Page 94 of Play Pretend

“I wouldn’t say forever,” I mumbled, but she just rolled her eyes. “Anyway.” I elbowed her, and she laughed. “Earlier, at the beach…”

“Again?” she cried, and a massive smile split her face. “Tell me everything!”

“He said we should practice kissing before my family gets to town,” I said, a goofy grin pulling at my lips.

“He’s so full of shit,” she laughed. “I love him. He just needed an excuse to kiss you again.”

“You think so?” I thought that might’ve been true, but I didn’t want to let myself believe it.

“Girl, yes. He’s so head over heels for you, it’s painful to watch.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and twirled my cocktail straw in my empty glass. “He’s not.”

“Girl…” She laughed again. “He looks at you like he wants to eat you alive. And you look at him like you want him to do it.”

Maybe I do.

My cheeks heated, and she howled. “Are you going to sleep with him?” she asked, and I shrugged again.

“I don’t know,” I groaned. “You know my past. What if this is just me slipping into old habits?”

“Did you likeanyof those men the way you like Ronan?” Her dark brow lifted as she stared at me.

“No.” I answered instantly. I didn’t have to think about it at all. “He’s different.”

“And I don’t think he’s the type of man to hump and dump. I think he’s the type to take sex very seriously,” she said softly. “I think all the Caldwell’s are like that.” She scrunched her nose. “Okay, except for Theo. He’s the definition of a man-whore. He always has been. But Ronan and Adam were—” She choked on Adam’s name, and I laced our fingers together, gently squeezing. “Ronan and Adam were really similar before Adam left. I don’t know if sex is as sacred for him anymore, but he always told me that Ronan really knocked into his head how important it was. He’s a good guy, babe. He’ll treat you right.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I muttered. “But what if—what if I fall harder for him? What if he’s not as into it as I am? What if he wakes up one day and decides he doesn’t want to be with me anymore?”

Gracie’s eyes were red and glassy as she stared at me. “That’s the risk we take when we fall in love,” she rasped. “Sometimes it works out, and sometimes…” She shrugged sadly. “Sometimes they leave you high and dry, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. You just have to decide if he’s worth the risk.”

“Vodka cran, extra lime,” Ronan said, just like he had the other night, as he slid my drink in front of me. His hand rested on my back as I tipped my head back to peer at him.

With the multicolored neon lights reflecting off the planes of his face, his blue eyes sparkling in a way I’d never seen before, I couldn’t help but think that, yeah, he might be worth the heartbreak.

Benny went to Gracie’s other side and rested her fresh drink in front of her. He kissed the top of her head, and she leaned into him. I knew she said that their relationship wouldn’t go anywhere, but she looked happy, and he seemed to really like her.

I rested my head against Ronan’s arm, and he stiffened for all of a moment before he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. He stroked his thumb along my upper arm, and I turned my attention back to him.

Everything melted away, and all that was left washim. There was no more music, no more lights, no more screaming or cheering.

It was him.

It was me.

It was us.

The thought of him breaking my heart hurt. Thinking that he’d take what he wanted and leave like every other man in my life hadhurt. But with the way he was looking at me, with a warmth I felt down to my soul, I didn’t think he would. There was something in my head screaming at me that he would take care of me. That he’d never leave.

And that was ridiculous—because how could I know that? I couldn't tell the future, and I couldn’t read his mind. So maybe I was just projecting, but I didn’t care. Because Ibelievedthat he wouldn’t do those things. Ibelievedthat he wanted me. And that was almost enough.

“Next up, Trinity and Brynne!”

The crowd roared with cheers, and I blinked, the moment screeching to a stop, and those thoughts floating from my head. Ronan laughed as he looked at the stage, watching his sister and her best friend stumble up the steps to the microphones.

In the corner, Dean cupped his hands around his mouth and booed. Trinity leveled him with a glare and lifted her middle finger high for him and everyone to see.

“This one’s for you, Teenie Weenie,” she cooed into the mic. The crowd screamed again, everyone’s attention rapt. Ronan must’ve noticed me looking around, and he leaned closer.

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