Page 3 of Only You and Me

His smile is gone, his eyes fixed on my face. “Yes. I’m seriously asking you that.”

I decide that if I tell him the truth, he’ll stop trying to get me to go out with him every time I see him. Then I can stop being tempted to say yes.

“Fine, Benjamin. I’m going to be honest with you. First, you’re too young—I’m twenty-two and you’re only twenty. Second?—”

“Not a good excuse. You only turned twenty-two like three months ago, and I’ll be twenty-one in a week. Next.”

“Don’t interrupt me. It’s rude.” He smirks at me. God, he’s irritating. But why does my lower belly flip-flop when he looks at me like that?Ew. “The second reason is that this is a joke to you. You’ve been asking me out for years. Any pretense of you being serious is long gone.”

He stares at me, his eyes refusing to release me from their hold.

“Are you done?”

I shrug. “For now.”

* * *

BEN

I lean closer to Trina, not breaking eye contact with her.

“Nothing with you is a joke to me, Trina. Every time I’ve asked you out, I’ve been one hundred percent serious. Every. Single. Time.”

I swear I hear a small gasp escape her and her mouth gapes in surprise.

God, she’s fucking beautiful. In the traditional way, sure—long blonde hair flowing down her back, striking blue eyes, and a body any man would have to be blind not to notice. Her smile, Jesus, it’s almost paralyzing. When she smiles, she’s so damn radiant. She doesn’t do it very often though, and that’s a shame.

There’s more to her behind that tough exterior she displays. I see it when she looks at her sister, in how she’s taken care of Emily these last few years. She’d do anything for Emily. I suspect if you’re lucky enough to be loved by Trina Flynn, you’ll experience nothing else like it.

As if she suddenly realizes she allowed her mask to drop, Trina’s face transforms into a neutral expression, giving away nothing about what she’s thinking or feeling.

She sighs and looks away from me, subtly moving her upper body, putting more distance between us.

“Why would you even want to go out with me, Ben? You’re… energetic and social. I’m more reserved. I have a small circle of friends, and I like to keep it that way. We’re, like, opposites.”

I’m quick to answer. “Opposites attract.”

She looks over at me again, her blue eyes serious. “Well, there’s more to attraction than the physical.”

Whoa. Did she imply she likes how I look?

I can’t stop myself from grinning. “Did you just say that you’re attracted to me, Trina?” I keep my voice low, so others won’t overhear. The crowd is dwindling. Even so, she’s private and wouldn’t want anyone to hear me.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she makes eye contact with me again, she opens her mouth to speak and I’m absolutely dying to hear her answer.

But I don’t get to.

Because Emily and Shayna are suddenly standing in front of us.

“Tri? Can I please borrow your car so Shayna and I can go to a few other grad parties before we call it a night?”

Trina turns to focus on our sisters, her face and shoulders visibly softening.

“Will there be any underage drinking?” Trina asks.

“Seriously? If there is, we won’t be partaking. Right Shay?” Next to her, Shayna nods.

“And how am I supposed to get home?”

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