Page 180 of Tangled Like Us
I was strong for twelve.
I learned I was stronger than Sky, and I wished I’d seen how badly he coped with our strict dad. I wished he didn’t go to that fucking quarry and horse around.
And I wished I could’ve taken the burden off him like I did Banks.
I dragged him out of the water, and my gold chain twisted on the gold chain around his neck. Our cornics stuck together.
Later, my grandma unknotted the chains and put both gold horns on one necklace. She said they were meant to be together.
“It’s over fifteen years ago,” I remind Jane. “It feels distant most days.” I blink, my eyes burning. “It was a footnote in the news. Which is why it hasn’t blown-up in the media yet.”
Some local boy hit his head and drowned. There are too many deaths at that quarry every year.
Jane listens as I tell her the last part.
I set the whiskey bottle on the ground. “Skylar used to say to our dad,I’m going to be a Marine one day.To piss him off.” My dad used to be die-hard Navy.
Until after my brother died, when I said,“I’m going to be a Marine.”For Sky.
And then he said,“Okay.”
Jane is closer to me. The empathy welled up in her blue eyes says everything. We drift even nearer on the weight bench. Our gazes trailing over one another in burning waves, and her fingers inch towards my thigh.
My hand hovers near her hip.God, I want to touch her.
Don’t.
I want her in my arms.
Don’t.
“Thatcher,” she breathes like she’s already in my embrace.
I dip my head down to hear her. Space shrinking between us. Everywhere.
“I want to tell you,” Jane murmurs, swallowing hard, “just how much I admire you before it’s too late.”
My chest rises and falls heavily. I breathe the scorching air through my nose.Don’t touch her.
Don’t.
Our lips brush.
Don’t.
I clasp her cheek—we crash into each other. Kissing strongly, all restraints wrapping us together. Like seatbelts I’m clicking in while she’s welded against me.
I swiftly pull her onto my lap. Against my chest, my hand running up her thigh. Jane straddles me, gripping the back of my head with starved fingers. I clutch her ass and push her against me. A high-pitched noise catches in her throat.
My large build cocoons her, and she hangs on tight.
“Don’t stop,” she begs.
Every kiss is a resoundingstay.
And atouch me.
Touch me.
