Page 73 of Never Say Never

“Oh, it was to die for!” Addy leans forward in her chair, slipping her phone out of her pocket, and scrolling through her camera roll. “Just look at this pool, Daisy.”

I look across the couch to Tucker and when our eyes meet, he winks. Maybe this will all work out after all.

After dinner,Tucker and I are the first to leave. Neither of us can stand to be there another minute, but even more than that, we’re both aching to touch one another. My muscles are stiff, my jaw tight from the act I just put on in front of Tucker’s dad. It wasn’t easy to look him in the eye and not tell him how much he has hurt me. It also wasn’t easy to lie to Aunt Daisy and my dad about being in a relationship with Tuck. I get in Tucker’s truck and lean back against the headrest, rolling my head from side to side.

“Are you okay?” He doesn’t start the truck, instead turning in his seat to face me and reaching for my neck. I groan when he begins to rub the knot that has formed above my left shoulder blade.

“I’m fine. Just a little tense from tonight. How about you?”

“Besides not being able to drag you back into my dad’s office and christen his desk, I’m okay,” he says, still massaging my neck. “Come here.”

Tucker leans across the console and I meet him halfway. When his lips settle over mine, a whimper escapes my mouth and soon our tongues tangle. A shiver skates up my spine; it’s a kiss we have both been eager for all night.

“You have no idea how badly I wanted to kiss you in there,” he says when he finally pulls away.

“Oh, I think I do,” I say, going back for more. This time, Tucker’s hand cups my face while his mouth slants over mine.

This is everything I need.

Just as we break the kiss, I see a figure through the windshield. My breath catches in my throat.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Tucker’s dad is standing in the driveway.

I freeze. The air in the truck is stifling, so thick it feels hard to breathe. Tucker’s back stiffens when his gaze follows my line of sight.

This can’t be happening. My eyes squeeze shut, hoping that I’m seeing things but when they reopen, I’m staring right into the angry eyes of my Uncle Mark. He crosses his arms over his chest, then we both watch as he turns around and stalks back inside the house.

“Fuuuuck.” Tucker stretches the word out, pressing his fingers against his closed eyes.

“That is not how I planned on telling him,” I say.

“Me either.” He drags his hand through his hair with a sigh. “But it’s done.”

It was careless of us to kiss like that in the driveway with our families just feet away, but as awkward as this is, I also feel a sense of relief that we no longer need to hide.

“Should we go inside?” I ask quietly.

“Yeah, let’s just get this over with.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

THIS ISN’T THE END OF US

Tucker

Daisy’s hand is in mine as we head inside to face the wrath of my father. We’re both pretty positive he’s the only one who will have an issue with us dating. I think it will be a shock for my Uncle Randy and my mom, but once we explain that we have real feelings for each other, I’m betting they will understand. My dad, on the other hand, is going to lose his mind.

My hand grips Daisy’s a little tighter when we walk through the foyer toward the kitchen. I pause for a second, looking down at her. “Ready?”

“Yes. It’s going to be fine, Tuck. We haven’t done anything wrong.”

We enter the kitchen to find my mom and Aunt Victoria huddled together at the island, talking in hushed tones. When they see us, their expressions soften. I assume Aunt Vic has filled my mom in on everything. I instantly feel guilty that I wasn’t the one to tell her I’m dating Daisy, but I refuse to feel bad about being with her. We’re adults. If Daisy and I want to be together that’s up to us. Nobody else gets a say in this.

I take a quick glance around the space to see if I can find my dad as I hold Daisy’s hand a little tighter, but he isn’t around.

“Victoria told me about the two of you after dad stormed into the house in a rage,” my mom says, meeting us in the middle of the kitchen. “She said you two are together, which is quite the surprise. She said it’s serious.”

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