I don’t like the weird turn this conversation has taken, so I shoot my gaze to the clock on the wall behind him. “I’m supposed to meet Violet.”

His eyes narrow. “You’ve been studying with her a lot.”

“Studying got me a ninety-four on that exam,” I point out.

He laughs, but it’s devoid of humor. “Right.”

I start to leave, but he grabs my wrist. “My brother tells me Trenton has been bothering you.”

Fucking hell. I told Leo not to say anything.

“That’s not true.”

He tenses and I can practically see the indignation rippling through him. “Are you calling my brother a liar?”

“No,” I state, because I’m now caught in a catch twenty-two and I have no idea how to get out of it.

“So my son is bothering you?”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I settle on.

I motion for him to let go of my wrist, but he doesn’t.

“I want you to come straight to me when that happens so I can take care of it. I don’t like the thought of you feeling uncomfortable while you’re here.”

I want to point out that I’m feeling pretty uncomfortable right now, but my brain snags on the other half of his statement.

While I’m here.

Like my stay will be temporary.

“Sure thing,” I grit through my teeth because I just want this conversation to be over.

I nearly jump out of my skin when he runs his free hand down my cheek. “Good girl.”

A rush of uneasiness wells up inside me, but I can’t focus on that because someone clears their throat.

When I turn my head, I see Knox standing there.

Briefly, his gaze flicks to his dad’s hand on my cheek before he walks over to the counter.

“Sorry to interrupt.” He plucks his keys off the counter. “Forgot my keys.”

With that, he storms back out.

“Can I go now?” I ask, motioning to the wrist that my stepfather’s hand is still tightly wrapped around.

The wrist that wasn’t visible to Knox.

“Of course,” Trent says, finally releasing his hold.

I’m so exhausted after my shift at the Bashful Beaver, I can barely see straight. If it weren’t for Leo pressing me to meet him for a quick screw in his car, I would have gone straight home and into bed.

I try to suppress my yawn as he drives down my block, but it slips out anyway.

“Maybe you should stop studying with Violet so late,” he remarks, pulling to a stop in front of the house.

“I can’t.” I need the money. “You know how important getting into a good college is to me and the only way I can pay for it is to get a scholarship.”

Or take my clothes off for men twice my age.

A resigned sigh leaves him as he turns toward me. “I told you I’d help pay for college.”

Shaking my head, I reach for my school bag containing my stripper shoes. “I don’t want your money.”

“I know. You don’t want my money. You don’t want my help. And as of late, you don’t even want to text me words containing more than one syllable.” His jaw works. “So apart from the thing in my pants, what exactly do you want from me?”

I’m not sure what he means. “I don’t—”

“Goddammit, Aspen. Don’t play dumb.”

“I’m not,” I snap. “Just stop skirting around whatever your problem is and spit it out.”

“Why have you been acting so distant?” His brows furrow. “Is it someone else? Is that who you’ve been sneaking off to see instead of this Violet girl?”

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “Are you serious? I barely have time to see you, let alone another guy.”

His expression softens. “Well, if it’s not someone else, then why the sudden distance?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake. He literally came inside me ten minutes ago.

“There’s no distance, Leo,” I assure him. “I’ve just been busy.”

Blowing out a breath, he hangs his head. It’s clear my response didn’t satisfy him. “Where is this thing going between us?”

Oh, boy. This is so not the conversation I want to be having at two in the morning when I’m so exhausted I can barely stand and my head is pounding thanks to the music at the club.

“I like things the way they are,” I whisper, hoping that puts an end to it.

Another sigh. “Well, I don’t.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to man up and end it then, but then he says, “I want more.”

“More…meaning—”

“Just more.” He pounds the steering wheel with his fist. “I want you to want me to leave my wife. I want you to ask me how my day is going because you care about me. I want you to let me take care of you.” His voice lowers a fraction. “I’m in love with you, Aspen.”

I feel many things for Leo, but love will never be one of them.

Love is bullshit.

Love is nothing but lies and hurt concealed in the notion of a fairytale we’re all forced to believe is vital to our wellbeing.

Love always leads to pain.

However, it’s still nice to hear that someone is capable of feeling that for me.

Leaning over the center console, I press my lips to his. I might not be able to tell him the same, but I can still make him feel good.

Leo groans when I brush my tongue against his and climb over the console to straddle him.

Reaching between us, I tug his zipper down and move my underwear to the side.

“Honey,” he whispers between short, frenzied kisses. “Sweetheart, I can’t.”

I rub him through his pants, hoping he’ll get nice and hard for me. “It’ll be quick. You can go back home to your wife right after.”

“It’s not that.” His eyes squeeze shut, and he groans. “I’m tapped out, honey.”

Disappointment blooms in my chest. “Oh.”

Talk about a buzzkill.

Trying to conceal my frustration, I climb off his lap. “It’s late. I should probably head inside.”

His forehead creases. “Yeah.”

I gather my things, intending to get out, but then I remember.

“Why did you tell Trent that Knox was bothering me?”