Chapter 270 Flowers From the One She Slept With
Evening.
Finished
Lauren had taken her time getting ready–hair done, outfit carefully picked–and now she and Marilyn were just heading out the door.
But they hadn’t made it far when Felix and Josh came walking up the driveway.
Felix stopped cold when his eyes landed on Lauren.
She was wearing a chic jacket over a pair of soft blue jeans, white sneakers on her feet, her hair styled in a cute messy bun. A little makeup gave her cheeks just the right glow. She looked fresh and confident- honestly, glowing.
Felix’s gaze didn’t move from her.
“It’s getting dark. Where are you going?”
Lauren smiled easily. “Tomorrow’s Mia’s birthday. Marilyn and I are taking her out tonight to celebrate- with dinner and cake.”
Josh raised an eyebrow.
“Ms. Bennett, Marilyn–why don’t I drive you?”
Mia, he thought, bet you didn’t see this coming.
After last night? I can’t wait to see how you try to explain yourself.
With fall settling in, the air had turned cool, and the sun dipped down earlier than before.
Streetlights blinked to life along the sidewalk, casting a soft yellow glow across Mia’s face as she stood waiting outside the gates of Hoverdale Tech.
She kept glancing down the street, eyes scanning for Lauren and Marilyn.
About ten minutes passed before a black luxury car eased to a stop right in front of her.
The second it did, her stomach dropped.
She knew that car way too well. Josh’s.
In that instant, last night came crashing back–hot, messy, and impossible to forget.
Even this morning, in the dorm shower, she’d seen it–her collarbone and everything below it was covered in marks. Josh’s marks. Faint bruises, bites, evidence of just how out of control things had gotten.
She’d been grateful for one thing–he hadn’t left anything on her neck. If he had, there’d be no hiding it. No facing anyone.
She didn’t want to deal with Josh. Not now. Not here.
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Chapter 270 Flowers From the One She Slept With
“Mia.”
Mia froze in place.
Finished
She turned slowly and saw the window of the black car had rolled down. In the backseat, Lauren and her mom were smiling and waving like nothing was out of the ordinary.
Her eyes flicked toward the front.
Josh.
He leaned back in the driver’s seat like he owned the moment, lips tugged into that infuriating half–smile, eyes full of mischief.
“So you’re Marilyn’s daughter,” he said smoothly. “Nice to officially meet you.”
The second their eyes met, Mia’s stomach flipped. She quickly looked down, flustered, avoiding his face like it might set her on fire.
She’d expected Lauren and her mom to roll up in a regular cab–not his car.
Seriously, what is this guy trying to pull?
The last thing she wanted was to get in the same car as him. Her feet stayed glued to the ground.
Josh tilted his head slightly, eyebrow raised. “Ms. Mia. Come on in.”
Marilyn, completely unaware of the tension, called out with a smile, “Mia, don’t just stand there–hop in!”
Mia clenched her jaw, mentally groaning, but there was no way out.
So she walked toward the car, each step echoing one thought–this is a bad idea.
Mia grabbed the door handle, planning to slide into the backseat to avoid Josh altogether–only to see that plan crash instantly.
The backseat was packed.
Lauren and her mom were already seated, and to her surprise, Felix was there too.
She wanted to blurt out, Mr. Brooker, would it kill you to ride up front for once?
But Felix just glanced at her coolly, then closed his eyes like she didn’t exist.
Mia sighed silently.
Yeah. He’s not moving.
Before she could argue, Marilyn and Lauren chimed in together, “Mia, sit up front.”
She didn’t have a choice. With a heavy sigh, she walked toward the front passenger door.
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Chapter 270 Flowers From the One She Slept With
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* Finished
Fresh, with tiny droplets still clinging to the petals. They looked perfect. They smelled even better.
Josh smirked slightly, eyes locked on her like he was enjoying every second of her squirming.
“Since Ms. Mia is having a birthday dinner tonight,” he said slowly, “I thought I’d bring a little something special. Picked these out just for you.”
He made sure to emphasize just for you.
The second Mia locked eyes with Josh and saw that completely unfiltered look he was giving her, she felt a wave of heat rush straight to her cars. Her whole face flushed in an instant.
Panicking, she clutched the bouquet against her chest like a shield, burying half her face in the petals. It was the only way she could breathe.
“Y–yeah… I like them…” she mumbled, barely audible, then quickly slid into the front seat and turned to face the window like he didn’t exist.
The car was silent as it moved, streetlights and buildings blurring by outside.
Josh glanced sideways. Her ears were still burning red.
His smirk deepened.
He was clearly loving how flustered she was–but he kept it classy, saying nothing more. No teasing. No pushing.
Just sitting there, smug and quiet.
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