Page 54 of Always You

“I don’t know, babe. I guess sometimes you have to pray that karma is on your side, and gives you a second chance.” He playfully cocks his head with a smug look on his face, and I can’t resist reaching over the table, softly slapping his head. “Ouch.”

“You’re an arrogant asshole.” I plop back in my chair. “How you treat those girls shouldn’t be giving you good karma, because you let them follow you around, giving them just a sprinkle of fairy dust of attention, even though you know you’re not serious with them.” I scowl. “It’s like a fucking puppy farm.”

“True.” He leans back, slouching in his chair, licking his lower lip, then takes another bite of his Magnum. “But it’s really more like a beehive.”

My frown is deep and mocking. “How so?”

“Well, in a beehive, there are a shit ton of workers.” He pauses, his expression darkening a bit. “But there’s only one queen. The rest of them don't matter.”

Pressing my tongue into my cheek, I take in his words. Yet, I’m scared to fully process them. He licks his lips with hooded eyes, then lowers his voice while a lump forms into my throat. “There’s one girl I treat like a queen,” he continues, his eyes locked on mine, “and I’m pretty sure that’s where all my good karma comes from.”

Fucking hell.

I narrow my eyes at him, pursing my lips, swallowing away the dryness in my mouth while his haze never deviates.

Like I’m all he sees.

Like I’m the only one who matters.

Fuck, I want to believe him so badly.

He’s been sleeping around with a bunch of girls since we became friends, but not once did he give me the feeling I don’t matter. I’m the one he puts everything aside for, making sure he can accommodate my every need. It makes me wonder if maybe I’m not crazy. If only I had enough balls to give in to the one need that aches the most.

“Tell me I’m wrong, Charls.” The challenge is clear in his squinted gaze.

I shake my head. “You’re not wrong, Hunt.”

“One of these days, Charls,” he says, his voice deep and husky, his words filled with promise, stopping my heart for a beat. “One of these days, I won’t be able to hold back anymore.”

A breath is stolen from my chest, and I almost drop my popsicle, before forcing myself to get it together.

“Stop flirting with me,” I whisper, not being able to say it with as much vigor as I intend to because of the fluttering feeling in my core that wants to jump him.

He doesn’t move a fucking muscle. Our eyes stay connected as the tension fills the air between us. I notice his Adam’s apple bob when he swallows hard, and unintentionally, I part my lips.

“Fine.” He glares before a boyish grin is conjured on his face. “Come on, let’s go check on your mom.”

The tension disappears in the blink of an eye when we get up, like it does every time we have these moments.

“One day, I won’t be able to hold back anymore.”

But what if I don’t want him to?

18

She looks adorable.

I walk up Charlotte’s porch steps, catching her sitting on the swinging bench with a thick blanket to keep her warm. Her dirty blonde strands sit on top of her head in a messy bun, pink fluffy slipper boots peeking out from under the wool. It makes me want to pull her into my arms and cuddle her with my nose buried in her neck. She has her head stuck in her book, even though I know she heard me park my truck in her driveway.

“Babe, it’s freezing. Why are you out here?”

Green eyes look up, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she casually lifts her shoulders.

“I like the cold. Why are you not at the winter formal?” The look on her face is both amused and confused, and I can detect the hint of victory in her beaming blue-green eyes.

“I didn’t want to go without you,” I say, slowly sauntering to the bench with my hands in the pockets of my jeans until I’m right in front of her, towering above her.

“You had a date,” she states.

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