Kissed by a Rose✔️

17) Rude Awakening

I walked into the house, feeling blissful from being with Theo. Once again. I hated but loved he made me feel that way.

I didn't even notice my mom staring at me from the living room, where she folded laundry. Her curious eyes met my clothes, and she frowned. I remembered that I wore the light blue sweater she had never seen before, and self consciously crossed my hands over my chest. As if that would help.

She hesitated. "Did you have fun at Mallory's?"

I bit my lip. If she had been sitting there while Theo dropped me off, she knew that I was most certainly not with Mal. She also knew I wouldn't lie to her. I hated lying unless it had to be done.

It's not as if Kingsley didn't know at this point. Theo had made a point to hold my hand in the hall no matter who else we walked with, snar mo ling at passing guys who watched us with curiosity. I never understood why a girl suddenly became more attractive when she was taken. But, as Theo made it very clear, I wasn't on the market, and anyone with a brain decided it would work out better for them if they just left me alone.

"I wasn't with Mal."

"I'm aware." I waited for her to say something else. When she purses her lips, as if she wanted to say something but wouldn't, I took it as my cue to go.

"I'm going to take a shower."

I walked up the stairs towards my room. It had felt nice to escape for a night. Even though Kingsley was probably out or over at some girls house, I wouldn't have felt comfortable at home last night. He hadn't talked to me yet about Theo, and I knew it was a matter of when he would make a point to say something.

I walked through the doorframe of my room, just to get pulled back by a hand. I was whirled around to find the last person I wanted to see right now. I groaned.

"What?"

"You lied to me," Kingsley gruffed out.

"You put me on the spot."

"Yes," he admitted , "But you aren't a liar, Adeline. "

I just stared him back down. The less I say the better.

"So, you're into older boys all the sudden," he said with his ugly smirk, breaking our contest. "You know, Kazler, I'm a senior."

I clenched my fists. "That's disgusting."

"Is it? Last I checked, we aren't related."

I ignored his comment. Fighting him would make it worse. "I'm taking a shower. Excuse me."

He side stepped so I wouldn't fit into the door frame. "Is that where you were last night?"

Silence. "You know, it was a lot more boring without you around the house."

"Glad that my discontent is amusing to you," I scowled out, stepping again to be blocked.

"You reek of him," he told me shaking his head. "Adeline, you can't hoe around with your boy toy and expect for me not to get jealous."

My eyes hardened. "My boyfriend, Kingsley."

His nose scrunched up. "I don't think I like the sound of that." He pondered on it for a moment. "Nope, can't say I do."

"Can't say I care. Stop messing around Kingsley."

"I'm being dead serious," he said in a sober voice I wasn't used to. "I don't like you with him."

"You don't like me with anyone," I deadpanned.

He grinned. "Now you're catching on. There's just something about him.."