“Where exactly are we going?” She held her purse in her lap, and she was staring out of the window as I backed out of the parking spot.
“You need to live a little.” I looked over, distracted by the way she bounced her knee. She was in a pair of tiny blue jean shorts, and her legs were on full display. I knew that she hadn’t done that for me. It was for her date, but my cock didn’t care.
Her skin was so smooth and begging to be touched, and I had ruined any chance of that happening for her tonight. When I had invited myself on their date, I hadn’t exactly planned everything through.
Cock-blocking was really my one and only goal, but Eli was such a tool. He didn’t know shit about Allie, and even worse, he didn’t care to. But she had still been smiling at him like it was the greatest date she had ever been on, and she deserved more than that.
God, I hoped she realized that.
I couldn’t stand the idea that she thought this was what she could possibly want.
“I live plenty, thank you.”
“Do you?” I ran my hand through my hair and relaxed into my seat. “I bet you haven’t been surfing in years or roller skating.” Those used to be two of her favorite things in the world once upon a time.
“Of course not, Carson. I’m not a kid anymore. I have school and work and picking up extra shifts. College will be here before we know it, and I have to be ready to pay for my tuition.” She huffed and toyed with a piece of her hair.
I knew what she was thinking. I didn’t have to do those things. Not besides school, and even then, I could make shit grades and I would still be able to afford college. Allie always thought that was the biggest difference between me and her. Our families’ money. But she was wrong.
Her family may not have had the old money that mine did, but they had everything else that we were lacking. At least they did when I still knew them.
“Okay. Then let’s make a bet.”
“What kind of bet?”
“For tonight, just for tonight, you have to say yes to everything I want us to do.”
“Oh, is that all?” She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Then what exactly is in this for me?”
“Well.” I thought about what Allie could possibly want from me, and there was only one thing. “After tonight, I will leave you alone. No more cock-blocking you and Eli. No more asshole comments.”
She turned in her seat, her knee pushing onto the console, and she gaped at me. “Just like that?”
“Just like that. Simple, easy.”
“I only have to agree to five things that you say tonight.”
“Twenty,” I blurted, and she laughed.
“There’s no way in hell. Ten.”
“Deal.” I stuck out my hand, and she hesitantly took it in hers.
“So, what’s first? It’s already eight-thirty.”
“Calm down. You’re not going to turn into a pumpkin at midnight, and I’m sure your mom won’t care what time you come home if you tell her you’re with me.”
“I swear, your ego never ceases to amaze me. My mom might have felt like that once, but not anymore.”
She was lying. I had seen Mrs. Taylor out at the gas station just a few weeks ago, and she wouldn’t stop telling me about how much she missed me around her house. I wasn’t sure how much Allie had told her about what happened between us or where our relationship stood now, but if she knew, she wasn’t fazed by it.
“Give me your phone.”
“What? No.”
“This is yes number one, Allie. Give me your phone.”
She grumbled before sliding her phone out of her back pocket and into my hands. I quickly found her contacts and clicked on Mom. It rang for a few seconds before Mrs. Taylor answered.
I pressed speaker and set her phone in my lap.
“Well, how was it? Was he a total gentleman or did you get a first kiss?”
“Oh my God,” Allie grumbled and covered her face, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hi, Mrs. Taylor. This is actually Carson.”
“Oh.” She chuckled. “I didn’t realize Allie was with you. I thought she was out on a date.”
“She was.” I nodded even though her mom couldn’t see me. “But it was a bit of a bust, if you ask me.”
“Nobody did,” Allie whispered, and I quickly reached out and covered her mouth. Allie tried to tug my hand away, but I didn’t budge.
“Well, that stinks. I had high hopes for this guy.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to take her out to have the best night of her life if you’re okay with that. She said she had a curfew, but I was hoping just for tonight.”
Allie licked the palm of my hand like she thought that was going to make me move my hand, but she was absolutely wrong. It did nothing but make my dick stir in my pants.
“Oh!” I could practically hear the smile in her voice. “Yes. You two go and have fun! If that’s what Allie wants to do, she rarely ever does anything fun these days.”
“That’s exactly what I said.” I slowly pulled my hand away from her mouth, and I let my fingers brush over her lips. I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help it. “I’ll let you talk to her, though. Here she is.”
I handed the phone to Allie, and she rolled her eyes. “Hey, Mom.”
She was already trying to take the phone off speakerphone when her mom started talking. “Allie girl, I call that a trade-up. Eli Scott doesn’t hold a candle to Carson Hale.”
“Oh my God, Mom.” Allie shoved the phone against her ear and looked so damn adorable when she was embarrassed. “Yes. He heard you. I can just come home if you want me to.”
I had no idea what her mom said on the other line, but Allie pushed her head back against the headrest and looked so frustrated.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“I will be home before then. I have school tomorrow.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
Allie tucked her phone back in her pocket as I laughed. “I told you that your mom loves me.”
“My mom has a bad judge of character when it comes to boys.”
“Not true.” I turned into my neighborhood. “Your dad is awesome.”
“Well, yeah.” She looked around. “He’s the one exception. Where are we going?”
“My house.” I nodded ahead at my giant home that looked so cold. “Yes number two is going surfing.”
“No.” She shook her head as I pulled into the driveway. “It’ll be dark soon, and I don’t have my swimsuit.”
I parked my car and turned off the ignition. “Just go in your bra and panties.”
“That’s not happening.” She was still shaking her head as I climbed out of the car and made my way to her side.
I opened her door and leaned inside. “Come on. You can wear one of my t-shirts then.”
“And a pair of shorts.” She crossed her arms, and I knew she wouldn’t get out until I agreed. I may not have known much about Allie anymore, but I knew how stubborn she was. She always had been.
“Fine. You do realize I saw you in a bikini like two days ago, though, right?”
“It doesn’t matter.”