Page 17 of The Naughty List

A loud knocking on the door makes us both jump. Her eyes widen as she stares down at me.

“Grant,” Roger calls. “Is Audrey in there with you?”

And I guess we’re telling everyone now. There’s no way around this one.

“Get dressed,” I tell her calmly so she doesn’t panic. Then I squeeze her hand. “Everything will be okay.”

“Okay,” she says, forcing a smile.

“Be right there,” I call, pulling on my pants and sweater without rushing. I don’t want her to worry.

I take a deep breath before I pull open the door of the RV. I hope they weren’t standing out there long. The walls of this thing are thin, and they wouldn’t have to be standing very close to hear what we were just up to.

When I open the door, Roger is standing there with a blank expression. Next to him, Mel has her arms crossed and a thin, angry purse to her lips. She already knows.

I don’t say a word. Audrey is just pulling on her dress and I see her out of the corner of my eye holding her hands nervously in front of her. I reach out for her. Her shoulders relax as she comes to my side, gripping my fingers lightly. I want to take care of her more than I’ve ever wanted to take care of anyone. I didn’t even know I was a caretaking kind of guy, but I want to protect her, calm her, provide for her, everything. I want everything with Audrey.

“What is going on?” Mel snaps just as Audrey steps into view, hanging desperately onto my arm.

“Grant,” my brother says with a disappointed sigh.

“Don’t blame him. We love each other,” Audrey says with more confidence than I’ve seen out of her when talking to her mother. I squeeze her hand assuringly.

“What?” Mel gasps. “You just met yesterday!”

“So what?” Audrey replies.

“So, you’re nineteen! He’s forty!”

“We’re both adults, Mel,” I tell her calmly.

I see the anger brewing in her eyes and I brace myself for it. This part is going to suck, and I just hope they don’t tarnish what Audrey and I have just experienced. We’re happy.

“Unbelievable,” she mutters in my direction. “Audrey, let’s talk about this in the house.”

Glancing over at Audrey, I see a part of her start to soften. Her mother’s harsh commands have an effect on her. And the last thing I want to do is separate from her, but Audrey has to be able to stand on her own two feet. As much as I want to protect her, she needs to do this part on her own. It’s time to be honest with her mother, and I trust her.

Touching her arm gently, I look into her eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll be here.”

Her expression warms with a soft smile as she nods at me, squeezing my hand. Then, she leans in, and with her hand on the back of my neck, she presses her lips to mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mel and Roger react, their mouths dropping and eyes widening. I get that seeing a man of my age kissing a girl who’s not even old enough to legally drink is shocking, but there’s technically nothing wrong with us being together. They’ll get used to it.

She holds the kiss for one second too long, but if they think I’m going to pull my mouth away first, they can just fuck off. Instead, I pull her closer.

“Ahem.” Mel clears her throat, and we finally break the kiss, but I stare into her eyes for a moment before she leaves my side. I don’t envy her for what she’s about to do, and I wish I could be there with her, but she’s got this.

6

Audrey

My mother is pacing the floor of my room like being mad and disappointed in me is going to change anything. I’m still holding onto the confidence Grant gives me like he’s sitting right here next to me. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to cower and apologize and say whatever she wants to hear instead of what I want to say.

Plus, I’m still sort of flying high from the world’s greatest sex. Butterflies are still buzzing around in my stomach every time I think of how that first moment felt when he entered me, going so slow and then punching in with such force, like he wanted to mark me as his. Like he wanted to lose control.

God, I want him to lose control.

“I don’t know what to say, Audrey.” She finally stops walking in circles and throws her hands up in the air.

“Maybe because there’s nothing to say,” I reply. Sitting on my bed, I don't feel the usual tension in my shoulders or shake in my hand. I feel good. “Grant and I really like each other, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”