Page 49 of Governor

He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Oooh,baby.”

This is one of the reasons I love Carter, because he makes me laugh. “Unless youreallywant to adopt me as a little brother and pay my expenses for me, I probably shouldn’t poke that bear quite yet.” I sigh, because part of me wouldreallylove to see the look on Mom’s face as Carter kisses me, right there in front of Austin’s coworkers and her snooty friends, and I grab his ass and grind against him, just for the shock value.

I’dtotallylet him kiss me for this cause. It’d be the first action I’d had in a while, fake or not.

“Besides,” I add, “you might not even want to be roommates with me after we escape her clutches.”

We eat in silence for a few minutes before Carter speaks again. “I have a condition about Saturday.” He’s no longer smiling, and a little fear fills me.

“What condition?”

“When I say we leave, we leave. Period. I don’t want any arguments from you when I do, either. I’m not going to let her torture you. I’ll make sure I blame it all on me, come up with a socially acceptable excuse that will work, but you willnotargue with me. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” I don’t mean to say that, but it slips out automatically, a trained response to this kind of sober warning from someone older than me.

He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to call me ‘sir’.” He grins. “But don’t get me too used to that. I kinda like it.”

As always, Carter leaves me laughing and yet again thankful for a friend like him.

* * * *

“I’ll go with you, if you want,” Susa offers that night when we arrive at her place for dinner and laundry. But since the plus-one is just that, it would mean Carter needs to stay behind. I don’t dare bring two people with me without asking my mother first, and I want to call her about as much as I want to strip naked and streak through the middle of rush-hour traffic.

Fuck that, I’dratherstrip naked and streak through traffic.

Honestly? IneedCarter. You have no idea how relieved I am to be facing this with my friend by my side. A true hero.

A guy my mom can’t boss around.

I’m almost hoping she tries to do that, just to see what happens, even if it means repercussions for me on the other end of things.

It’d be worth it.

Carter speaks up before I can. “It’s better if I go,” he says. “She sounds like someone who likes to push people around.”

A dark gleam appears in Susa’s blue eyes that makes me rock hard. “I’d like to see her try to pushmearound,” she mutters.

Susa’s eyes are a gorgeous shade of warm aqua blue that are nothing like my mother’s icy blue orbs.

“Down, sweetie,” Carter says. “While I’d pay good money to watch that smackdown, it’s better if I go with him. I can get him out of there early.” He suddenly frowns as pats his pockets, like he’s missing something. “Oh, crap. Looks like I’ve forgotten my medication, and if I don’t take it, I have seizures. We really need to leave, Owen. I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot, and I’ve spoiled this evening for you. I mean, I know how much you were looking forward to seeing your parents.”

Susa giggles. “I believe you.”

“I think Mom will, too,” I volunteer. I don’t want to let on to Susa how downright terrified I am of my mother, but at this point, that’s kind of moot. “Ireallyappreciate you going with me.” I turn back to her. “Sorry we’re bailing on you Saturday.”

“It’s fine, guys. Really. I’m going to study. And Daddy’s got a few events coming up soon that I’ll be driving up to Tallahassee for, so it’s cool.”

I believe her. There’s no double-edged “tone” in her voice to give me a hint that she’s being passive-aggressive.

There’s never anything in her voice but honesty. Both of them.

“What’s wrong, Owen?” Carter asks.

I take a deep breath. “You guys are going to think I’m a doof.”

“Try us,” Susa says.

They’re both staring at me, waiting.