Page 31 of Reed

He stands up, “Nothing. I’m going to grab you some clothes. Do you want to smoke before the food gets here?”

I gently nod my head, confused on what I could’ve done wrong. Or maybe everything is okay and I’m just overthinking it like I do everything else.

A few minutes later Reed comes back, holding up a pair of sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt that isn’t mine. “The one thing I didn’t grab was your clothes, so this will have to do. Unless you want to sleep naked then I can grab your robe?” He tilts his head with a smirk and I feel my cheeks heat. I want to melt in the bath.

“Those are fine.” I say.

He lays them on the counter and pulls a towel out from under the sink before laying it over the shower curtain rod.

“I’m going to go roll a fresh blunt for you. Just come out when you’re ready.”

I smirk, “Okay, thank you.”

He goes to walk out and stops in the doorway before turning back towards me, “Can you put some of your perfume on? I fucking love the smell of it.”

I laugh, “I think I can manage that.”

By the time I’m finished getting dressed and redoing my bun, the food arrives.

Reed sets everything out, but before we dig in he motions for me to follow him out on the balcony.

We take turns passing the blunt back and forth before I start having a coughing fit.

“Okay,” cough, “I,” cough,”think I’m,” cough, “done.” He laughs, making me laugh. “Stop laughing at me.”

He opens the glass door, “Let’s eat, Honeybee.”

CHAPTER 20

LEXIE

We sit in silence while we eat for a few minutes before I get the courage to start asking him questions, “Tell me about yourself.”

He stops mid chew and raises an eyebrow, his dermal glistening on his cheek in the lamplight. “Uh, what do you want to know?”

I take a sip of my water and shrug, “Everything.”

He smirks and takes a sip of his drink, “I’m an only child. My parents both died when I was ten. My grandparents raised me. They are assholes, by the way.” He takes a bite of his burger chews, swallows, then continues. “I went to boarding school so they didn’t have to deal with me. They still send me a check every month that I put in savings so I can open my own tattoo shop when I get done with college.”

“You can tattoo?” I ask excitedly.

He smirks, “Yeah. I have my own setup in the back of Blackstone Ink as of a few months ago. I only work on weekends though, so I can focus on school.”

I finish off my fries and collect the trash to put in the takeout bag. “I’ve always wanted to tattoo someone, but I suck at drawing and not sure I could stick a needle in someone’s skin.”

“I’d let you practice on me.” He says and I whip my head towards him.

“Why?” I laugh.

He shrugs, “Why not?”

I raise my brows, “Uh, because it’s permanent and I just told you I’m not a good artist. I’m actually awful.”

“I can make you a stencil. It’ll be fine.” He brushes me off and collects the rest of his trash.

I just shake my head and say, “You’re insane.”

“I’ve been called worse.” He smirks, then continues, “Tell me about you now.”