Page 96 of Fighting the Forbidden

“I thought you smelled extra sweet today.” I lean down and brush my lips against her shoulder. Vanilla fills my nose. My hand’s still sitting mid-thigh, not quite under her dress but close. I fight the urge to travel higher into forbidden territory.

Not here. Not now. Too many people.

I slip my hand out from under the table and grab a paper plate from the stack Molly placed in front of us.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“Nothing at all.”

She turns her head and watches me for a moment.

“Molly,” I say in a low voice. “I’m having a hard time not shoving that dress up around your waist to explore where you rubbed that body butter.”

Her lips curl. “I used it almost everywhere, Griff.”

I let out a long, low groan. “What are you trying to do to me?”

Still smiling, she reaches for a burger and drops it on my plate. “Eat your burger. You can have cake later.”

“Careful what you offer, Muffin.” I reach for another burger. “You think I’m only going to eat one of these?”

“Happy birthday, Molly.” Torch drops onto the bench on the other side of the table without asking if we want his company.

“Thanks.” Molly flashes a quick smile. “How’ve you been?”

“Not bad.” He reaches behind him, pulls a small white envelope out of his pocket, and hands it to her. “I didn’t know what you might want but thought that could be useful when you’re running late for school or something.”

“Aww, thank you,” Molly squeals. She rips open the envelope and pulls out a birthday-themed gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts. “This is perfect. I pass a Dunkin’ on my way to school.”

“Thought so.” Torch nods.

“Thanks, bro,” I say.

Torch cocks his head and stares at me for a second, then shifts his gaze to the nonexistent gap between Molly and me. His lips quirk. “Well, well, well. When did this happen?”

“Remy knows,” Molly says quickly. That’s my girl, always quick to protect me.

“Yeah?” Torch lifts one auburn eyebrow. “How’d that conversation go?”

“He was fine.” My clipped tone’s meant to shut down any further questions. Torch doesn’t honestly expect me to spread gossip about myself, does he?

“Congrats.” He shakes his head slowly. “Seems like all the finest ladies are getting locked down lately.” He squints an exaggerated wink at Molly.

Don’t kill him. He meant it as a compliment.

Molly lets out a nervous laugh and lifts her burger to her mouth, taking a small bite.

Spoons joins us, sitting next to Torch. He reaches over and grabs a burger from the plate but lingers way too long. Blatantly staring at Molly’s chest, he hunches over the table, pretending to thoroughly inspect each burger.

“Are you planning to eat all of them?” Molly asks.

Spoons leers at her. “Do you want me to?”

“Well”—she points her plastic knife at his hand— “you’re getting your germs over each one.”

Germs are the least of the issues here.

“Sorry.” Spoons gathers three or four burgers and arranges them on his plate in a circle, then returns to staring at Molly.

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