Page 102 of Beautiful Defiance

“Inside, I was shaking. Furious too.”

“Thanks for telling me, Seven.” I kiss him. He kisses me back, putting everything into that kiss. His apology, remorse, fear, anger, happiness.

“Explain what you mean, Seven,” I ask after we end our kiss with these endless pecks. “What did you mean, it’s not me, that it was you?”

“I shouldn’t have let what’s going on with my parents distract me from playing ball at my top-notch best. Or make it an excuse to party and not do my schoolwork. Or believe that not having my lucky coin cost me games. It’s on me for playing like shit.”

He’s accepting responsibility for his actions. Is acknowledging that he’s made mistakes. I’m so proud of him, I want to throw my arms around him and keep kissing him. Except I let him talk. Seven needs to get everything off his chest.

“Or that you out of my life is the answer. It’s not. Being with you is the only answer, Leigh. You listen. You help. You’re kind. You’re good. You’re you, and damn if I don’t like you for you.”

He captures my mouth with his. I open to him, groaning beneath the onslaught of his mouth and his tongue. We kiss like this for what seems like forever, with a desperation of missing out on time with one another, of missing out on other chances to kiss and touch to our hearts’ content. We break off the kiss with smiles on our faces.

“I’m sorry, Leigh, for everything. If you never forgive me, I’ll understand.”

“Thanks, Seven. I’m not ready.”

“Will you ever be?”

“After more kisses. More nights of you climbing in through my window. More nights stargazing or listening to the rain on the skylight, snuggled up to you.”

“Aw, babe. I care so much for you.”

“I care too.” I skim my fingers along his jawline. Stick my other hand under his shirt. “Have you told her?”

Poor Ginger. I understand what she’s going through if she fell hard for Seven too.

“I spoke with her before I came here.”

“How’d she take it?”

“Not well.” His fingers trench in my hair. “Be my girl, Leigh.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not fair to her. Did you tell her how you felt about me?”

“Yes, Leigh. I laid it all out on the line. Confessed that I liked you from the start. Since you got off the bus that first day of school.”

“Wait, you did?”

“Yes, baby.”

“Seven.” Jesus, when he says stupid, unexpected stuff like that, he unravels me. Tears well in my eyes. It’s not right to want him so badly and agree to be his girl when he put a different girl in the position I was in, hurting and hating on him.

“Baby, please don’t cry.”

“I hate you.”

“Still?”

“You misled me. I said we are not friends and you told me never that, never just friends.”

“I didn’t mislead you, babe. With us, we can never be just friends. From the day I met you and you glared back when you saw me staring, I knew I wanted to be something more to you. Except I went about it the wrong way. I told you you’re mine. Told. Demanded. But never asked. Be my girl, Leigh Kim?”

How can I refuse when he wears his heart on his sleeve?

“Yes, Seven. Yes, I’ll be yours.”

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