Pretty Toxic - A New Adult Romance (Imperfectly Yours) by A. Gardner Page B

cream sundaes and watch the Lifetime Movie Network on the weekends. We sort of stopped our tradition when I graduated high school. Not too long ago. Is that when she started-
    Ugh.
    “Stop doing that,” Zanna whines. Her eyes dart to the expression on my face. “If you get sick, I’ll get sick.”
    “You’re the one that made me eat that ice cream,” I remind her.
    “You wanted it and we both know it.” She looks down at the rest of her cup. She takes a deep breath and tosses it in the trash. “Fine. The ice cream didn’t do a damn thing.”
    “Zanna,” I say quietly. I sit carefully on the sofa to prevent my vision from spinning again. All I can think about is the mess I’m in. Trying to think one, two, or even five years ahead doesn’t work. I feel like I’ll be stuck in this moment forever.
    Reminded that Dane isn’t here.
    “What am I going to do?” My voice is so quiet that Zanna rushes to sit next to me, leaning in to hear me better. “What would you do?”
    “Well . . .” She grins. I can tell she’s holding back the sarcasm. “I guess I would . . .” Her face is completely straight. She glances up at the ceiling. “Uh . . .” She sighs.
    “Exactly,” I mutter.
    “I think we both know it’ll always be on your mind from now on.”
    I nod in agreement.
    “Maybe you should just tell her,” Zanna goes on. “Tell her what you saw and see what she says.”
    I know what she’ll say. She’ll deny the whole thing. I’d have to confront her with pictures or something to make her talk. I shake my head.
    “I can’t,” I say.
    “Maybe it’s only a fling?”
    “Sick.” I cover my mouth with my hand.
    “An ‘ it’s just a phase and one day it’ll be over’ type thing.”
    But that doesn’t address the main issue here. The one I can’t say out loud. He’s Dane’s dad. Dane’s married dad. What on earth is Scar thinking? She’s going to end up getting us both run out of town if Mrs. Haskell finds out.
    My heart jumps at the sound of a car door slamming. I hear footsteps. Zanna and I both stare at the front door with blank expressions. The doorknob slowly turns and my Aunt Scarlett stumbles inside with an arm full of grocery bags.
    “Hey guys.” She smiles like nothing’s wrong.
    “How was work?” Of course Zanna is the first one to say something. I glare at her.
    “Busy busy,” Scarlett replies. “Same as usual. But busy is good in the catering world.”
    “And the dating world,” Zanna adds. I hit her on the shoulder as soon as Scarlett’s back is turned.
    “Stop,” I say through my teeth.
    “Oh I’m sorry I wasn’t here to hear about your first day, M.” She hurriedly unpacks her grocery bags. “How did it go?”
    “Fine.”
    “Oh come on,” Scarlett chuckles. “I need more deats than that.”
    “Yeah,” Zanna butts in. “Tell her what you saw.” My eyes go wide. Scarlett looks up and stares in my direction as if I have a story to tell.
    “What?” she eagerly asks.
    “A guy,” Zanna speaks for me. Jerk.
    “A guy huh? Well, out with it. What’s his name?”
    “She’s kidding,” I respond, discreetly pushing Zanna off the couch with my foot. “My day was . . . normal. Boring.”
    “It’ll get better,” Scar replies.
    No it won’t.
    “I’m going to bed,” I announce. I stand up, still glaring at Zanna. “Night.” I turn and head to my room. Zanna can show herself out. I’m done talking, complaining, or even thinking about the Haskells.

Chapter Sixteen
     
    “I’m everything he wants.”
     
    His warm touch gives me goosebumps. I feel at peace with myself when he holds me - rock-like arms that surround my entire torso. I take it in. All of it. His scent is overwhelming and it attracts me even more.
    I feel urges stirring in the pit of my stomach. This is when I usually stop and force myself to ignore what I’m feeling inside. My lips tremble when he kisses me. I’m nervous but my chest throbs like it’s the only living thing in the