Stuck with You

by Alexandra Moody

  Stuck with You

  Alexandra Moody

  Copyright © 2020 by Alexandra Moody

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Developmental Editing by Pete Thompson

  Proofreading & Copy-editing by Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb)

  editing.xterraweb.com

  Contents

  Author’s Note

  1. Clary

  2. Clary

  3. Aiden

  4. Clary

  5. Clary

  6. Clary

  7. Aiden

  8. Aiden

  9. Clary

  10. Clary

  11. Clary

  12. Aiden

  13. Clary

  14. Aiden

  15. Clary

  16. Aiden

  17. Clary

  18. Aiden

  19. Clary

  20. Clary

  21. Aiden

  22. Clary

  23. Clary

  24. Aiden

  25. Clary

  Stay Connected

  Also by Alexandra Moody

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  Stuck with You is loosely based on life in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a work of fiction, so any references to restrictions implemented to combat the virus may not reflect reality in your city or country.

  This book focuses on the lighter side of being stuck at home in lockdown, and I hope that Aiden and Clary’s story provides you with a happy distraction during this uncertain time.

  I hope you are all staying safe and healthy!

  Alexandra

  This book is dedicated to all of the frontline workers heroically keeping the world running during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  1

  Clary

  The world was supposed to end with zombies. At least, that was what all my favorite horror movies suggested. I was fully prepared to have to roam the streets with a machete in hand and run for my life whenever I heard the garbled moans of the walking dead.

  Sitting at home in my pajamas was definitely not how I saw things going. That was the reality of living through a pandemic though. And, right now, this reality was just as uncertain and just as frightening as trying to survive a horde of the undead.

  “What do you mean you guys can’t get home?” My voice shook with emotion, and my gut twisted with concern.

  My mom’s phone reception was shoddy at best, but I didn’t miss her carefree laugh. “Well, we’re stuck. Isn’t it wild?”

  Wild was not the term I’d have chosen to describe our current situation, and I could think of several swear words that were far more appropriate. Mom and Dad were photographers and had been out of the country this week for a wedding in Mexico—the same week an unknown and highly contagious virus had swept across the globe. Now, airports were closing, school was closed, and the world had gone to hell.

  At seventeen, I was used to being left home alone when my parents were out of town for work. They were never gone for more than a week, and I was pretty self-sufficient. That didn’t mean I was equipped to deal with my parents being stranded overseas when we faced a full-blown pandemic though.

  People were dying, hospitals were overrun, toilet paper held more value than gold, and the news showed long queues snaking away from the entrances to gun stores. Shit was getting real. But, as bad as things might be for me here, I was far more worried about my parents.

  “You’re stuck? How is that possible?” I struggled to keep the panic from my voice.

  “The airport here has closed, and we can’t get a flight home.” Mom didn’t sound the least bit alarmed. “I can certainly think of worse places to be trapped during a pandemic though. The sun’s out, and you should see how clear the water is today.”

  My parents were such free spirits, which was great when you wanted to go to a party or jet off on a spontaneous trip around the globe. It wasn’t so great when there was an emergency. I’d told them when they were leaving for this latest trip that it was a bad idea. They hadn’t listened though, and now they were stranded. To be fair, no one could have predicted how quickly things would escalate in a week.

  Just one week ago, I’d been starting spring break, and the pandemic was barely a concern. Sure, there were a few cases here in the US, but it seemed like the virus was confined to countries on the other side of the world. I certainly didn’t imagine that days later we’d be locked down in our houses and my parents would be unable to return from their trip. Looking back, it was amazing how naïve I’d been. How naïve we’d all been.

  I huffed out a breath. “Mom, I don’t want to hear about your plans to work on your tan. Will you please put Dad on the phone?”

  There was a rustling sound on the line before I heard the steady tone of my dad’s voice. “Hey, Clary, how are you?”

  “How am I?” I shook my head. “I’m not the one stuck in another country while the whole world’s going into lockdown. I’m more concerned about you guys.”

  “Don’t worry about us,” Dad replied. “We’re fine.” He sounded so calm I had to wonder if my parents realized how serious this all was.

  “Dad, they’re saying on the news we have to stay home, and we’re only supposed to leave the house to exercise or to get food and medical supplies. This is bad…” I rubbed a hand across my cheeks and tried to stop the tears from coming. I wasn’t the kind of girl who usually cried, but right now, I felt pretty damn close to tears. “What if you guys can’t get home?”

  “We’ll get home,” Dad said. “I’m going to call our travel agent, and we’re going to sort this out. We’ll be back before you know it, I promise.”

  I nodded my reply, not that Dad could hear it. I was just glad he seemed to be taking things seriously. I had no family here in Harford, and they all lived across the other side of the country. I was going to be alone during all this, but I could survive a few days by myself. Now wasn’t the time to break down, and I needed to put on a brave face so Mom and Dad didn’t worry.

