Page 10 of Clueless
Sweet baby Jesus.
As soon as we make it to the pool, Noah gets to one knee before me. My eyes nearly pop out of my head as I stare down at him. Before I can say anything or look at anyone though, he puts one of my feet on his knee and starts unlacing my sandals. He kisses my calf once before moving onto the next foot. Once he’sdone, he pats the ground and looks at the pool. “Enjoy it for a second. Lets you avoid all the strangers while I go find the grumpy bastard.”
I look at the pool and immediately sit down, tossing my legs into the cold water. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Laughing, he turns and runs back into the house. While he’s gone, I can’t help but marvel at the structure of the home behind me. It literally screams money and confidence.
And for his stepdad to come from the military?
I’m telling Aiden and Casey to leave as soon as they fucking can.
There’s always such a stigma that the military can ruin you the second you leave—either from lack of other work experience or trauma. And this is just proof that that verdict isn’t always the case.
After a few minutes, I hear Noah’s voice on the patio again, and I lift my legs up to stand. A hand appears next to me seconds later, with a deep voice saying, “Allow me.”
My eyes pinch together at the sound of that voice, forcing me to hesitate.
I know that voice…
My heart sinks at the realization.
No fucking way.
Looking up slowly, I’m met with brown boots,blue jeans, and a brown button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows.
Those tattoos…
With his hand still extended out, my heart stills inside of my chest entirely, just as Noah says, “Sean, this is Lauren, my girlfriend. Lauren, this is my friend and once-upon-a-time stepdad, Sean Calloway.”
And Sean stares me dead in the eyes, equally horrified.
