Contagious Chemistry by Sian Webster (best ereader for pdf TXT) 📕

narrowing his eyes at me. “Well, my future brother-in-law needs to get used to me and Absidy bickering, I reckon.”
I looked from Jake to Alex and back, trying my best to compose myself as I noticed Alex was in fact blushing that time.
“Only if you live that long,” I told Jake cheekily.
“So, Alex,” Dad interrupted, “would you like to come out to dinner with us tonight?”
My eyes widened at the invitation.
“Sure, I’d love to.” Alex smiled.
“You really don’t have to,” I told him after my parents and Jake had left us alone.
“Of course I do,” He smiled. “I’d be a bad boyfriend if I didn’t go out to dinner with your parents.”
“Oh, so you care about what people think of you, now?” I smirked.
“Only if they mean a lot to you.”
For the second time that afternoon, I kissed him. Only that time, I didn’t care who walked in.

20. No More Slipping Away

I scowled at my reflection in the mirror, looking down at myself. Everything was perfect – absolutely perfect! – Except my hair, which refused to straighten. Instead it preferred to stay as an uncontrollable, wavy haystack. I sighed in frustration, hoping it hadn’t looked like that all day, and put away the straightener, pulling out the curler instead. I had wanted to straighten my hair for dinner, seeing as it had been wavy all day, but I guessed I would just have to make it just that little wavier than it already had been.
After burning myself multiple times and reapplying a little eyeliner that had smudged away at school, I packed my things away, placing them neatly back under the bathroom sink and looked at my reflection once more. Something was still missing. I looked down at my dress – white silk covered in black lace with a black bow under the bust – and frantically brushed the creases out of the skirt before looking back up at my reflection. Realising what was missing, I ran out of the bathroom, across the hallway before bounding into my bedroom. I searched frantically through my dresser, before running back into the bathroom, trying my hardest not to slip over.
Facing the mirror once more, I gathered my now curly blonde locks to one side, slipping the slide in place so it would stay. Once again, I regarded my reflection intently. That time I smiled.
“Come on, Absidy! The restaurant will be closed before we get there if you take much longer!” I heard Dad call.
“Next time don’t spend so much time snogging your boyfriend!” I heard Jake call.
I also heard him cry out in pain as he finished his sentence. I smiled to myself before making my way out of the bathroom. I made my way down the stairs, thanking myself for deciding to wear my knee-high black Doc Martens instead of the high heels Mum had suggested.
Alex stood up as soon as he saw me, his eyes wide. I noticed Mum looking at him with a smug look on her face; I would talk to her about that later. Then wasn’t the time to be chastising her for making fun of Alex. It seemed so surreal, calling him my boyfriend. Sure, it had only been made official that afternoon, but a week before we had gone out for about half a day, and the whole school called him my boyfriend. But, at that moment, it felt more… real.
I smiled when I saw the look he was giving me and looked down, hiding behind my hair for the hundredth time that day. He smirked and walked over to me, taking my hand and leading me down the last couple of stairs.
“You shouldn’t hide,” He whispered in my ear. “You look beautiful, Abby.”
I smiled again and hid my face from him. “You don’t look too bad yourself,”
“Of course you’d say that,” He kissed my cheek lightly.
“Come on, you two!” Jake called from the front door. “You can have all night to make out, after we’ve gone to dinner, though.”
“Just a second, Jake!” I called back.
Alex moved so he was facing me head on and took my hands in his. “You are honestly the most beautiful girl I have seen in my life.”
I blushed and looked down.
He put his hand against my cheek and made me look at him. “You’re so beautiful, Abby. You need to know that.”
“I know,” I said in a small voice. “I just don’t necessarily believe it.”
He gave me a small smile, leaning his forehead against mine. “I can help you believe it.”
I smiled.
“You have a habit of slipping away from me, Absidy.” He said, his voice no louder than a whisper. “I really wish you wouldn’t,”
“I won’t be slipping away any more.” I told him, my gaze wandering to his lips.
“But if you do?” He asked.
“You’ll be there to catch me,” I pointed out.
He closed his eyes and smiled. “Point taken,”
After one last kiss, we made our way out to the car.

