The Bad Boy of Mine

Chapter 43 ll Which secretly gives me a chance to touch his abs.

Chris' POV

"Chris." Her tone is curt and clipped.

"Yeah?"

"Who's that girl that answered your phone?"

I push my face into my open palm, my fingers kneading my throbbing temples.

Fucking hell. It's so difficult to deal with my mom sometimes. I'm not complaining, but she can be so unpredictable.

"She's my girlfriend, mom."

"Oh, so you have a girlfriend now?" She taunts.

"Yes." I huff.

I pick myself up from the chair to get some Advil from the kitchen.

"Why am I unaware of this?"

I grunt in response.

"You're incorrigible." And she hangs up on me.

I sigh, before gulping down some water along with two tablets.

I can hear softs footsteps padding across the floor behind me. Then Zoey's arms slide across my torso as she peeks over my body. Her smile drops into frown once she sees the box of tablets.

She squeezes into the space between me and the counter.

"What's wrong?"

"Headache. It's nothing."

"Go get some rest."

"I'm fine."

"I'm fine." She lowers her voice to imitate me while making a face. And she laughs at herself. Of course.

"I don't care if you're fine or dying. Let's go get some rest." Zoey drags me by my hand, back into the bedroom.

"Okay. Go to sleep."

"You're not joining me?"

"Nope. Be an independent man. I have homework to do." She laughs.

"Well, fine by me. You're missing out." 

"Sure." And she exits the room, closing the door behind her.

It's fun to have Zoey around as a breath of fresh air compared to what's going on with my family.

I fish out my phone from my pocket and dial in Seth's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Seth. Can you go get Emma from my mother's place and drop her at mine?"

"Sure. Is she acting up again?"

"Probably."

"Alright. I'll start moving."

"Thanks, man."

I plug my phone to the charger and plop myself onto the bed.

Just as I close my eyes, I hear the door creak open.

"Hey Chris." Zoey whispers.

I didn't respond and kept my eyes closed.

"Yes." The door clicks and her footsteps are silenced by the rug on the ground.

The bed dips and a pair of hands pry my arms open so that a tiny human can snuggle in.

I resist the urge to smile at her. Zoey pulls the cover over us and tangles her legs in between mine.

I pull her close to me and I hear her giggle and she leans up to peck my lips.

"I know you're not sleeping, you asshole."