Page 96 of Never You

“Hey! That’s mine!”

“You’re nineteen. You’re not allowed to drink anyway.”

“June said I could,” she mopes.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get us another one in a minute.”

She mumbles something, but I ignore her, thinking about the man now walking through my childhood home. I don’t want him to go, but I feel like his leaving is inevitable. Our worlds don’t match in any kind of way, and I can’t expect him to shove his parents aside, even if they treat him like shit.

I’m terrified to even bring it up, because I don’t think I can handle the rejection if he’s planning to get back together with Emily after this weekend.

Fake relationship or not.

“Speaking of the devil.” I follow Kayla’s gaze.

Bodi and Jensen step out of the kitchen and into the yard. Jensen roams the yard, until his eyes lock with mine, shooting that same desire-filled look my way that I’ve become so familiar with. My heart jumps, and I hold his gaze with a faint smile, as we stare at each other like we’re the only people around, until Johnny takes up his attention.

“Fuck, Rae. No chance that boy is thinking about his ex. He’s smitten.”

“He’s not smitten.” I blush, bringing my glass to my lips again before I question my own words by following them up with the next. “He got my boots tattooed.”

Kayla’s eyes almost rolled out of her head, mouth agape. “Excuse me?”

I stare at the white gold liquid in my glass, avoiding her sharp gaze drilled into my side.

“You’re serious?” My cousin presses with a look that’s nothing short of a scary bad cop. “Why your boots?”

“I was wearing them when he first kissed me.”

Saying it out loud makes it sound ridiculous. The man got a tattoo to remind him of the first night he kissed me.

That doesn’t happen to me. It happens in fucking Hallmark movies.

Her chocolaty brown hair dances around her bubbly face as she vigorously shakes her head, huffing and puffing like she’s out of air before sucking in a lungful.

“No, you’re right. He’s notsmitten. He’s head over heels.” Kayla boldly plucks her glass back, drinking the thing all in one go.

“Shut up, Keeks.”

“You shut up. I almost had an orgasm watching him eat you with his eyes from a mile away. He wants you.”

“You don’t know shit,” I counter.

“It’s hard to deny when he is undressing you with his mind. Gah, he makes me swoon.” She flutters her lashes, waving her jeans jacket up and down for air and I chuckle at her silly face.

“Yeah, you and me both, girl.”

I look at Jensen again, my heart racing at just the sight of him, hypnotized by his fearless smile. I have no clue what’s going on between us. All I know is that he makes me feel things I never thought possible, but I can’t shake the sense that all good things come to an end. And I have a feeling our time is running out.

29

Ilook around the yard, seeking Rae's blonde hair. When I find her, my heart stops when our gazes collide, and the world freezes for just a brief second.

I smile, a clear desire dripping from my face, I’m sure.

She does the same. My feelings for her seem to be growing bigger by the minute, and soon, I know I’ll reach that point of no return. If I haven’t already. Then I blink, and the moment is over, as someone approaches me from the side.

“Jensen, nice to see you.” Johnny offers me his hand with a genuine smile, and I grab it in greeting. Even though he’s dressed the same, in dark jeans and a dress shirt, he looks different in the company of his family. More relaxed, maybe.

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