Not So Innocent

Chapter 16

"she's your best friend and she doesn't know?" I ask accusingly.

Stark holds his hands up in surrender.

"I told her... Tell her I told you that I fight," he begs Renee.

She just stands with her arms crossed after hearing the story.

"You said you kickbox, like training for fitness. Not that you were part of an

underground street fighting cult!"

"It's not a cult!"

"That's exactly what it is," I mutter.

Wanting to put the day behind me, I push Stark to the shower and fill in gaps

for Renee.

Afterwards we all watch TV and make fun of characters who are too dramatic

for their own good.

It's nearly one a.m. by the time Renee realizes she didn't show up for work.

"Crap nuggets!"

We watch as she throws on her jacket and bolts out of the door with a promise

for Friday.

"Do you think we should get to bed?" I ask Stark.

He seems deep in thought before turning to face me fully.

"I think we should talk. You know, kissing and stuff isn't a friendly activity."

I nod with a small smile. He's going to apologize isn't he? Say it was mistake?

On the contrary, I couldn't be more wrong.

"I want you to be my girlfriend. And I want you to continue living with me, but

this thing with your family... They won't hate you. They will love you no matter

what and I'd like to meet them."

I frown a bit.

"You want to meet my family? What do you think they will do when they

realize I'm not coming back to live with them again? Especially because I'm

dating and after my last bo-"

His thumb stops my lips from moving immediately.

"Well worry about that later, but you can't hide from your family. Some time

this week okay?"

I know he wont let this go, so I nod and suggest tomorrow.

I can't be stressing about this everyday so I may as well get it over with.

Archer's out of the way so the only obstacle is my family's rejection.

"Tommorow is great. Now come to bed," Stark orders with his hand extended

in my direction.

He leads us to bed and we get a good night's rest.

I know he won't admit it, but there's no way he's not nervous for tomorrow.