Page 55 of Only Ever Yours

“Ellie. Come on.” He shakes his head, almost laughing. “You think I haven’t noticed the way you dodge every question about him? Or how your whole energy shifts when someone says his name.”

I ignore that comment—mostly because he’s not wrong.

“I’m not asking you to lie for the rest of your life. Just… buy me a little time, okay? I need space from the Jaydon situation, and this has been the only thing that’s worked.”

How the hell did I get myself into this mess?

Kevin sighs, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated but trying to hold it together, “Unbelievable.”

“You don’t have to say yes,” I say quickly. “I get it. I’d be pissed too—”

“I’m not pissed,” he cuts in, though his tone says otherwise. “I’m just… damn, Ellie. You could’ve just said you weren’t feeling it instead of stringing me along.”

“I didn’t mean to string you along,” I murmur. “I just—needed a buffer. And you were gone. It made sense to keep the illusion going.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. I can practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

Then, finally, he mutters, “You’re lucky I don’t care enough to get my ego bruised.”

That kinda stings, but at the same time, relief floods me. “So, you’ll do it? Just for a little while?”

He shoots me a pointed look. “I don’t know why the hell I’m agreeing to this, but for you, yes, I will. Just don’t make me look like a damn fool.”

I cringe, biting my lower lip, because…Maybe it's too late for that.

“Thank you.”

Kevin rolls his eyes. “I still don’t understand why you moved in with his ass.”

“You know I had no other choice.”

He just stares out the windshield, shaking his head in disbelief.

The crowd here is pretty heavy tonight. I guess that’s what happens on a Saturday evening when you offer half-price beer all night. Lots of people are already on the dance floor, showing off their line dance skills and fancy moves.

The night so far is going better than expected, and I’m so fucking relieved to have confessed everything to Kevin. Honestly it went far better than I expected it to go, considering how fucked up of a situation it is. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he never wanted to talk to me again, but he’s going along with it. So whatever.

I still feel bad about it, but the sexual connection is just not there with Kevin—probably because my mind is always on another fucking man. And I can’t let myself have him because my fucking sister has tainted anything I ever had with him.

Why, out of all the men in the world, did she have to fuck around with Jaydon? She fucking knew when we were in high school that I wanted him, and I had thebiggest crush on him. I told that bitch, trusted her with that information, and look where that got me.

How is she even my sister?

I grab my favorite peach schnapps from the bar and spin directly into Kevin.

His arms reach out, catching me before I spill my drink. “Hey, beautiful, wanna dance with me?”

He’s been much more attentive to me tonight, more than he's ever been since we have known each other. I kinda wonder if it has anything to do with telling him I just wanted to be friends. He’s trying extra hard tonight.

I smile at his kind words. “Sure, let's head out to the middle.”

I hate to dance on the edge. I want to be right up in the middle of the mix of dancers. I hold his hand as he guides us, pushing our way through. Drink still in hand, he pulls me beside him, and we step to the beat of the music. Kevin only had one drink earlier because he’s driving, so I’m letting loose and having a good time. The DJ plays a slow song this time, and everyone starts to couple up. I walk over to set my drink down at a table we claimed earlier, expecting Kevin to ask me to dance.

I feel the heat of a body pressed against my backside and get ready to tell Kevin he’s crossing the line that I placed earlier. But when I turn my head, I immediately know who it is, and it’s not Kevin. Thick arms wrap around my middle, and that familiar smell consumes my senses.

I smile inside. “What the fuck are you doing here, Jaydon?”

I close my eyes at his laughter, the feel of his arms around me and his cocky attitude sends electric volts straight to my pussy. Fuck, this man drives me absolutely insane. I just can’t escape him.

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