” I replied, walking down her hallway. I knew she had an extra bedroom that she kept for when her brother spent the night, and I found it easily. I remembered which door held her bedroom—it wasn’t something I’d ever forget, but I figured I’d get a lot less fight out of her if I didn’t put my shit in her room.

“If there’s an issue, why aren’t we on lockdown?” she asked, trailing behind me. “I mean, that I could understand. I don’t know why you have to—oomph.” She rocked back as I tossed my bag on the bed and turned into her. My hands came up to grasp her hips to keep her steady, but within seconds, she was taking a huge step back.

“Jumpy?” I asked, a small smile pulling at my lips.

“No.”

“Alright.” I nodded and stepped around her. “What’s for dinner?”

She sputtered and stomped after me as I made my way to the fridge. Even though I’d barely ever been to her house, when I opened the door, I found a six pack of my favorite beer in her fridge. Interesting.

“These old?” I asked, lifting one up before setting the neck against the edge of her countertop.

“Don’t!” she yelled, startling me. “Those counters are new, you idiot.”

I watched her silently as she searched for a bottle opener, finally finding it in the bottom of one of her kitchen drawers. She obviously hadn’t used it in a long time.

“No, they’re not old,” she mumbled, reaching to grab the beer out of my hand and opening it with a flick of her wrist before handing it back. I took a long pull as she tossed the top into the garbage.

“You get ’em for me?” I persisted as she pulled a package of raw pork out of the fridge.

“Obviously.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I took a seat at her kitchen table as she moved around the kitchen, cutting vegetables and stir-frying them with pork in a big wok while she grumbled.

“You live with Rose, so you’ll have to cut me some slack,” she told me over her shoulder. “Her food is insane.”

“Christ, I can’t eat there much or I’d be as fat as I was in high school.”

“You weren’t fat!” she argued, spinning around to glare at me.

“Oh, yeah, I was.” I chuckled. I’d been so glad when I’d been able to burn off the extra weight once I got a little older.

“No, you were the perfect size.”

“Perfect, huh?”

“Shut up. You know what I mean.”

She spun back around just in time to keep the food from burning and put another pot on the stove so she could steam some rice.

We were quiet as she brought me a second beer and finished cooking, and a little while later, she was setting a plate full of steaming food in front of me.

“So, how’s this going to work?” she asked as she poured herself a glass of water and sat down across from me. “You’re staying here? For how long?”

“Holy shit, that’s hot!” I moaned, covering my mouth so I could open it to cool off the pork burning my tongue.

“No shit, Sherlock. I just took it off the stove,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

I scowled back, finally swallowing the food in my mouth. Damn, even hot enough to burn, it was some good shit. “You’re not going to fight me?” I asked, scooping some more food onto my fork.

“I know how this works,” she said ruefully. “I stay with my parents or you stay here. You’re the lesser of two evils.”

“Those the options your pop gave you?”

“Yep.”

I nodded. Good man. “What’s your schedule like?”

“I have classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesdays I visit my mom, Thursdays I usually try to study most of the day. Weekends are free.”

“You workin’? Got a boyfriend?”

“Not working at the moment. I’ll start waitressing again for the catering company once summer break starts. The boyfriend status is none of your business.” She stood from the table and grabbed both our plates, taking them to the sink.

“My business if I need to invest in some earplugs,” I said, following her to the sink and stepping in behind her.

“What?” she asked, spinning to face me. “Why would you—” Her understanding dawned and her jaw dropped.

“Not gonna listen to you fuckin’ someone else.”

“You’re disgusting!”

“Just sayin’.”

“I wouldn’t have sex with someone if you were here.”

“Well, you’re not stayin’ anywhere else while we’ve got this shit goin’ on.”

“I don’t even have a fucking boyfriend!”