21. Disastrous Dinner Dates

After an awkward fifteen minute drive, I hopped out of the car and met Alex at the boot. His hair was slightly ruffled from driving with the windows down, sticking up in every direction, yet also managing to stay the way he always had it – the messy, out-of-bed look. He was playing around with the zipper on his jacket and moving his feet on the ground uneasily.
I smiled at him and took is outstretched hand. “You’ll be fine, Alex. They already love you,”
He flashed me back a small smile. “Just because they love me already doesn’t stop me freaking out that I’m somehow going to screw this up,”
I led him from the back of the car, following my parents and Jake. “What? It’s not like this is the first time you’ve gone out to dinner with your girlfriend’s family.”
His pace slowed down slightly and he looked me in the eyes before looking away and staring at the floor as we walked.
I gripped his hand tighter, forcing him to stop walking, and turned him to face me. “Are you trying to say you’ve actually never gone out to dinner with your girlfriend’s family before?”
He broke his gaze into my eyes and looked down at the floor again, mumbling something completely incoherent.
I smirked, ducking down so I was in his line of sight. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” He mumbled.
“Alexander Parker, the school’s ‘Ladies’ Man’, has never had dinner with a girl’s family before.”
He shook his head.
I smirked again. “Come on, Parker. Time you had dinner with your girlfriend’s family – there’s a first time for everything.”
***
“So Alex,” My Dad started to say around a mouthful of food. “What do you plan on doing when you get out of school?”
Alex looked at me awkwardly. It took all of my free will not to smirk. What could I say? Frankly, I found it hilarious that he’d never gone out to dinner with his girlfriends and their families. Wasn’t that a normal person thing to do? Then again, Alex Parker wasn’t someone I’d call normal.
I gave him a slight nod, as if insisting he answered Dad’s question.
“Uh, I’m interested in biology,” Alex muttered. “I was thinking about becoming a doctor. But I’m interested in music too,”
Dad smiled and nodded in understanding. “Interested in science and music. I see why Absidy likes you.”
“Dad!” I scoffed.
“What?” He asked innocently.
I shook my head and turned my attention back to my food when a waitress came over and I heard a voice I could have done without hearing in that moment.
“How is everyone? Can I get you anything else? More drinks? Anyone finished with their meals?”
I looked up and made eye contact with Breanna. I cursed in my head.
“Oh, hi Absidy! Alex. Out for dinner to meet the parents? He never did that with me.” She said in her annoying, fake voice.
“You never really introduced me to your parents, Breanna.” He pointed out.
“So?” She asked innocently. “You could’ve introduced yourself.”
“Trust me when I say, I tried.”
“I don’t remember you trying.” She snapped.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Jake butted in, “but who are you?”
Breanna looked Jake up and down. “If you don’t mind me asking,” She smirked, “the same question could apply to you.”
“I’m Jake. Jake Tate. Absidy’s older brother. And I think you should back off her boyfriend, missy.” He said coolly.
“Absidy!” Breanna turned to me in surprise. “You never told me you had an older brother!”
I raised my eyebrows. “You never asked.”
“Oh, but I should’ve!” Breanna practically swooned. “He’s gorgeous!”
“He is also 24 and has a girlfriend,” Jake pointed out.
Breanna’s smile faded. “Oh, well that’s significantly depressing.”
Mum sighed in exasperation. “Look, we aren’t needing your services right now, so we’d like to get back to our meal, thank you very much.”
Breanna’s face transformed itself into an obviously fake smile. “Of course Mrs Tate, sorry for disturbing your evening. I babble too much, I know – I’m terrible for it! Just give one of the staff a yell if you need anything.”
“Don’t worry, we will.” Mum said sarcastically.
“That’s good,” Breanna said, “enjoy your evening! Absidy, Alex.” She nodded to us then disappeared off through the swarm of tables and customers.
Mum and Dad looked at each other and sighed.
“This place will definitely be getting a complaint about her.” Mum said simply.
Alex and I took one look at each other and burst out laughing. Breanna would finally get what she deserved.