Page 6 of No Second Chances

She let us learn and live on our own to help us grow. Or maybe it was because she had four kids and was tired as hell of dealing with all of us and our problems.

“I love you,” she calls back from down the hall. “Go have fun. Do crazy things. Your father and I won’t hear a thing.”

Having my mother practically screaming down the hall about sex stuff is embarrassing enough but combine that with her dragging my dad into it, and I’m really glad that my siblings aren’t here. My mortification, however, is complete when she pops back into my room with a devious grin.

“Remember, Kennedy. No glove, no love.”

“Go away!” I throw the pillow under my head at her and groan. “Why do you have to suck so much?”

“I don’t suck,” comes from down the hallway in a singsong voice. “Go have fun. It’s been too long since you smiled for real, and you can tell me all about it tomorrow.” How she says all of that in one breath and makes sure I hear every word from down the hall is completely beyond me. It has to be a mom thing.

There is no way I could ever be more embarrassed than in this moment, but she is right. I do need to have some fun. There is only one thing standing in my way, my stupid, ridiculous fear of being in a crowd. It is so paralyzing that I’m having trouble even pushing myself off the bed to find a dress in Cassie’s closet. Except the longer I lie there, the later it will get, and the more likely it is that Linc will end up picking up some other girl. I really, really don’t want that to happen.

So, with a growl that would make a lion proud, I roll until I hit the edge of the bed and stand up. Then I march into Cassie and Casper’s room, throwing open the closet door with a dramatic flourish. I wish that the dress I want was right there staring out at me, but it isn’t. In fact, most of Cassie’s clothes are hideous and definitely haven’t come from me. Even a year ago, I had way better taste than she did. When I get to the back of the closet, that’s when things actually get interesting. Behind her hideously bright-pink prom dress, I strike gold.

Dress after dress that I’d bought, and thought that I’d thrown away, stare back at me. Yet none of them are perfect. Not a single one of them is enough to make Linc see me the way I want him to. They are too long, too bright, or just not right. At least not until I get to the very last one. The dress I bought the day before everything went to shit. It is the dress I meant to wear to my graduation party the year before. I thought for sure that I threw it away. Somehow Cassie, gods love her, had saved it.

As I pull it from her closet, I know that I’ll be wearing it. Even as the thought of showing that much skin sends shivers down my spine, I know I’ll be safe. If I’m anywhere near my brother, Remy will kill someone for hurting me. Hopefully, Linc will take one look and not let me out of his sight.

With a smirk on my face, I take the trophy dress back to my room and get ready. With that little black dress as my own armor, I’m definitely ready to go to war.

* * *

Linc

“She’s trying to kill me.”

The way Kennedy twists toward me in that skintight dress, even across the crowded room, makes it seem like she hears my whispered words. There isn’t a back to it, either. Just a few strands of black that go from her shoulders down to the top of her ass. I know I’m not the only one checking her out. Everywhere I look, guys are stealing glances and some are even outright staring at her.

When she looks up and her eyes meet mine, there is no doubt in my mind that she knows what I’m thinking. What I want more than anything is too obvious. Trying not to draw attention to myself, I find a way to adjust my pants and hide the growing bulge. Kennedy catches me, though. Her smile is a challenge in and of itself. One I can’t ignore after an hour of her presence.

Remy is gone. He didn’t even make it an hour before he and his girlfriend disappeared upstairs to her bedroom. Danny, on the other hand, doesn’t even bother showing up after his fiancée, Parker, tells him they need to talk about something important. I laugh slightly at the memory of his pale face when she called. He is head over heels for that girl, and his worry that she is about to break up with him is evident. That leaves me, staring across a busy party, as Kennedy wears a dress that will sure as shit look better decorating my bedroom floor than her body.

“Screw it.”

The crowd parts like the sea when I push my way through, heading directly for Kennedy. Less than a minute later, I’m standing in front of the woman of my dreams. She is every inch a woman, pushing me beyond my limits. Watching her there, barely able to keep my hands to myself, a few things I’ve been denying become very clear.

She isn’t just my best friend’s little sister. She isn’t the little girl who used to wear her hair in pigtails. She isn’t the girl I tried my best to ignore, telling myself she was off-limits.

Nope. Not at all.

Kennedy is everything to me. Always has been and always will be. It is time that I claim what is mine. Not just for one night either. No, I will never kid myself like that. One night will never be enough. I need every night, every kiss, from now until the end. I just have to convince her that whatever happened to her doesn’t mean anything—not to me.

“Linc?”

I blink and find myself looking directly into her seeking gray eyes.

“Is everything okay?” Her voice wrecks me, leaving me breathless and unable to answer her directly. No, nothing is okay. It won’t be either, not until I have her in my arms, pressed up against my body, asking me for more.

I hold out a hand, not even caring that she can see the way I tremble slightly. I need to touch her, to make sure that she understands.

“Let’s go.”

She doesn’t flinch at the harsh way I speak. She doesn’t even blanch, not my Kennedy. Instead, she turns and says goodbye to the girls at her side. I can’t hear a word, though. The blood is rushing through my brain, heading south in anticipation of what is to come. Then she places one small hand in mine, and I lead her away.

“Finally.”

I’m not sure which one of us has spoken, but it is clear. She wants me. Just as much as I want her. This time I’m finally going to get her.

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