I Shouldn’t Love Him (Book 2) – Chapter 49
LAKE
Tiffany closes the driver’s side door of her BMW and walks across the construction site to where Manning and I were sitting on the wall.
Manning placed his elbows on his knees and watched her approach. My sister had this effect on men. They were always looking over or around me to see her. What did he think when he looked at her? What did he notice first?
des, and college applications.
ttractiveness more.
nt through the school.”
alked.
tops in front of us, shields her eyes and places a hand on
? I
she wouldn’t send me home.
found my bracelet.
om my wrist to the
You smoke ? »
d on the brick wal
urse not.”
al.”
in his soft voice. Deep. “And smoking at his age is not normal.”
ed her nose.
by the way.
ned silent.
urt his eyes.
The mall. Nordstrom’s birthday party is next month, so I was making a list of what I’m going to get. Like Dad said, it’s good to be prepared. She looked between the two of us. “I “I’m sorry if she bothered you. She’s not supposed to b
worse than being sent back inside.
nning shook his head sli
il now how little I had been outside this summer because of school.
ou work here?” »
mates whistled at me yesterday.”
u get along well with him?”
. He’s not my type.”
nin
“Then it won
cool name.
”
“No.”
here?
wenty-three.”
. He might even be too old for her.
ant to come in for a beer?” Ti
ts’ alcohol. It should have gone unmentioned since Tiffany wouldn’t be twenty-one for another two years, but it had been said more than once, since Tiffany had stolen from their hideout before. I didn’t
dn’t like lying to my parents, but sometimes, a teenager like my sister could be more threatening than anyone.
osed one eye aga
h break.”
d up at him.
you don’t have
iet.”
Tiffany burst ou
was even less likely to be on a diet. I forced a laugh too.
” She makes the best.
“Sorry,
ith him.
ake you a sandwich,” I blurted.
ing looked over my head.
” Get the hell out.”
ng’s dark eyes narrowed on Tiffan
to your sist
ushing visibly.
s I’m joking. Do
I nodded.
ng: Go away, or else. It wasn’t fair, though. I had come here first.
don’t have any more homework. Tomorrow is my last d
y shifted her feet.
n.”
y would find a way to get what she wanted, and at least that way I’d do something for Manning too. “Okay.
“
Tiffany.
ty minutes.”
smiled.
es if you can’t jump,” he told me.
ittle. “Are you always arguing with someone who looks out for you?”
ere huge. And hot. They made me hot – my cheeks, my chest, all the way down between my legs. This time I shivered, just replaying it in my head. Luckily, I was behind them, out of sight. Tiffany would think I was ridiculous for being so excited about being helped fall off a wall.
e when the Brazilian exchange student in my Spanish class spoke Portuguese to confuse the teacher. In the hall, Manning looked around from him. It seemed even bigger inside. We had vaulted ceilings, but I was sure if he stretched hard enough and jumped high enough he could touch them. He looked as uncomfortable as I did. I needed something to do with my hands. I nee
y called us into the living room where she was hunched over the mini-fridge behind Dad’s bar. “We have Corona or
“Should you drink when
ack to admire my father’s impressive selection of liquor, but he had only looked down at mine. “No. I’ll have a Coke if you hav
y.
you want?” I asked hi
h and for the first time , he smiled. “I’ll eat whatever you make.”
n smile. “Okay. I’m going to do the Lake Special.
l consisted of slices of turkey and ham layered between cheddar and provolone, covered in mayonnaise and barbecue sauce, topped with lettuce, tomato and avocado. For Manning, I would add extra meat, since he had a difficult job and looked big enough for two sandwiches. I took the ingredients out of the fridge, trying unsuccessfully to catch the words of the conversation in the room neighbor. I didn’t want Tiffany to know more about him than I
walked around the island where I was standing slicing an avocado. For a brief moment, its warmth warmed my bac
op of the meat to disguise my awkwardness. No one in my life was twice my size. size, but pointing it out was rude. “You don’t have to eat it all.” “
e a crumb.”
alked in, put down the sodas, and walked across the isle to pick some avocado from the sandwich. “Are you from here, Manning?” asked. her as she sat down next to him.
a frown, I took a fresh avocado from the fruit basket. Tiffany never made her own food, so she didn’t respect the art of presentation.I cut into the gnarled skin as Ma
l the time.”
the time.”
Tiffany.
pressed.
a.
e?”
“No.”
a slice of sourdough bread on top of the sandwich, cut it down the middle and admired my handiwork. In two halves, the sandwich almost toppled over. “You might not be ab
ng,” Manning said.
.
ng happened. passed. I flexed my hand and tried again, putting more muscle behind it. The top didn’t budge.
and no family. Why Orange County? Wh
. “When I turned eighteen. I like time.”
I said, concentrating on selecting the best pickle from the jar.
ow,” he said.
Tiffany asked.
“You’re pissing her off,
said to Tif
ng, Lake? I ignored her . For some reason, preparing Manning’s food had made me brave. Invincible. I had something he w
the sandwich and dug in.
.
of it. “This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had.”
ed, I probably looked like an idiot, but I didn’t care.
”
dded and wiped his mouth on his s
Are you at University?” Tiffany as
en to touch him like he belonged to her. Ask him personal questions. I had put up with my sister for sixteen year
t us both as he chewed.
him.
ed,” Tiffany said. “You’re like a five year old…”
ing I was more childish than he probably already was. “Mom put them there. I don’t even li
harp, delivered in a low, gravelly voice that left no room for argument. “I already told you, don’t talk to your sister l
when I looked away.
must not have any siblings,” Tiffany said casually, gla
olding my shoulder out to face Manning.
” He wiped his mouth with the paper towel and finished his soda. His plate wa
ld you like another sandwich?”
is stomach. “I don’t want to say
o my feet. “Need any help there?”
get the materials.” I bathed in
r of his rare pl
eft the kitchen. I went to a window at the front of the house. Manning stood at the end of the driveway with her. I wanted him to recognize me .I was greedy. I had spent a lot o