Page 104 of With a Cherry On Top

“What’s going on?” I ask, blanking on something better.

“Nothing’s going on.” She still keeps her nose buried in her phone, avoiding my gaze. “I’m on my period, cramps are killing me, and you heard what just happened in the bathroom.”

So that’s why she didn’t text. She didn’t need me. Simple as that.

A bitter taste fills my mouth. What did I expect? That she’d call me just to talk? That she’d ask me to hold her, to stay? She was clear about what this is—she told me yesterday, before she made me spill into my briefs. Feelings aren’t part of the deal.

“A heads-up wouldn’t have hurt,” I say before I can stop myself.

She looks up sharply. “I need to explain myself for not wanting to have sex with you?”

“Sex?” I bark a laugh. “We don’t havesex.”

“Really? What’s with the attitude, Chef?”

Unbelievable. “We don’t have sex, Charlotte. You use me—not even all of me, just my mouth. My lap, if you want to piss off your mom. And when you’re done, you toss me aside.”

She lets out a sharp, mirthless chuckle. “And what do you do with me on TOP? You watch me. You use me. And then you leave.” Her gaze is razor-sharp. “Why should I act any different?”

My chest tightens. I don’t even know what we’re talking about anymore. Is she mad because she thinks I’ve been watching her on TOP? She’s always known I’m Cole, so shemustknow I haven’t. Not since that night we talked for hours.

“I’m not . . . I haven’t been on TOP.”

She tilts her chin slightly, studying me from beneath her lashes. “That’s right.You’renot on top.” She glares. “Iam.”

The words land like a slap, cold and cutting.

“What did you think, huh? That because we’ve been fooling around, I now owe you something? Idon’t. You don’t even know me, Aaron. You don’t know the first thing about me, and if you did, you wouldn’t be here. If you knew the real reason?—”

She cuts herself off, but Iwantto know. “The real reason...for what?”

“Forget it.”

“No, Charlotte, I?—”

“I said forget it.” Her gaze holds mine. “Just do me a favor, all right? Don’t pretend this is something it isn’t, and don’t leave the door open on your way out.”

I watch her for a beat, then, with a tight jaw, I turn and walk away.

She wanted to hurt me, and she fucking managed.

My phone rings, and holding back a curse, I pull it from my pocket, my pulse kicking up when I see Sadie’s school’s contact flashing on the screen.

“Hello?” I say into the phone, scrambling to answer.

“Hi, Aaron. It’s Penny.”

“Yes, hi. Is everything okay?”

“I—yes! Oh, I’m so sorry I worried you. Sadie is perfectly fine. Currently giving Thomas a lecture on waiting for his turn. Between the two of us, he needs it.”

I nod even though she can’t see me. “Oh. Good.” I wait for her to say something else, and when the silence stretches, I prompt, “What can I do for you?”

“We’ve hit a last-minute snag with the Mother’s Day event.” There’s hesitation in her voice, like she’s worried I’ll shut her down. “I’m sure you have a lot going on, but?—”

“That’s okay. What’s wrong?”

“Well, you’re a cook, right? Sorry—a chef?”