Page 115 of The Influencer

“Portland?”

He smiles.

“I also thought maybe San Francisco.”

“Ugh, I wish.”

“I’m glad you’re here now,” I say.

“Me too.”

We kiss again, and I can’t stop myself from pulling him onto my lap. Kissing him is practically impossible. It’s like having a drop of water when I require the entire gallon. But talking to him makes me want to kiss him. Being anywhere near him—I want to kiss him. And especially now, after he’s given me this quick peek behind his Influencer Barbie persona, I need to kiss him.

“Is this okay?” I ask, not wanting to assume he wants this as much as I do.

He puts his hands on my face and looks me in the eyes. “Yeah.”

“I just… I shouldn’t assume…”

“What are you assuming?” he asks.

“That I can just manhandle you and make you kiss me.”

He licks his lips and bites back a grin. “I don’t mind.”

“Well, maybe not right now, but what if you’re pissed at me about something?”

“Then you should definitely manhandle me. Tackle me. And to grovel, you can always try sucking me.”

“Can I suck you right now?”

“Asher! Stop being so horny. Enjoy the moment for fuck’s sake.”

I laugh. “I am. I promise.”

He narrows his gaze and nods. “Okay. Good. Take a walk with me.”

“A walk?”

He nods, eyes doing that sparkle thing again, catching the light like the waves of the ocean. Glittering.

“Like a walk on the beach?”

“Yes. Holding hands.”

“Jade…”

“What?”

“Are you getting romantic on me?”

“Of course not. Don’t be stupid. It would be ironic. Surely you get that.”

I bite back a grin. “Oh. Yeah. Sure. Of course.” And yet, I can’t help but notice the sun is nearly setting. So ironic. I give his thigh a slap. “Hop up.”

He does almost instantaneously and fusses with his hair until it looks even more perfect in half-dry saltwater waves. He makes sure he’s got his phone as I stand, careful not to get too much sand on the blanket.

I offer him my hand, he takes it, and we head for the shoreline.

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