At Home Late CH 24

I’m lying on my bed reading a magazine when Alex stops at my open door.
“Ashley,” he says, “I’m running to the store. Do you want to go with me?”
“No thanks,” I reply. T’m still in my nightshirt.” “Do you need anything?”
¡Condoms.”
He does a double take. “What?” I giggle. “Just joking.”
He frowns. “That’s nothing to joke about.” “Relax, Dad. Don’t take things so
seriously
My stepdad is a cool guy, but he’s a little uptight. Especially when it comes to the
subject of sex. Even though I’m not his real daughter, he’s very protective of me.
He didn’t even allow me to go on a date until I was sixteen, and I had to call him
every half hour to let him know I wasn’t raped and left for dead in a ditch
somewhere,
Now, two
years later I’m eighteen, and I don’t have to call Alex when I’m out on a date. But
he grills every guy who comes to pick me up like he’s the CIA interrogating a
terrorist.
Of course, he would totally flip out if he knew I’d lost my virginity a year ago. Not
only that, I’d been sexually active since then. From the way I always hear him and
my Mom in their bedroom arguing about sex, I probably get laid more than he
does
“If you decide you need anything,” he says, “text me
He’s the embodiment of masculine, with his rugged, scruffy unshaven face, deep
blue eyes, and longish dark hair. To complete the look he’s wearing a red and
black plaid flannel shirt over his lean, muscular frame, and a pair of worn blue
jeans.
“Thanks,” I reply.