Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“That’s probably good,” he agreed easily as he hooked a sharp right and headed toward Taliana’s house. “You’re not really my type anyway.”
She raised a skeptical eyebrow, not particularly offended but a little confused since his past actions begged to differ. “I’m not?”
“God, no. I mean, sure, you’re cute and all, and I always enjoy chasing after things that will never be mine, but personality-wise you’re just not what I’m into.”
“But you always act like you’re trying to seduce me,” she pointed out, more amused than stung by his words.
“You mean that weak effort?” He scoffed as they pulled up to a red light and reached over to cup the back of Taliana’s neck, forcing her to look him dead in the eye. “Sugartits, the only reason I did all that was to see if Sebastian was truly interested in you.”
“And was he?”
A smirk tugged on his lips. “You and I both know the answer to that.” And then his touch was gone, replaced by a gentle slap to the back of her head. “Don’t you ever doubt his love for you, Stick Girl. You’d have to be pretty stupid to do that. But then again, you’re not exactly the brightest bulb in the box, are you,? ma bichette?”
Taliana sneered back at him, but there wasn’t much feeling behind it. “Screw you.”
The asshole had the nerve to blow her a kiss before putting the pedal to the floor. They screeched to a halt in front of her house a minute and a half later, and she noted they’d made it there in record time.
“I need to stop letting you drive,” she mumbled as she unhooked her seatbelt with shaky hands. “You’re going to kill us one day.”
“I highly doubt that.” He let the engine idle for a moment before turning off the car and shooting an expectant glance her way. “Well? Are you going to invite me in for a groping session? As my new girlfriend, I expect you to meet my needs. And trust me, I’m not easy to satisfy.”
“Gross,” Taliana huffed but couldn’t suppress a smile. “I suppose letting you in for a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.”
“I knew you loved me.” Michael shot her a wink before sliding out of the car and following her up the path to the front door. “By the way, when do you think the twins will be home?”
Though the question was innocent enough, his tone conveyed that he was way too eager to know that information. It didn’t take a genius to read between the lines.
“For the love of all things holy, if you even think a single dirty thought about either of them, I will knee you so hard in the family jewels that your great-great-grandchildren will feel it,” Taliana threatened, shoving a finger into his chest as she turned toward him. Though the guy had a good few inches and quite a few pounds on her, Taliana was sure she had the advantage. “Do you understand me?”
Michael put his hands up in surrender, but his cocky grin told Taliana that he wasn’t worried. “Oh, I understand, sugartits. I definitely understand.”
She eyed him suspiciously but turned away and opened the door, ushering him inside. Michael had been in her house enough times to know where everything was and didn’t hesitate bounding up the stairs to her bedroom. After dropping her bag by the door and kicking off her shoes, Taliana followed him, unsurprised to find him sprawled across her bed, staring at the boy band poster on her closet door.
“I still get a kick out of that thing,” he chuckled. “I can’t believe you haven’t redecorated after, what, seven months of living here? Pitiful.”
Taliana shrugged out of her blazer and loosened the tie around her neck, tossing both onto the heap of dirty clothes on the floor near her desk. “Whatever, I haven’t had time. Maybe I’ll do something with it this summer.”
“What’s the point?” he questioned, propping himself up on his elbows. “We’re going off to college in a few months. And speaking of that, have you heard from any schools yet?”
Taliana glanced over her shoulder at him as she pulled on a pair of shorts underneath her skirt before quickly tossing it onto the pile as well. “Didn’t I tell you? I got into Georgetown University. I’m spending at least the next four years in this place.”
Judging from his expression, she obviously hadn’t told him about it. “You’re kidding me,” he murmured, swinging his feet to the floor. “You’re going there too?”
“Too?”
The shock disappeared as quickly as it had come, and suddenly a grin illuminated his face. “Well, Stick Girl, looks like we’re going to be classmates for a few more years.”
Taliana froze, not knowing how to take that news. On one hand, she supposed it was good, seeing as she’d have at least one friend going into a new stage of her life, but on the other hand, that friend was
Michael . She wasn’t sure she wanted to be anywhere near him for the college years; it was sure to be trouble.
In the end, she went with her gut feeling. “Oh god, no.”
Michael, however, seemed overjoyed by this news. “This is going to be fun,” he teased, standing and coming over to wrap his arms around her waist from behind. “Maybe we can get an apartment together and be roomies. I’m sure your boyfriend would just? love that.”
Taliana was half a second away from telling him-or showing him with an elbow to the gut-what an awful idea that was, but her reply was foiled by her bedroom door crashing open.
Marissa burst into the room like a bat out of hell, her face red and blonde hair a wreck, as if she’d run all the way home, only to find Taliana and Michael in quite the compromising position. Taliana was close to telling her it wasn’t what it looked like, but seeing as Marissa had just seen her break up with Sebastian, she probably wouldn’t have believed a word of it.
Marissa’s horrified eyes took in the sight before her. But when the shock wore off, she looked like a kid who just found out Santa wasn’t real.
“So it’s true,” she sniffed, eyes swimming with tears as she wrung the bottom of her white shirt in her hands. “You really did break up with Seb!”
Though she was practically five-foot-nothing and was on the brink of sobbing, Taliana was a little intimidated by her clearly disappointed half-sister. Even Michael, who Taliana had been sure was going to play this up, seemed a little thrown by her reaction and loosened his grip around Taliana’s waist.
“Marissa,” she said, putting up a hand in a weak attempt to pacify her. “I-“
“You dumped him!” Marissa blubbered, burying her face in her hands. “Oh, Talia, why would you do that? You two were perfect together!”
Michael’s hands finally dropped away, allowing Taliana to move toward her half-sister. “Marissa, there’s something we need to tell you.”
Marissa hiccupped and glanced up with tear-stained cheeks. “W-what could there possibly be left to say?”
“She didn’t really break up with Sebastian,” Michael answered, stepping around Taliana and closer to Marissa. “This whole thing is fake; they’re still together behind the scenes.” He shot Taliana a wink before spreading his arms, inviting Marissa in for a hug. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart, I’m still a free man, and your sister still has a boyfriend.”
Marissa hesitated momentarily before leaning into him, and Taliana didn’t miss the blush that came to her cheeks. While Taliana wasn’t exactly comfortable with him being near her, there wasn’t much she could do to stop him, especially if Marissa was enjoying it.
“Oh,” Marissa murmured, her former horror almost forgotten as she peeked around his arm to look at Taliana. “So you and Michael aren’t really dating?”
Taliana shook her head, knowing it was better that Marissa hear the truth. The twins had known about the original plot between Taliana and Sebastian, and had never uttered a word of it to anyone. She knew they could be trusted.
“No, this is just another game,” Taliana elaborated, tucking her hands into the pockets of her shorts. “Except we’re helping Blair out this time. Don’t even ask about that one.”
Marissa rolled her eyes and finally pulled away from Michael, making sure to trail her fingers down his arm as she did. “God, I can’t keep up with all your plots.”
“Neither can I.” Taliana shot her a lopsided smile before letting her gaze drift to the clock on her bedside table. “Well, I hate to break up this little reunion, but I’ve gotta get going.”