Free Too Consumed by Skyla Madi

like loud noises. I mentally roll my eyes every time I think about it. On the plus side, since she’s been with Jackson, her drinking and smoking habits have been cut in half. Nothing makes you feel like more of an alcoholic than when Selena declines a drink from you. I don’t know how he did it. I’ve tried to get Selena to cut down on drinking since high school, but she’s very stubborn. After a while, I gave up. She’s her own person and although I wouldn’t want her doing anything to hurt herself, I’m not her mother. She can do whatever she wants and all I can do is offer some sound advice from the sideline.
    “I don’t know …” Seth answers. “If Jackson finds her and they make up, then probably.”
    “Wa it. Finds her? What happened and why hasn’t she called me?”
    “She’s probably too pissed off to talk to anyone.”
    No, that can’t be it. Selena has always called me when something in her life hasn’t gone her way. She’s called me crying because she kicked her toe. She’s called me crying because her Nan died and she’s called me crying because her driver’s license photo makes her ‘look like a man.’ My point is she always calls me. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Selena’s number, bringing it to my ear. After four rings, she answers.
    “Hey .”
    I frown, she seems fine. I keep my eyes on Seth’s chest, but I’m oblivious to the rock hard body hovering above me.
    “ Sel, are you okay?”
    S he sighs. “I am now…I’ve had a very long morning.”
    “Vent to me, it’ll make you feel better.”
    “Jackson met Dad.”
    My brows furrow. “And what happened?”
    “You know how Dad is and how much he expects from me. Jackson couldn’t handle it, accusing my Dad of being a controlling asshole.” Selena laughs once. “Which is hilarious coming from him.”
    Now I’m confused. Jackson is controlling? There’s so much Selena has obviously neglected to tell me…and it kind of hurts. As for her dad, he’s a strict man, but I’ve never really seen him try and control Selena. Then again, she refuses to say much about her dad and he’s hardly home. I’ve seen him easily only twenty times since I’ve known Selena. He can’t be too bad if she still lives there and refuses to move out. I don’t know, I can’t give her advice about a problem she’s never shared with me.
    “Will you be at Seth’s today? Jackson is moving and we were hoping to have a barbeque?”
    “Yeah, I’ll be there.”
    “Good, we can talk then. I miss you …”
    Selena chuckles. “We saw each other two weeks ago, but if it makes you feel better , I miss you, too.”
    I roll my eyes. “See you later, dick.”
    “Love you!”
    I hang up and slip my phone back into my pocket.
    “Is she coming?” Seth asks .
    “Apparently.”
    His full lips curl. “Did she tell you Jackson almost punched her dad?”
    I feel my eyebrows rise into my hair line. “No.”
    He nods. “Yeah, he did.”
    “Why?”
    “According to Jackson, her dad is an asshole. Jackson isn’t one to lose control easily, so her dad must’ve said something really messed up to have pissed him off.”
    My eyebrows drag together. I’ve never seen Jackson as the aggressive type—at least , not like Seth. Seth can switch his moods at the drop of a hat and the gleam of hate he gets in his eyes whenever someone’s gaze lingers too long in my direction is unnerving…as well as thrilling.
    “I never expected Jackson to do something like that.”
    “He’s unpredictable, that’s for sure.”
    “Time!” Darryl calls from a distance.
    I hear his chair creak and then the glass door open and close, leaving Seth and I alone. Seth’s eyes flick between my eyes and my mouth in a way that makes my heart flutter and my stomach clench. He lowers himself, bending his arms at the elbows.
    “I have food in the car ,” I mutter as his lips graze mine, knowing if I let him kiss me I wouldn’t—couldn’t—stop there.
    I smile as he moves