Page 97 of Pretty Little Lies

“But—”

“Leave.”

Betty No Tits scoffs and pivots around, her long golden hair smacking her in the face as she does, and with her, takes the crew of lanky bitches striding away like a squad of mean girls.

“Two-Way Mirror”by Loathe begins to play over the beach and Reeve takes a step closer. “Wanna dance?”

I lift a brow. “To this?”

“Yeah.” He holds out his hand, and I hesitate. “You wouldn’t deny me on my birthday, right?”

My lips curl into an exasperated but easy smile, and Reeve takes that as his cue to take possession of my hand, immediately lacing his fingers with mine.

It’s intimate and him and dangerous.

Every time I tell myself that this isn’t such a good idea to get too deep, I’m roped back in with his effortless demeanor of making my heart flutter wildly in my chest. I practically wait in anticipation to see him smile.

Reeve hands over his beer to Torin and walks us over by the raging bonfire a few yards away that a few people are already standing around to stay warm. The breeze off the ocean holds a chill and the fire feels nice along my skin before a strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me right against Reeve’s hard and naked chest.

“Will you take a selfie with me?”

His hazel eyes glimmer against the flames and I begin romanticizing this moment.

Stop it.

I give him a curt nod in response, and Reeve fishes out his cell, holding it over our heads and snapping a few shots. Then he kisses my cheek and takes a few more.

Reeve takes my hand again as he loses his phone and lays it on his chest right above his heart. He gathers up my other one, lacing our fingers together as he begins to sway us back and forth to this unconventional heavy metal band. But this song is slow, and the tempo is mellowed out, just like Reeve, which makes this so not weird when it’s him.

“I meant what I said,” he says before leaning forward. The smell of him, the ocean, and sage fills my nostrils and relaxes my body. “You made my night, McQueen.”

“Then you must not have much to look forward to,” I jeer, meeting his hazel eyes mixed with orange and bits of red from the fire.

“Not lately.” He presses his forehead to mine, and I melt into his hold.

No one has ever affected me like Reeve does. I’ve never felt so safe and scared at the same time before while knowing still that he wouldn’t hurt me.

With Matteo, it was all fear.

With Torin it’s all skepticism.

But with Reeve, all functions of my body fail to yield and protect myself, but wanting to just sink into him and never let go.

“Not until I saw you beat the shit out of the mayor’s son, and I was hooked, baby.”

“You shouldn’t like violent chicks,” I whisper through a grin. “They’re bad for you.”

“Not when they’re powerful enough to keep me in line.”

“You want someone to beat your ass if you step out?” I tease, his closeness taunting me to accept everything he has to offer and fuck everything else floating around in our path.

His lips curl. “Would that include you nursing me back to health when it’s done?

“Reeve…”

“Mhm?” He closes his eyes and continues to move us in a steady motion. My words become lodged in my throat because this,him,I like it. It feels nice and welcoming, and so normal. Ever since Dad stroked out, everything took a shit. Then Mom’s confession to Emilio, his finding me and I’ve felt trapped ever since.

“What’s wrong, McQueen?” He nestles my nose once with his to get me to talk and openly tell him what is so simple for him to do. “Who do I need to kill?”

---