Page 79 of Playing the Backbeat

She settles along my side, but she’s still tense.

“What is it?” I ask, unsure I want to hear the answer.

“I’m just disappointed,” she says with a sigh.

“What? Why?”

She gets up and grins, turning toward the bathroom. I watch her ass as she walks away, my dick hardening again at the sight.

“I’ll have to wait to tell them I was right about your huge dick. And you know I love to be right.”

“Maybe you should tell them,” I call after her. “I could use the ego boost.”

“Maybe I would if you started pulling your weight and helped me clean the litter box every once in a while.”

This cat must be the most skittish creature alive, or it hates my guts. It still won’t show its face around me. Even when I leave out food. Even when I’m home alone. “I’ll help when you introduce us.”

“You’ll have to earn her trust first,” Dee yells from the bathroom.

Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to do that with someone in this apartment. I join Dee in the bathroom, backing her into the shower before turning the water on. Ice cold water rains down on us, making her scream and laugh uncontrollably in my arms as I kiss her neck, lining our bodies up against the tiled walls.

Damn, it’s going to be a good Christmas.

Chapter thirty-five

Dee

Katherine, Dylan’s mom, packs a container of leftovers for me and Dylan to bring back to our apartment, and even though my stomach is so full it hurts, my mouth starts to water at the sight.

“Did you like the scalloped potatoes, Deanna? How many helpings should I add?” she asks with a warm smile.

“I would sell my soul to eat those with every meal for the rest of my life. So as many servings as you’re willing to part with,” I say earnestly.

She laughs and dumps four huge spoonfuls into a Tupperware container. I mentally rub my hands together…I’m not sharing a damn bite of that with Dylan.

“Oh, and I threw in a special Fancy Feast for your furry friend.”

I nearly choke on my own saliva. “My…uh….my what now?”

“Dylan mentioned you have a cat. I grew up with the cutest little guy named Shadow. I miss him. You’ll have to bring yours with you next time you visit.”

I take a huge gulp of my drink, then nod.

Is this Dylan calling my bluff? Testing me to see if I’ll keep up the charade with his mother or if I’ll finally come clean?

I can’t lie to her. What if she comes to visit and wants to see a cat to ease the pain of missing her cat and then I have to tell her I have no cat…

No. I can’t do it.

“I…don’t actually have a cat,” I whisper the last few words.

“Really? Why did Dylan say you did?”

I rub my palm over my chest, trying to slow my racing heart. Why does it feel like I’m in the principal’s office? Is she one of those overprotective moms who won’t appreciate the joke?

“I sort of…convinced him I have one. For fun?” My voice gets higher and squeakier the more I spill word vomit all over Katherine’s nice kitchen floors. “You see, Dylan and I kind of have this type of relationship where—” Fuck. I said relationship. Not friendship.

Will she know I’m sleeping with her son?