Free Crush (A Night Fire Novel Book 1) by TM Watkins Page B

was a simple combination of jeans that were intentionally worn and ripped, a shirt and a leather jacket. Oh, and let's not forget the ankle boots with pencil thin heels.
    “You want a beer?”
    My mouth was ready to say yes but the old brain was screeching no at me. This wasn't about being a designated driver, this was about the fact that someone had tried to knock me up earlier on.
    “I might pass.” I said, a little too grim.
    Her eyes narrowed slightly, her pretty pink pout pressed a hard line. Lola Cooper was a pretty woman, long luscious blonde hair and the same deep green eyes as her son. She was fairer than he was, he was more tanned.
    “What's going on Frankie? Last night you knocked a few back. Are you unwell? You should have stayed home. Do you want me to clip Curtis across the ear for you?”
    “I'm good.” I grinned slightly.
    She was mother to all, apparently.
    “Don't think I've ever seen him this happy.” she mumbled into her beer bottle, taking another swig.
    My fingers knotted on my lap as I mindlessly nodded.
    “How long have you known him?”
    “Since he was knee high to me, we were neighbors before the boys hit the big time. Then we all moved, mostly for security reasons.”
    She patted my arm in a motherly way.
    “Don't stress about his parents, they are going to love you and if they don't then fuck 'em. Curtis won't give a shit what they think.”
    Oh well that's a relief off my mind, one that hadn't even occurred to me. I nodded again.
    Curtis walked out and held out a beer for me, I looked up at him with a frown.
    “I'm good, thanks anyway.”
    “It's cool Frankie, I'm not drinking so you don't have to worry about driving.”
    I glared at him, wondering if he had forgotten about this afternoon. Surely he didn't think it was okay to drink.
    “It's okay, I won't be drinking tonight.” I said as I raised my eyebrows at him.
    Take the hint and stop pushing it. He stared at me for a moment and then without another word, he walked back into the apartment.
    I wanted to sag into the chair, groaning that it was becoming too much but I could feel the deep stare from Lola.
    “You know.” she began. “There are a few reasons why a woman would refuse a drink. One might be that she wants to remain sober for the event that she is at. I could understand that, given last night and his behavior. Another reason might be that she's driving but we both know that you're not doing that.”
    I looked up from my knotted fingers to the supreme smile. She knew.
    “Another might be that she's pregnant and doesn't want to harm the child. But that's not possible considering that you've known him for what? Forty-eight hours?”
    I silently nodded.
    “But then again, it is entirely possible, isn't it Frankie?”
    “Yep.” I sighed. “He forgot. We were both wrapped up in the moment, shit happens I guess.”
    It had occurred to me that he wasn't solely to blame. That it takes two to tango, so to speak. Sure, he might have had the intention to go bare for the purpose of getting me pregnant. But he might have actually forgotten, he might have been so caught up in acting out the fantasy that he just plain ol' forgot about that one little detail. And, I should have realized. I should have questioned it. I didn't hear the rip of the packet and it was too late now. Now I had to suck it up and accept that accidents happen.
    “Evan was an accident.” she said quietly. “But a day does not go by that I do not thank the almighty for the gift that he gave me.”
    “We hardly know each other.”
    She shrugged and took another swig of her beer.
    “Worse things have happened. I knew Evan's father. I was a stupid teenage girl living in a fantasy land, pining for one of her teachers.”
    My eyes widened at the revelation.
    “He was thrown in jail for it and banned from seeing me when he got out, not that he wanted to after the trouble I caused and I was sent here, to live with my aunt. My mother never really spoke to her