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I sighed and leaned against the counter across from her, crossing my arms over my chest, my biceps bulging in my t-shirt. “You’re always cautious about making sure no one sees you when you come over, Holly, and you avoid me when your parents are home.”

She sighed, chewing on her bottom lip. “It’s complicated, Jenson.”

I grunted. “Is it, Holly? If you’re happy, what’s complicated about it?”

She swallowed thickly. “It’s myparents. Everyone in this neighborhood knows them, and if someone catches us together, word will get back to them. Mom is still reeling from my breakup with Derrick and his cheating on me, and Dad is very conservative and protective of me.” She pushed her hands through her hair, looking stressed now, which I didn’t fucking like. God, I didn’t want to upset her. “I just—I can’t stand disappointing them, Jenson.” Tears burned in her eyes. “And despite how happy I am, thiswilldisappoint both of them.” She paused, her chin wobbling as she fought hard not to cry. “And that…” Her voice cracked. “That would devastate me.”

I didn’t want to be kept a secret. I didn’t want to keep what was happening between us a secret either, but seeing those tears in her eyes fucking did me in.

Sighing, I reached forward and dragged her into my arms, holding her tight to me. “Alright,” I said softly. I ran my hand over her hair before kissing the top of her head. “I’ll let it go, Holly.For now. But eventually, they need to know. I want you. I want the entire fucking world to know you’re mine.”

She just mutely nodded and clung to me, like she was afraid she might lose me.

It made my fucking chest ache.

5

Holly

My body was pleasantly sore the next morning. After my and Jenson’s minor argument about my parents finding out about us, he cuddled me on the couch, then proceeded to fuck me on his coffee table before taking me upstairs to his bathroom to shower, where he then proceeded to bend me over and fuck me again.

The man had an insatiable sex drive, but that was just fine with me. Mine was just as high, and it was further amped by the fact that I came every single time we had sex together. Usually multiple times. His cock was just right—hit every spot inside of me that left me seeing stars.

But that wasn’t even the best part about being with Jenson. He was so attentive, taking care of me in a way I wasn’t used to but definitely couldn’t get enough of. He went out of his way to make sure I had everything I needed. It was like it wasn’t even a duty for him. Heenjoyedtaking care of me.

“You have that dreamy look in your eyes,” my best friend, Ginger, said, pointing her fork at me. Her blonde hair was twisted up into a perfectly styled, purposely messy top knot with just the right amount of strands falling around her face. Her skin was glowing with a healthy tan, no doubt from numerous evenings and weekends spent on the sunny, sandy Florida beaches. Her blue eyes were lined in perfect black liner, and her new mascara made the blue really pop.

She always put so much effort into her appearance. We were polar opposites, really, since I never cared too much about mine. But she was the best friend I could have ever asked for. She never passed judgment, and I trusted her with my life.

“Hm?” I looked up at her, blinking back to reality at her words. But my cheeks colored the slightest bit, giving me away. She grinned and leaned forward, no doubt desperate for all the gossip. She’d ranted and raved with me about Derrick and his asshole ways. Then, she’d mentioned me getting a rebound guy for good sex, but I had shut that down quickly.

I didn’t need a rebound guy. I had Jenson, and he waseverything.

“Come on, girl. Spill the tea. I want to knoweverything,” Ginger coaxed, her perfect, filled-in brows arching at me.

I sighed. I normally told Ginger everything, but I was scared to tell her this. I wasn’t ready for anyone to know, and while Ginger had never broken my trust before, I could not risk my tentative, budding relationship with Jenson getting back to my parents in any capacity. Not yet. I wasn’t ready to face that.

“I don’t want to talk about it yet,” I told her, hoping she would drop the subject.

“Oooh,” she whispered, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I had no idea how she did that. I’d never been able to accomplish it. “It’sreallygood then, isn’t it? You only keep it all to yourself if you’re afraid of people finding out. How dirty is it, Holly?” she asked, her voice light and teasing.

My cheeks colored. “Shut up,” I hissed. “I’m not telling youanythingabout it.”

She laughed, and her phone lit up on the table. I glanced at it for a moment, not paying it any mind, but then my eyes shot back to the screen. Dread curled in my stomach.

She wouldn’t fucking betray me like that, would she? Not Ginger. Not my best fucking friend, the girl I trusted with everything.

She quickly snatched her phone off the table, her skin losing some of its color beneath her makeup. But the damage was already done.

I’d already seen Derrick’s name on her screen.

“Why thefuckare you talking to him?” I hissed, fisting my hands on top of the table.

She looked up at me with frightened, blue eyes, and she stammered, trying to find the right excuse to use. But she hadn’t ever thought I would find out—that much was clear. Because she couldn’t find one. Not after I’d told her we’d broken up and that he’d cheated on me. A decent best friend wouldnevertalk to her best friend’s asshole, cheating ex after something like that.

But she was. Clearly.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I snarled. “How long, Ginger?” I demanded.

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