Untouchable (Untouchables, #1)

by Sam Mariano

I lose the whole night that way, traversing rabbit holes about a decidedly unpleasant topic.

Glancing over at me, Grace decides to go fishing. “Carter Mahoney is kind of gorgeous. Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed.” “Ugh.” I roll my eyes, shaking my head. “Don’t do this. Not today, Satan.”

“I’m legitimately stunned you didn’t burst into flames just typing that,” I reply.

This is probably a terrible idea, but as if on cue, my stomach rumbles, begging me to let the nice man buy it some chicken wings. I tell my stomach he’s not a nice man at all, but my stomach decidedly doesn’t care what kind of man he is, so long as he’s buying it some chicken wings.

Carter smiles like that amuses rather than offends him. “I’m not a sociopath.” I press my lips together with exaggerated firmness. “That’s just what a sociopath would say.” “I’m aggressive when I’m going after something I want, that’s all. That doesn’t make me a sociopath.” I tick off fingers. “Superficial charm, intelligence, grandiose sense of self, ability to harm others without any apparent remorse, relentless pursuit of your own desires at the expense of others, liar liar pants on fire…” Before I can continue my list, Carter laughs. “Was that last one a technical term, Dr. Ellis?” “It was,” I say with a nod. “I haven’t lied to you,” he says. “You lie to everyone,” I state. “From what I can tell, your whole entire life is a lie.”

“I didn’t say I don’t lie to anyone, I said I haven’t lied to you,”

“Whoa, Solo, way to take it to a depressing place. Let’s take it down a notch.” Carter leans forward, murmuring in my ear, “Did you just talk to your cup?” “No?”

Jake Parsons is gonna be doin’ oil changes down at the Lube Stop and you’ll be settin’ the world on fire.

You just gave me the keys to the kingdom. There’s no stopping me now.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,”