Page 56 of Beg Me

“Am I?” She lifts a brow, biting her lip. “I probably just misunderstood the situation. It seems I’m bad about that. My apologies.”

I growl as she brushes her ass against me while turning toward the stove.

“Is it any good, Gus?” she asks as if she wasn’t just screwing with my head.

“It’s great. Make sure you get some bacon. Dad thinks it doesn’t go together, but he’s wrong.”

She grins at me. “He’s been wrong about a few things lately.”

I stare at her, making her giggle.

She heads for the table while I pour us all a glass of juice and make my plate. Gus and Markie chatter about his math and the friends he’s made at the park. She seems to know most of them. And their parents. And their grandparents.

But that all comes to an abrupt halt once I sit down.

Gus takes his fork and taps it on his glass. His Cheshire cat-style grin puts me on edge.

“Gus …” I warn as my blood pressure rises. I know this look. He’s about to be a shithead.

“Now that the family is all here,” he says, smirking.

Markie lifts a brow my way. I shrug helplessly. We’re at the mercy of an eleven-year-old.

“I’d like to discuss a rumor that I heard at the park,” he says, sitting back in his seat like the CEO of a boardroom. “Well, maybe it’s a rumor. That’s to be determined.”

“You know, rumors are usually lies,” Markie says, placing her chin in her hand. “You should take that into consideration before repeating them.”

“Good point.” He looks at her. “But I’m repeating this one.” He looks at me. “I heard through the grapevine that the two of you are dating.”

Markie sets her fork on the table.

I look at the ceiling.

Gus steeples his fingers together like a madman whose plan just came together.

I blow out a breath and steal a look at Markie. She half shrugs as if she doesn’t know how to handle this. Well, that makes two of us.

“So …” he prompts. “Is there any truth to this or is the rumor mill working overtime?” He points a finger at Markie. “You know, rumors might usually be lies. But I’ve heard that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

“Gus,” I say, trying to stay even-keeled. “First of all, it’s none of your business.”

He scoffs. “Um, yeah, it is.”

“And second,” I say, ignoring him, “what you’re doing right now is rude. You and I could’ve talked about this alone, but you chose to do it when Markie was here. There was no reason to make her uncomfortable for your entertainment.”

He looks me dead in the eyes. “That’s not what I was trying to do, Dad.”

“Sometimes you have to think about the effect your behavior has on others before you act,” I say without flinching. The irony of my own behavior last night is not lost on me. “Think before you speak.”

Markie holds up a hand. “Let’s … back up a second.” She looks at Gus and sighs. “What your dad is saying is absolutely right, but I believe that you weren’t being mean. You’re just curious. And I’m glad that you asked instead of worrying about it or wondering why we didn’t say anything. You should always ask if you have questions.”

“So it’s true?” His eyes light up. “You’re really dating?”

“Gus—”

“Kind of,” Markie says.

We are? I try not to look shocked by this revelation.