  I took in a deep breath, and as I blew it out, I felt a little calmer. Everything was going to be fine. My parents would call their travel agent and find another way home. They’d be back in no time.

  “Okay,” I finally replied. “You guys just focus on finding your way home, and don’t worry about me for a second. I’ve got plenty of food in the house, and I just renewed my Netflix subscription, so I’m all set. I love you both so much and just want you guys to be safe.”

  “We love you too, Clary,” Dad replied.

  The phone rustled again, and then Mom’s voice came over the speaker. “We love you so much,” she said. “You don’t have to worry. We’ll be home in a few days. Just in case it’s longer though, I’ve sorted out somewhere for you to stay.”

  My heart skipped a beat at her words. “Why would you do that? I’m fine here.”

  Saying I was fine was probably a bit of a stretch, but being alone couldn’t be worse than getting stuck living as a guest in someone else’s home. Even the thought of staying with my best friend Zoey wasn’t appealing. Her mom was crazy, and her dad collected china dolls. China. Dolls. I wouldn’t last a day trapped at her house, let alone several.

  “Clary, you don’t even have our car to drive,” Mom said. “What if there’s an emergency?” The airport was over an hour away, and my parents had parked their car there when they left. The car was the least of my concerns though.

  “I don’t need a car,” I said. “And you know I get by just fine without one whenever you’re g
one. I thought you guys trusted me to stay here by myself.”

  “Clary, I know you’re responsible, but I’m not letting you stay home alone when there’s a pandemic.” Mom’s voice sounded strained. It was the first hint I’d gotten that she was genuinely worried. Perhaps she was taking this situation seriously after all.

  “Now,” she continued. “I’ve already called Jade and told her about our situation. She’s more than happy for you to stay with her while we find our way back.”

  “Jade…as in Jade Moore?”

  “Do we know any other Jades?”

  I wished we did, and my stomach sank to the floor. “You called Jade Moore? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Jade was one of Mom’s closest friends in town. She came over for margaritas whenever the two of them had a weekend free. Since Mom worked most weekends, it didn’t happen all that often. And though Jade was nice enough, she wasn’t the problem.

  “This isn’t a joke, Clarissa.” Mom’s carefree tone was now completely gone, and the fact she’d used my full name only emphasized her point. Her talk of sunshine and the clear blue ocean felt like a distant memory, and I had to wonder if she’d been putting on a cheerful front earlier so I wouldn’t be concerned. It was something only my mom would do in the face of a pandemic.

  “I want you to be safe,” Mom said. “And Jade’s a doctor, so I can’t think of anyone better suited for you to stay with.”

  “I’ll be safe right here. Besides, don’t you think I’ll be in more danger living with a doctor? She could catch the virus at the hospital and bring it home with her.”

  “Jade assured me she’s taking every precaution,” Mom replied. “And even if she did catch it, they’re saying the virus doesn’t make younger people as sick. Someone your age will be fine.”

  “So, what, it’s a risk you’re willing to take?”

  “Yes, because it’s better than the alternative. I won’t let you stay home alone, and she’s the only person in Harford who would take you.”

  “What, you called every other family in Harford?” Because seriously, any other family would have been a better option.

  Mom sharply exhaled. “Look, I don’t want any arguing about this. The decision has been made. She’s coming to pick you up this morning, so you’d better pack a bag.”

  My parents rarely threw their weight around with me, but there was no missing the conviction in Mom’s voice. We usually talked things out as a family, and I couldn’t believe this was the time they’d picked to reach a decision without me. I was not okay with this.

  I paced around my room, clutching my phone tightly to my ear. “Mom, this is crazy. You guys can’t actually expect me to go live with the Moores.”

  “I’ve already told you that Jade working at the hospital is fine—”

  “It’s not just that,” I interrupted.

  “Then what is it?”

  Her question made me hesitate. It was no surprise she’d ask me why, but I wasn’t prepared to explain my reasoning. Why couldn’t Mom just trust me?

  “Clary?”

  I was going to have to tell her, and I swore under my breath before I responded. “I can’t stay there because it would mean living with Aiden Moore!”

  The line went silent for a moment, and I could sense Mom’s confusion. “What are you talking about?” she asked. “He seems like a sweet enough boy to me.”

  Of course, he did. It appeared that just like everyone else in our backward town, my mother had been fooled by the charms of the high school’s star football player. All the locals worshiped him like a god, and while he might have looked like the offspring of some heavenly being, he definitely didn’t act like one. He was just about the most annoying guy on the planet, and while I didn’t really hate anyone, I was willing to make an exception for him.

  “Mom, I can’t stand the guy. Living with him is going to be torture. Surely there’s somewhere else…”

  “I’m sure he’s not that bad. And, torture or not, at least you’ll be safe.”

  “I wouldn’t be so certain,” I muttered.

