Page 51 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

“Maybe we skip the tennis,” I offer, only pulling my lips away from his long enough to get the words out before I’m going in for more.

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my core because of the position we’re in. “Nice try, rebel. You’re not getting out of it. But this does make me even more excited about later.”

Much to my dismay, he stops kissing me, but he doesn’t put me down. He keeps me in his arms, holding me tight against his middle as his eyes roam my face.

“What’s happening later?”

“I’m going to fuck you and show you that my tongue and cock are much better than the fantasy you were having of me last night.”

“How do you know I was thinking of you?”

“Because I’ll kill someone if you were thinking of anyone but me.”

My mouth falls open at his words.

“Murder is taking it a little too far,” I tease, keeping my arms wrapped around his neck even when he places me on my feet again.

“Then you better admit it was me you were thinking about, rebel.”

I roll my eyes and playfully swat at his stomach. “Of course, I was thinking about you. After the way you kissed me, I wouldn’t have been able to think of someone else, even if I wanted to.”

This makes him smile. He playfully nips at my neck. “Good,” he says, his lips pressed to the hollow of my throat.

“Get a room, lovebirds!” I’d recognize Peyton’s cheerful voice anywhere. I duck underneath Preston’s arm, finding Peyton and Jackson standing at the hood of Preston’s rental with smiles on both of their faces.

“Why get a room when we have a perfectly good parking lot?” I respond, leaving Preston to grab my bag from the car so I can walk in with Peyton.

She makes a dramatic gagging sound as she grabs my hand. “That’s my brother. Spare me the details.”

Blood fills my cheeks as I think about the details I am keeping from her. Like what her brother did to me last night, and what I hope he does to me tonight. “You’re the one who told us to get a room.”

“Because I walked up to Pres sucking your neck like he was a damn vampire.”

I look at her and wink. “Maybe he is.”

Peyton rolls her eyes at me and pulls me closer to her. “I love you. We’re going to be best friends…basically sisters.”

A pit forms in my stomach at her words. I feel terrible for lying to her. I feel even worse because I like the idea of her staying in my life. If this wasn’t fake between me and Preston, if there was a future between us, I know Peyton and I would be the best of friends.

But we won’t have the chance.

“Did I make things weird?” Peyton asks, her forehead creasing with worry. She leads me toward the tennis courts, where a large group of people from the wedding party have already gathered. “Jackson keeps telling me that I need to not be such a clinger when it comes to you. I just can’t help myself. Preston hasn’t ever introduced me to a girlfriend, and the moment we met, it felt like things just clicked. But I don’t want to come off weird.”

“Not weird at all. Now, can we talk about how incredibly hot you look in this? Hot damn, Peyton. You’re the sexiest bride I’ve ever seen.” I yell the last part before putting my fingers in my mouth and whistling the way Aunt V taught me to.

Jackson cheers in agreement from a few feet behind us as he and Preston follow us in. “Hell yes, she is!” He attempts the same whistle, but nothing comes out, which makes Peyton and I double over in laughter.

“I can’t believe I’m about to get married.”

“I can’t believe you convinced me to play tennis.” We’re getting closer to the group of people, and my nerves are starting to get the best of me. What if I accidentally serve the ball and hit someone in the face? What if I try to get the ball and fall in front of everyone? Jesus. This really isn’t a good idea.

Peyton ignores the people greeting her for the morning and instead turns and places her body directly in front of me. “We’re just going to have fun today. Don’t worry about how you do. I just wanted to get all of the wedding party together for a lighthearted game of tennis. Sound good?”

“Totally,” I lie.

She smiles and pulls me in for a hug. “Let’s get this started!”

Peyton runs to greet some of her guests, and I’m left standing there wondering if this is a terrible idea. I close my eyes for a moment, praying to the tennis gods that I don’t make an absolute fool of myself.

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