Page 65 of I Can't Even

“Remember the time we snuck out to go to the concert on the green?” I asked. “I thought Babs was going to lock us up and throw away the key.”

Soph laughed. “Well, she did take my license away for a week. Totally worth it.”

We laughed and cried some more, and we kept talking and remembering our shared past until Em let out a soft snore. Soph used the aqua afghan to tuck around her and the two of us watched our baby sister sleep, stunned by her tequila-induced revelations.

“Think she’s going to remember this tomorrow?” Soph asked.

“Yeah, I do,” I said. “And if she doesn’t, we’ll remind her.”

Soph glanced out the window to the house next door, several lights were still on, and then back at me.

“I’m going to bed.” Soph reached out and poked me in the chest right through the leather jacket. “Looks like you have something to return to the boy next door.”

“Maybe I should stay with her,” I said. “I feel as if I’ve failed her by not noticing how she was struggling.”

Soph reached down and pushed a long hank of blue hair out of Em’s face. “I feel guilty, too, but I think she’s done for tonight. We can talk more tomorrow.”

I hesitated. It was so tempting. Still, I hesitated.

“Go.” She pushed me toward the door. “There’s clearly unfinished business between you two.”

She had no idea.

“If you’re sure,” I said. Decision made, I was already striding to the door. “I’ll be back before morning, because...you know.”

“Yeah, the will,” Soph said. “Why did Mom have to have such a good attorney? I mean this staying here every night could seriously impede a love life, you know, if you have one.” She stifled a yawn.

“Right?” I wanted to ask her about our cousin Paisley and if what the twins had said was accurate, but I figured it would keep until morning. “Night!” I hurried outside before I changed my mind.

The door shut behind me and I took a deep breath. Now. Now I would find out if things had really changed between Liam and me. A nervous flutter started low in my belly with the soft beat of butterfly wings. By the time I got to his front door, the flutter had morphed into terror and was beating like a pterodactyl trying to fly off with me for dinner.

I raised my fist to knock, but the door opened before my hand connected with the wood. Standing there in just a pair of plaid pajama bottoms was Liam. I tried to speak but nothing came out. No matter, with one hand he grabbed the lapel of his own jacket and tugged me inside.

Chapter Twenty

“You forgot your jack—”

That was all I got out before his mouth landed on mine and I was pushed against the wall as he kicked the door shut.

I clutched his shoulders, delighted with the warm skin and firm muscles beneath my fingertips. He peeled the leather jacket off me and threw it on the floor like it offended him. His mouth was running up and down the side of my neck and I arched to make it easier for him.

“Probably, we should talk,” he said, his words muted as he spoke against my skin. He pressed into me, and I felt his erection beneath his pajamas and had to suck in a gulp of air to make sure my brain didn’t short circuit from lack of oxygen.

“Later.” I panted. “Plenty of time later.”

I felt him grin against my skin when he kissed my shoulder. He grabbed my hips and hoisted me up. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist, and he cupped my bottom as he turned and carried me upstairs. When we reached the landing, he wasn’t even breathing hard, nor did he slow down.

An enormous bed filled the sparsely decorated room, and this was where we landed, sitting in a tangle of arms and legs. I kicked off my running shoes while he pulled my top over my head and dragged my yoga pants down, tossing them onto the floor.

“Still no time for laundry?” he asked, noting my lack of underwear with a grin.

I shrugged. “I’ve had other things on my mind.”

“Such as?” he asked.

“You,” I said. It came out on an exhale, making it all breathy. His grin deepened.

With one hand on his chest, I pushed him down until he reclined on the bed. I pulled off the plaid pajama bottoms and sent them to the floor with the rest of our clothes. With a long lingering look at his seriously hard cock, I pulled the hair tie out of my hair and let my long curls run wild. I swear the man got even harder. A glance at Liam’s face and I saw him swallow as if nervous or excited or both.

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