  To most of the guys at school, I was invisible. I wasn’t a loser or anything, but I was slightly nerdy and quiet. I easily disappeared into the background around my more outgoing friends. I didn’t particularly want to be the center of attention, so I was completely okay with my place in the world. Guys rarely bothered me, and that was great because most of the guys at our school were immature idiots.

  Aiden was different though. He saw me. His gaze always sought me out, and he seemed to relish in taking every opportunity to get under my skin. He was the king of those immature idiots, and I could only imagine how bad lockdown would be with him.

  “Look, it’s just for a few days until we can get home.”

  “I know, but…” My voice drifted off as the front doorbell rang. My head whipped in the direction of the sound. “Please tell me you didn’t tell Jade to come now! I haven’t even had a shower.”

  “Well, you better get a move on,” Mom replied. “We love you, and we’ll call as soon as we have more news.”

  “But, Mom...”

  The phone disconnected, and I lowered it from my ear as annoyance flickered through me. “Just great,” I muttered. Mom barely even gave me a chance to convince her to reconsider.

  The doorbell rang again. Apparently, Jade was in a rush this morning. “I’m coming!” I yelled as I ran to answer it. I yanked the door open and felt the blood rush from my skin.

  Jade was nowhere in sight, and instead, I found just over six feet of male perfection standing in my doorway. Aiden Moore. His lips curved in a smile as he looked at me, and I tried to ignore the tingles that prickled across my skin in reaction. I’d been at school with the guy for years, but all that time hadn’t diminished how the air around me seemed to crackle whenever he was close. I often wondered if he too felt the sparks of irritation that sizzled between us. He was probably too busy thinking about how amazing he was to notice though.

  I rubbed my arms as I stared at him, trying to get rid of the static. It had only been a week since I’d last seen him at school, but even in that short span of time, it felt like I’d forgotten just how good-looking the guy standing before me was.

  Aiden’s greenish-blue eyes reminded me of the clear ocean waters Mom was admiring in Mexico right now. They were so light you couldn’t help but stare at them, and if it weren’t for the hints of green, I would have suspected he was partly related to the White Walkers from Game of Thrones. His dirty-blond hair was always slightly messy because he was constantly running his hand through it—just like he was doing now. His jaw might have looked like it was carved from stone, but his chiseled features were softened by full lips and thick eyelashes. He was a combination of strong but beautiful, and he was far too aware of how to work those good looks in his favor.

  It wasn’t hard to see why every girl at school was in love with Aiden. He was tall with a muscular body built from years of hard work and dedication in the gym and on the football field. He also had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. But, below the surface level, anything appealing was quickly stripped away. Aiden’s external beauty just wasn’t reflected on the inside. He took nothing seriously in life and flirted with anything that moved. He was a total player, and because I refused to be affected by his charms, he seemed to take great pleasure in annoying me instead.

  My life would have been so much simpler if I could have avoided him at school. But since a lot of my girlfriends were dating his friends, I couldn’t seem to get rid of the guy. It felt like he was always there, and now he was invading my home life as well. I couldn’t help but hate him a little more for that.

  “Good morning, Clary.” His voice was deep and held the amused and somewhat patronizing tone it always did when he was talking with me. Thankfully, his words seemed to bring me to my senses and stopped me from staring at him.

  “Where’s your mom?” My answer was sharp and slightly rude. I would have been com
pletely embarrassed if I’d found myself snapping at anyone else like that, but it was easier to keep my conversations with Aiden blunt. Our interactions always felt like a contest. If I were even slightly pleasant to him, he’d smile at me like he’d just won our unspoken battle. To be honest, his smile only became bigger when I was rude back to him. Either way, I always seemed to lose. It was far simpler to try to avoid talking with him at all.

  I looked past Aiden in the hopes of seeing Dr. Moore. She wasn’t coming up the front sidewalk behind him though, and his truck was parked in the street. I had a bad feeling it was just the two of us.

  He didn’t seem to notice I’d asked about his mom. Instead, he appeared to be more interested in my pajamas. They definitely weren’t my cutest pair, and they weren’t even matching. The bottoms had pictures of puppies all over them, while I was also wearing a ratty oversized T-shirt that had a zombie survival plan printed across the front of it. The shirt was my dad’s, and I’d commandeered it the moment a pandemic was declared. It had seemed kind of funny at the time. Now, not so much.

  The corner of Aiden’s lips lifted in a half-smirk as he studied the T-shirt. I hoped it was because he found the survival plan amusing rather than the fact I wasn’t wearing a bra. Crap. I wasn’t wearing a bra. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest.

  “Aiden, where’s your mom?” I repeated. It felt like if I didn’t say anything he was just going to stand there smirking at me all day. Yes, I was aware I was in my pajamas. And, yes, I knew my hair was messy and I didn’t have any makeup on. Did I care though? Not really. Not for Aiden Moore. If any other guy were standing across from me, it might have been a different story.