Page 60 of Accidental Fiancé

“No argument there.” He sighed as we put ourselves back together. “We should probably rejoin the others.” He removedthe mop handle from the doorknob, placing it back where it belonged.

“And hang out with Chloe while praying she doesn’t fuck all this up for us? I’m in no hurry for that, thanks. I’d rather stay in here and get high off the cleaner fumes.”

He chuckled under his breath as he tucked his polo back into place. “I really know how to show a girl a good time, don’t I?”

That cut me a little too deep. “Don’t do that, Jules.”

“Do what?”

“Don’t…” It was hard to put the words in the right order, my head was still jumbled from the sex. “Don’t make light of yourself, of what happened in here.”

He paused, frowning. “We’ve never had sex in this closet before, so what are you talking about?”

I wasn’t sure I should say it. What if our high school kiss meant more to me than it did to him? But I didn’t have the wherewithal to shut up. “You joked like that after you kissed me behind the cafeteria. You were trying to make it so it wasn’t a big deal.”

His lips parted. “You remember that?”

“Of course I do. I was freaked out by it."

“That’s what every guy likes to hear,” he said sarcastically.

“Stop it. Stop joking when you’re uncomfortable. Stop making light of important things. Just, stop.”

He started to say something else but instead closed his mouth and sighed. “You don’t know how much it took to kiss you behind the cafeteria, Maggie. How I’d been working up the courage for months. How I’d wished you’d give me a sign. But no sign came so I went for it. And instead of you kissing me back or saying something—anything—to encourage me, you made a joke about how it wouldn’t improve your grade.” His voice turned raw. “What else was I supposed to do?”

That question struck me at my core. He was right. What else was a teenage boy to do? The truth was, he handled it with grace, given the circumstances. But now, things were different.

“You’re right about that day. But we’re not kids anymore.”

“That kiss meant everything to me back then,” he countered. “Still does.”

“So how much does what just happened in here mean to you?” I couldn’t believe I asked the question, but it came out of my mouth of its own volition.

“I—"

The door swung open before he could complete his response, flooding the small space with too much light. For a moment, I couldn’t see. However, I didn’t need to. I knew all too well who stood in front of me by her cutting voice. “Found them!” Chloe’s claw captured my wrist and pulled me out of the closet. She wasn’t alone.

Marcus, Apollo, and a few others I had yet to meet stood in the hallway, all with silly smiles on their faces. They knew what we had been up to, my tussled hair and his shifted clothes said it all for us. My face flushed hot but I tried for a weak smile. “Um, hi.”

Chloe draped an arm over my shoulders. “Looks like the two of you got lost on your way to checking on the kids.” She winked. “Go change into your swimsuits. We’re doing cocktails and games by the pool. You won’t want to miss this.”

I very much doubted that.

Chapter 22

Julian

The trudge up the stairs seemed longer this time. Every step was heavy bearing too many thoughts. What the hell just happened in the closet? She kissed me, and I lost all control. I almost admitted how I felt, though I wasn’t even sure what that meant. Not really. It was the sex. It tainted my brain, making me weak and stupid.

I could not let that happen again.

As we headed upstairs, I heard Chloe cackle. I knew it was at our expense. Not that I cared—Chloe’s opinion meant nothing to me—but my family’s opinions meant everything. By the end of the week, I had to ensure they liked Maggie and hated Chloe. Maggie could be closed off and reticent, so that was where I had to focus my energy. I needed to get her out of her shell and show them what made her so special.

They’d figure out Chloe was awful all on their own.

Once we were in my room, I closed the door behind us for privacy. Despite her irritation at my tendency to joke during uncomfortable situations, I had to try. I’d do anything to see Maggie smile. “Chloe’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?”

Maggie hiccupped a laugh. “She’s like a dog with a bone, and we’re the bone.”

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