Chapter 17

Lily was still causing a ruckus, but Jason shoved me into the office and said, "Stay put, she's just nuts."

"Do you like her, Uncle?" I asked, giving him a hard stare.

"That's none of your business."

"Why isn't it my business?" I shot back.

"Who are you to me? You're just a kid. Mind your own business, it's adults' things" he said, sounding exasperated.

"So, if I grow up, then it's my business?" I asked, dead serious.

He just looked at me, not saying a word.

"Uncle?" I called out softly.

"Cut it out."

He didn't say anything else, and I felt all sorts of awkward and confused. Almost without thinking, I stood on my tiptoes and tried to kiss him.

But before I could get close, he picked me up and said, "What are you doing?"

Realizing what I was about to do, my heart started racing.

"I... I... didn't do anything."

"Do you even know what you're doing?"He glared at me.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"If you can't handle the consequences, don't do it. Just 'cause you're a kid doesn't mean you can do whatever," he snapped, lighting a cigarette angrily before storming out and slamming the door behind him.