Page 53 of Twins For My Bestie's Brother

Without missing a beat, he answers, “I’m not. That’s the point; I know that all of this could go wrong and you could totally crush me. And I’m not scared.”

My breath is shaky. I’m no longer hungry. “I don’t . . . understand.”

“This kind of thing eludes understanding, or so I’m told,” Jackson says through a light laugh. “But maybe you can trust me until you do?”

I feel my lips perking up at the corners. I’m smiling. Because I trust him. I trust Jackson Roy to take care of my heart because, save a few choices he made in the name of hurting me, he’s done that most of our lives. And if I can’t take the past few weeks as an abundant sign that he will go above and beyond to protect me and keep me safe, then it’s on me. Not him. “I—“

Before I can reply, my phone starts buzzing on the counter beside my plate. Kayla’s name flashes on the screen. The color drains from my face. “Oh, God, it’s Kay.”

Jackson leans his arms on the counter, a mischievous smile on his lips. “Put it on speaker.”

“Jackson,” I chastise though I’m giggling.

“Do it. I dare you,” he says, leaning even closer.

“That’s . . . ” Ridiculous? Silly? Immature? I didn’t used to be like this. Making excuses for being spontaneous. Denying a sense of adventure. A flame inside me was extinguished over the past decade of being away from Cider Bay.

And here is Jackson Roy. Serious businessman and former champion athlete, taunting me to take it further.

I want to be like that again.

I place my hands on Jackson’s, lift myself off my stool, and smash my mouth against his in an embarrassingly messy kiss. He makes a sound of surprise against my mouth but doesn’t draw away.

Before he has a chance to get comfortable, I pull away, plop back down, and put the call on speaker as I answer. “Hello?”

“Thank God you’re not dead!” Kayla squeaks.

“No, not dead.” Not likethat.

“Where have you been?! Your mom and dad freaked out this morning and—”

It’s one thing to tell your best friend you might be dating her brother. But telling her you fucked him? That’s a different story. “Um. Late night. Overslept.”

“Are you with Jackson?’

I bite down on my lower lip, looking at Jackson with wide eyes. He shrugs, brows rising, hands splayed helplessly. “Uh, no, why would you think that?”

“You’re such a liar, Lily. I have your location on my phone.”

“I . . . ”

Kayla goes on. “He’s listening, isn’t he?”

I say, “No!” at the same time Jackson says, “Yes.” I reach across the counter to bat him on the shoulder, but he moves out of the way and heads toward the stove to start cleaning up after himself.

“It’s about time!” Kayla cries out. “You two have been absolutely insufferable the past few weeks. With all the ‘We’re just friends’ bullshit.”

I am blushing so hard, I’m not sure how to even speak.

Thankfully, Jackson picks up where I falter, calling out over his shoulder, “Well, if it makes you feel better, I have asked Lily on an official date.”

“Oh, my God, Jackson,” I mutter and hide my face with my hand, unable to keep from smiling.

“And what did you say, Lily, what did you say?”

Jackson freezes. He knows I didn’t officially agree. We were hemming and hawing up until the very moment Kayla called. If I had any questions about how permissive Kayla would be about a potential relationship between Jackson and me, they’ve all disappeared. Her excitement is palpable through the phone.

So now it’s just on me. Am I willing to take the risk? And do I trust him?

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