Jessica Thompson as That Girl

XVII. You're a Mean One, Mr.Grinch

I stared at the twenty in his hand. Jax inches it closer to me. My body began to sweat as my cheeks sank between my teeth. Does he know? Money is my weakness.

I'm not saying I'm greedy, and I'll do anything for it, but I do like money.

"Dang it," I hiss slowly before I snatch the twenty. I grab the window handles and open it further.

Jax leaps inside my room. "I'm surprised that money is your weakness."

"How did you know?"

"I saw you got your arm stuck beneath a vending machine for a nickel."

My brows crunch. The last time I got my arm stuck beneath a vending machine was when I was in middle school. I wonder if Jax happened to hear about it.

Jax leaped on my bed and made himself comfortable as if it's his room. I deposit the twenty in my piggy bank and pull him off the bed. If only it were that easy. The guy is a walking wad of tough meat. "Sleep on the ground."

"I slept on your bed last time, and you didn't complain."

"Last time and this time are two completely different situations. I'm not supposed to sleep in bed with a guy."

"Come on. We're both adults here," he said. "Unless you're expecting something may happen, which is the reason why you're afraid."

I can sense it—the psychology behind his words. I shouldn't fall for it. "Fine. Do whatever you want." My body falls beside him. "I don't care." I smack his body, signaling him to move over.

He rolls to the left once and rests on his back. A deep breath of satisfaction exists in his throat. "You're an odd one, Grinch."

You're a mean one, Mr.Grinch. I miss Christmas. My face pressed against the bed. "I supposed that's a compliment."

"In a sense, it is." He stares at the ceiling. "How did you know I won't take advantage of you?"

"You already are taking advantage of me. You know I'm the type of person who can't kick away other people when they need help, so you're using that to your advantage."

The bed shifts and he lays on his side. His head rests against his arm. "So, you do know about that bad habit of yours."

"Yeah," I muffled into the bed. Of course, I know it, and I'm sure a lot of people do too. I'm the type of person who goes with the flow, and when someone needs help, no matter how ridiculous it is, I'm going to help them. I can't say no whenever I look into their eyes, and they know it.

Even when I said no to Jax before, he knew that I would've gone back to the convenience store and told him to get in my car. This is one of the many reasons why I choose not to socialize.

"Then, it's a good thing that you have me now, isn't it?"

I turn my head, my hair covering my face. "What?"

"What do you mean - what? I helped you out in a bad situation earlier. Didn't I? If I wasn't there. You would've stayed with that jock guy. Someone would somehow manage to catch you two together, and the girlfriend wouldn't be happy. I mean, she clearly doesn't like you enough already, which is why you purposely avoid her."

"Were you always this blunt?"

"But, you didn't deny anything I said."

I slap a hand on his face. "Go to sleep."

Jax shook his head and went to his back.

"Why did you choose to bother me of all people? You know, except for the fact that I'm easily taken advantage of."