Breaking Stars - J. Sterling Page 0,62

For not being typical.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely not normal. Pretty sure I’m broken, or damaged, or maybe just clinically insane.”

She looked up at me. “Pretty sure you’re amazing. And I’m lucky to have found you.”

“Pretty sure you’re just as messed up as I am,” I teased, before finding her lips and kissing her until I could barely stay awake.

A New Kind of Trust

Paige

My eyes fluttered open as the weight of someone’s arm reminded me that I wasn’t alone in bed. Memories of last night flooded through my mind, and I smiled as I buried my face in Tatum’s arm. I tried to turn over, but I couldn’t move. His body pressed against mine as he held me so tightly.

It was in that moment that I started to freak out, realizing that his mom would know I had spent the night with her son.

“Oh my gosh, Tatum,” I said, trying to shake him awake. “Tatum, wake up.”

“What’s up, babe?” he mumbled.

“Your mom.”

“What about her? Is she here?” He shot up.

“No. But she’ll know I spent the night. Oh my gosh, she’s going to kick me out of your house.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.

Tatum wrapped one of his arms around me and squeezed. “She’s not going to do anything except probably bake us both more pie. She’ll be pleased as punch.”

“Pleased as punch?” I said, turning my head slightly.

“It’s a Southern thing. It means happy.”

“How do you know?”

“You saw her face last night. She lit up like a Christmas tree when we said we were hanging out together. I think she’s been waiting for this since I first brought you home and warned her not to freak out.”

“You warned her not to freak out? About me?”

“Well, yeah. I couldn’t just waltz in the house with you and not warn her. I am a gentleman, after all.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“What would you call it, Princess?”

I growled and frowned at him. “I hate you and I’m going to make up some stupid nickname for you that you hate. And I’m going to call you by it all the time. Because I’m twelve,” I said with a fake scowl.

“Sorry, punk.”

“But seriously, Tatum, I don’t want to disappoint your mom.” I hated the idea of her being upset at me.

“She’s not going to be disappointed. You’re reading way too much into this,” he insisted.

“By the way, what’s the deal with my car?” Not that I cared, I just figured I’d ask so I could pretend I needed to know.

“Oh.” He turned his face away briefly before looking up at the ceiling and shrugging. “I’m, um, never fixing it.”

I laughed. “That’s just rude, Tatum Alan Montgomery.”

“Is it?” He leaned over me, his mouth quirking up into a devilish grin. I wanted to smack his arm, be playful, or say something witty, but all I could see were his shoulders and the way his arms flexed as he held himself above me. Nothing in my life had ever been sexier than this moment.

“You see something you like?” Tatum winked as my focus returned to his face.

“A lady never tells,” I said coyly.

“And you, Paige Lockwood,” he kissed my nose, “are most certainly one of those.” With a grin on his face, he rolled off of me and got out of bed. “I’m starving.”

I moved to get out of bed and change into my clothes when I froze. “Tatum, seriously. I’m putting the same clothes back on and doing the walk of shame. Into your mom’s house!”

“You’d better bring some of your clothes over here then,” he said as he walked out the door, and my heart melted. I stayed on his bed for a minute, collecting the puddle of myself until I turned solid enough to move again.

Pulling open the porch door, I prayed that Tatum’s mom wasn’t in the kitchen, or anyplace where she could see me. But the smell of breakfast cooking hit me in the face, and I knew I was in trouble. Mrs. Montgomery turned her head at the sound of the door creaking open, and I pinched my lips together and offered her a tight smile.

“Morning, Paige,” she said with arched eyebrows.

Crap. I was so busted.

“Morning. I’ll just, uh,” nerves fluttered through me, “be right back.” I rushed into my bedroom and quickly changed into some clean clothes before returning to the kitchen for breakfast.

Sitting down at the table, Tatum couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off his face as his mom kept looking between us.

“I’d