Free The Bad Boy Next Door: Lance & Chastity by Devon Hartford Page A

and we have the internet.”
    I smirk, “If you keep talking like that, Mom’ll pull you out and home school you.”
    Her eyes goggle. “No, please no. I would kill myself if she did that. Or run away.” She chuckles casually.
    I want to laugh, but something about her tone worries me. I don’t think Charity would actually kill herself, but the very idea freaks me out. “Just don’t talk about black bras and guys in front of Mom. Or makeup. Okay?” I sound like such an uptight big sister right now.
    “I’m not an idiot.”
    “I didn’t say you were. Just watch what you say around Mom.”
    She rolls her eyes. “Let’s get those plates.”
    On our way to the cash registers, we pass the Family Planning aisle. Every time I buy tampons, I notice the boxes of condoms. I always steal secret glances at them, wondering what it would be like to not only buy them but also use them. If I’m going to have sex with Lance, I better be prepared. Can I sneak a box without Charity noticing? I don’t mean steal it. I would never steal. But can I somehow bring them to the register and pay for them without Charity seeing? No, I can’t risk it. I’ll have to come back later.
    “What are you doing?” Charity pries.
    I realize I slowed to a stop while she kept walking. “Nothing,” I gasp and start walking.
    She turns and walks toward me. She’ll figure out what I was looking at the second she sees the condom display. If she hasn’t already.
    I stride toward her, reaching for her wrist. “Let’s go.”
    She pulls her arm away and walks right past me and stops, looking down the aisle. “You were looking at condoms.”
    “No I wasn’t! Let’s go. Mom is probably wondering what’s taking us so long.” Ever since Lance, I’ve been lying left and right.
    “No she’s not. She’ll probably ask if she can borrow some of your condoms for Mr. McKnight.”
    “I don’t have any condoms!” At least that’s the truth. So far. “And would you shut up about Mom and Mr. McKnight already?!”
    She turns down the aisle and emerges a second later holding a box of Lifestyle condoms. “I hear these are good.”
    “Geez, Charity! Are you serious?”
    “Don’t be stupid.” She jabs the box toward me. “Mom would never let you get an abortion.”
    I’m stunned.
    I buy the condoms, but pay for them with cash on a separate receipt.
    I’m speechless the entire drive home.
    Did Charity somehow hear Lance and me in my room last night?
    The thought horrifies me.
    What kind of an example am I setting for my little sister?

Chapter 6

    CHASTITY

    Mr. McKnight is still in the kitchen when we get home. Neither he nor Mom have mussed hair or rumpled clothes. They most likely did not have sex while we were gone. But you never know.
    Mr. McKnight tips back the last of his AriZona Iced Tea. “All outta tea.” He stands up.
    “Would you like something else?” Mom offers. “I can make anything you’d like.”
    “That’s okay. I’ll get a fresh bottle from my fridge.”
    “Are you sure? I make a terrific sweat tea. I can whip some up in a jiffy.”
    “She does,” Charity says. “But we all know how long a jiffy is.”
    “Charity,” Mom hisses.
    Charity smirks.
    Mr. McKnight chuckles. “Thanks, Faith. I’ll just hop back home and grab a fresh bottle.”
    Mom looks disappointed. “Okay.” She walks him to the front door and returns a second later. “I don’t know why he wouldn’t want to try my tea.”
    “Because, he knows how long a jiffy is,” Charity chuckles.
    “Don’t you have bathrooms to clean?” Mom prods.
    I snicker.
    Mom glares at me, “The pool isn’t going to clean itself.”
    Out back, I scoop leaves from the pool with the skimmer. The sun is high in the blue sky and the summer weather is perfect. I’d love to be out here in my new pink bikini working on my tan, but with Mr. McKnight back in the house, Mom would say something, and I’m sick to death of her saying something. She’s been doing it all