Page 66 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

“You can’t just say things like that.”

He keeps his gaze firmly on me. “Why not? It’s true.”

My skin feels like it’s on fire as I scan the backyard for a remote spot. This isn’t a conversation I want to have out in the open. Especially not with Mr. Tell-The-Whole-World-He-Fingered-Me.

It isn’t long before I locate an old tool shed in the far corner of the backyard and grip TJ’s arm, dragging him away before he spills any more intimate details about what happened between us to complete strangers.

You know how some people have incredible survival instincts and could easily survive days in the woods without any food or water?

Well, it turns out I amnotone of those people because from the moment I lead TJ into that weathered tool shed and close the door, I realize I’ve just willingly thrown myself into the path of a bear, and chances are he’s about to devour every inch of me.

I pause, taking in my surroundings. The shed would be starved of light if not for the moon casting a silvery glow through the small windows on each side of the door.

Three shelves line the far wall, all covered in rusty tools that are cloaked with cobwebs, and a shovel sits in a corner of the shed next to a tangle of rope and gardening gloves.

Something in the air shifts as soon as TJ’s eyes find mine.

I shift my weight from one leg to the other. “Look, what happened at the restaurant will never happen again.”

With that said, I take a step back to distance myself from him—not that it makes much difference. The shed is so small he could fill that gap with one big stride.

“You’re right, it won’t,” he says.

His answer shocks me. He was just telling a bunch of strangers he was playing with my pussy, and now he’s agreeing with me?

“Okay, then. We agree?—”

He cuts me off. “I’m not done.”

Shit.

He steps forward, effectively shrinking the space separating us. “Last time, I let you walk away before I could finish the job. So, you’re right, thatwon’thappen again.”

Holy shit, I did not expect that.

“I just… I don’t think us becoming more than friends is a good idea. I’m really busy with school and my siblings, and you’re in over your head with basketball and?—”

He stops my rambling. “Lacey?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Just so we’re clear, there’s nothing you could say to me right now that would make me want to stay away from you.”

Alarms set off in my head, although not nearly as loud as the drumming of my heart against my ribs.

“I only need one thing from you. An answer.”

He parks himself so close to me that my eyes level with his chin, and I have to tilt my head to meet his gaze.

“Do you want this? No shitty excuse, no overthinking, just the truth. Tell me what you want. And I’ll listen.”

I could play dumb, but I know exactly what he means bythis.

We’re attracted to each other. It started out as a meaningless arrangement with a guy I couldn’t stand and blossomed into what I could only describe as an unexpected friendship. And now, well, it’s more.

It’s chemistry and desire and tension.

I want him.

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