Crazy Dreams by Dawn Pendleton Read Free Book Online

hummed as she searched through the movies
,
and it took me a second to realize she was humming the tune to my song. I couldn’t help but smile. The single kernel in the pan popped and I knew turned away from her, focusing on making popcorn.
    A few minutes later, she’d put a movie in the DVD player and was sitting on the couch. I brought over a big bowl of popcorn, covered in butter and salt and she looked at it in disgust.
    “Don’t you have an air-popper?”
    “Hell no! This is the only real way to eat popcorn! And don’t try to play like you aren’t hungry, either. We skipped dinner,” I said.
    “We had a late lunch,” she countered.
    I sighed as I sat down next to her. “Shut up and eat the popcorn.”
    She laughed as the movie started.
    The opening credits came across the screen and I was surprised she picked one of my favorite movies. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, along with Joe Pesci and Chris Rock made for a hilarious cast, even if the movie was sixteen years old. I set the popcorn bowl between us, tempting Ember. She shook her head, but as the movie played, I caught her grabbing a few handfuls.
    It was natural, sitting there, watching a movie together. It felt like we were old friends, like we met years, not hours ago. I couldn’t understand it. I had no explanation for the ease of our friendship. Even after the bathroom blowjob, things went right back to the way they’d been before then: completely normal. We didn’t act as if we’d been intimate and there wasn’t any embarrassment.
    As the movie came to a close, I tried not to let my mind wander to things like what she wore to bed, if she wore anything at all. I blew out a breath in frustration. I didn’t want to be attracted to the blonde minx, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. It did help, a little, at least, that she seemed completely unaffected by our close proximity. She kept her head straight, eyes always on the television during the whole film.
    The end credits rolled and she stood up almost immediately. “I’m beat. Goodnight.”
    She was out of the living room before I even had a chance to reply. Odd.

Ten
     
    Ember
     
    The next morning, I slept in, something I hadn’t done for a long time. To my surprise, Stone wasn’t up yet. I had him pegged for a morning person, but what did I know? I’d been so preoccupied last night, focusing all my attention on ignoring him completely. It was hard, too, with him sitting so close. Even with the bowl between us, I could smell his cologne, musky and sweet. He was driving me to distraction. I couldn’t even remember watching the movie. I was such a lost pup, I knew, but the reality was, our situation wasn’t a permanent one. Eventually, I would be going back to Maine, back to college, and back to the life of modeling I didn’t want.
    It was easy to pretend I wouldn’t be leaving, but it was a lie. Which was why I said the things I said to him the night before. His simple and immediate agreement sort of pissed me off, but I didn’t let it show. It was what I wanted. I think . My stupid brain wouldn’t function properly around him.
    I picked up a banana off the counter, peeled it, and then took a few bites, leaning my hip against the marble countertop. Working with him would only make my life more difficult, but no matter what justifications I gave myself, I couldn’t stay away from Stone completely. Something about him tugged at my soul, pulling me toward him in any way shape or form.
    I told myself I could handle the attraction,
ignore it, even. Even I knew I was lying, but for the time being, it was all I could do. I tossed the banana peel in the trash and then went to my room to change.
    I put on a pair of running shorts, a sports bra, and a racer-back tank top. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and put my
ear buds
in my ears. I attached the other end to my phone, starting up my favorite playlist and then tucking my phone into my workout strap. I wrapped the strap around my arm,