Page 114 of Never You

“Well, you gotta figure it out. But something tells me she isn’t going to settle for long-distance, not after what you told me Kent did to her.”

“Tell me about it.”

Her ex cheated on her from under her nose. I know she knows I’m not Kent, but I doubt she’ll be happy with facetime dates and virtual kisses.

“The Hurricanes offer still stands and let me tell you something, it’s a damn good offer. Better than any one I ever got. Besides, you were already planning on telling your folks to fuck off. Why stop now?” He smirks, walking backwards toward thedoor, like a fucking know-it-all, but I can’t fully hide the smile that’s trying to push through.

He’s right. Rae is the first step, but if I want her, I’ll have to take control of my life in every way I can. No matter where I live.

“Just think about it,” Hunter says before he walks through the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Just think about it.

But something tells me that if I wanna keep Rae, I need to do more than think about it.

34

It’s like every time I tell myself to not make this thing between us any bigger than it is, Jensen will find a way to touch me, hug me, make my skin burn, and press a kiss on top of my head. My father was like that with my mother.

Affectionate, sweet.

He was the no-nonsense lumberjack kinda guy, with his flannel shirts and thick beard, but make no mistake, he was a pushover when it came to his wife. He loved her dearly. It was visible in every single touch. Every single look. It’s the same look Hunter gives Charlotte when she does nothing more than walk across the room. His hazel brown eyes filled with amazement every time he looked at his wife.

I’m staring out of the window as we drive back home, a shitstorm of feelings sitting in my chest.

Today, I’ve caught Jensen looking at me with that same admiration, and my heart can’t help hoping I’m not imagining, while my sanity tells me to run fast. Run fast before it's too late. Before the last that's left of my heart shatters into a thousand irreparable pieces, leaving me broken forever. And then there’sCharlotte’s words, still lingering in my head like a song you can’t get out.

“Can’t I just sneak into your room tonight?” He pulls me back to him with his word, and gives me a playful wink that has me gasping for air for more than one reason.

“No.” I shake my head horrified and horny by the image it gives birth into my brain. “If Nana finds out, she will drag you out of there in the middle of the night. Let’s save ourselves from that kind of embarrassment.” I hold his gaze, heat creeping into my neck.

“Sounds like a challenge.”

“Jared James Jensen,” I scold, narrowing my eyes, though it’s hard to keep glaring at him when he’s giving me that lopsided grin.

His eyes darken, and he rolls his lips. “My name has never sounded as sexy as it does when it comes from your lips.”

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you're about to swallow me whole.”

He laughs. “Don’t give me any ideas, then.”

The back of his hand brushes my blushing cheek before he turns his attention back to the road. A happy feeling crawls inside of me, still enjoying the perfect ending of this day.

Having dinner with Hunter and Charlotte gave me a sense of peace I haven’t felt before. Looking at their relationship, the small touches, and the loving banter, it felt natural. Relaxed. I want that. I crave that. That sense of comfort my parents gave each other, combined with the safety of a place to call home.

I glance at the man that seems to make me burn from the inside, staring at his sharp jaw. He has a vacant gaze in his eyes, focused on the road.

“Are you okay?” I cock my head.

When our eyes collide, a lazy grin forms, and my heart jumps.

The things this man does to me.

“Yeah, I’m good.” He grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers before placing them on his lap.

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