but I secretly wasn't joking. I hear h

nition before his eyes narrow.

quite the opposite. I expected this much from a guy like him. He dislikes anything c

rvously, shifting

se for the next month? » he frowns, fo

med me with open arms – And to think that

kid

re

. He doesn't respond again, so I continue. « Look, I'm sorry for interrupt

me. I doubt Blake would ever say something so mean to his own mother. Marisa may be nice, but I'

ly with a nervous laugh, tucking a stra

my body dreadfully slow and I fidget under his gaze. I'm beginning to regret not making any

ering across his features. « When mom said a girl was staying at our house for the next

art, but I can't help it. I force myself to smile back at him and clear my throat, refusing

ls charged, almost like a silent dare. I'm not sure if he's waiti

slightly with the movement. His stance is completely relaxed, like he's sizing me

he comments after a beat, hi

ing my arms over my chest in a w

sends a shiver down my spine. « You're

argue. Picking a fight with Blake Parker on my fi

royal subjects are waiting for you in the dining room. And if you don't c

ker of something else in his expression - something less g

g himself off the wall. « Bu

r stomach, » I mumble under my bre

eeling the weight of his gaze on me the entire way. It's both infu

sa looks up from setting a bowl of

to think you'd fallen

coming committee, » he says, j

d to her son's attitude. « S

hnically, he does. I sit opposite him, making sure there's enough table bet

omemade bread. It smells delicious and my stomach

You're family now,

ike the sou

ly throwing in a sarcastic remark or rolling his eyes. I do my best to ignore him, fo

way from earlier, but almost like he's trying to figure out a puzzle he

down, Marisa stands and b

ing is? You know - towels, extra blankets,

dramaticall

, » Marisa says s

r his breath but pushes b

ess. Let's get t

s much as he's a pain, I guess if I'm going to survive the

fa