Page 58 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)
One Month Later
“ Y es, Mom, I will.” I roll my eyes as I finish putting on my mascara. “I’m going over to his house in a few minutes and I will make sure to tell him about it.”
I finished my morning backyard yoga session half an hour ago—half an hour later than I wanted to—because, well, my time management skills suck.
I really do try to manage that better, especially because I know it drives Seamus absolutely crazy when I’m rushing to and from my classes or whatever else I planned, but didn’t schedule properly in my day.
But I know he doesn’t mind the extra time I spent in the backyard, as he watched my every move through his second story window.
Although I practically live at his house now, I still come over to mine for yoga and to toss my clothes around the room while I get ready. I don’t think his daily structured routine is ready to live with my wild, untamed one twenty-four seven.
Although, with the surprise I have for him today, he might not have a choice .
“Are you sure you’ll remember? You’re a bit flighty, you know.” My mouth drops open at my reflection in the mirror.
“Did you just call me flighty?” My tone verges on shrill since I’m completely offended.
“Oh, honey, you know you are. I’ll just call him myself.” She hangs up. She actually hangs up on me and my jaw drops even further as I let out a small gasp.
Ever since I brought him over and introduced him to my parents, they’ve been obsessed with him. I don’t even think they like me, their own freaking daughter, as much as they like him.
After the event at the courthouse, we decided—I decided—to tell my parents about Seamus. To share with them the entire story at camp and everything that happened up till that night.
We did leave out two important details.
One, the fact that we reconnected at Afterburn, because my parents don’t need to know about my shenanigans at a sex club.
And two, the parole hearing.
They heard what the public heard. Nathan Simmons committed suicide in his jail cell at the county courthouse.
Obviously, they covered that up to protect themselves because Seamus told me everything that happened in the cell.
I can’t imagine a man with a broken nose, two broken wrists, slits over his forearms with his head shoved into a toilet, was in any way an actual suicide.
Either way, justice was served.
I still have passing moments of guilt, but now my therapy consists more of acceptance than it does forgiveness, and I’m grateful for that shift.
My parents didn’t bat an eye, and when we shared more details about our experience at camp together, it just furthered their hatred for Nathan and adoration for Seamus.
It was an extremely emotional conversation between all of us, but one that was long overdue. And before the night ended, my parents were absolutely in love with Seamus .
Seamus admitted my mother reminds him of his mother, and there was some type of connection those two instantly had with each other.
And now, she won’t stop asking us over for dinner or calling my boyfriend directly.
A clink at the glass of my side window takes the attention away from my blacked out phone I was still staring at in shock. I duck my head down to look through my window.
Seamus stands, shirtless, his hands pressing into the window sill as he just barely leans out his second story window with a beaming smile I rarely get to see. His corded arms branch up the window like tree stumps, and I somehow salivate uncontrollably in my mouth.
I click the lock on the side panel and crack open the glass.
“What the hell is taking you so long?” he asks in all his topless glory.
“You know, between you and my mother, I swear.” I shake my head, biting my lip to hide my smile, because I still flush seeing him even partially naked.
“Get your ass over here, sunshine, I have something to show you.” His dark eyes meet mine and there’s a little something deeper in them today, an admiration that’s always been there, but something slightly unsure behind them.
He has an expression that I can’t read, and it makes me feel anxious.
“Okay, I’m coming right now.” His phone rings in the distance and he glances down.
“It’s your mother,” he says, as he answers with a smug ass smile.
“Hi, Mrs. Masumi.” He says all cute and adorable, then pauses. “No, she didn’t tell me about dinner. She probably just forgot, she’s a little flighty like that, you know.” He shrugs his shoulders at me with raised eyebrows and a knowing look, mouthing, get your ass over here .
Fine , I mouth back, then shut my window.
They are going to be the death of me.
Seamus might want to show me something, but I bet my surprise is even better.