Page 27 of Purity

I roll my eyes as I take them from his hand. “I think I might crash your car for fun.”

“You do that. I’m sure your rich-ass parents have great insurance. Well, I’d better go find my girl.”

He grins like a moron before turning around and walking inside the bar, and I wish I didn’t want to throw his keys into the gutter. He probably only taunted me so he could tell our old baseball team that I lost my shit over a strawberry daiquiri. He isn’t a real threat when it comes to Livvy, but, oh God, this is all so much harder than I thought it would be.

She’s so much bolder than I expected, and now that I’ve been banished and forced to play valet to the douchebag who just gave her her second ever kiss, it’s time to finally admit that I never thought she would really go through with any of this. I thought maybe she would have a drink or two. Maybe she would wear a dress that at least she considered slutty. And maybe she would flirt in her own shy way, but the rest of it… No way.

Does this mean she’s really going to lose her virginity at the end of the summer to some guy she hardly knows?

It could be me.

Fuck, I need to think.

As Travis predicted, it takes me only two minutes to drive to his apartment complex. I don’t bother calling his roommate after I park his car, much preferring a walk through the chilly evening air as I sort out my thoughts.

What am I going to do? I don’t think I can stomach letting her lose her virginity to a stranger, but what if I have sex with her and everything changes between us?

Both options are miserable, but I think I can predict what I’m going to do. Some deep, primitive part of me knows I won’t be able to let her do it with someone else, no matter how many times I tell myself that sex could put our friendship at risk. If I have to witness any more of this—other guys touching and kissing her—I’m inevitably going to give in.

Why do I have to be like this? I’ve brought women around her countless times, and she’s never been territorial with me. Why can’t I be as mature as she is?

My head isn’t any less muddled by the time I make it inside the bar. It takes me less than a minute to find her. My gaze always seems to be drawn to her like a magnet. I stand for a moment to watch her. She looks up at Travis while he talks, and her stiff posture is a sign she’s nervous. This place is a lot more crowded than I expected it would be on a Thursday night. I should have picked a dive bar, if only to give her more space.

She takes a small sip of her yellow drink, and I can tell by the slight tightening of her mouth afterward that she doesn’t like it. I roll my eyes. Fucking Travis. I told him the Mai Tai would be too strong for her, and she would never in a million years tell him she doesn’t like it.

When I get close, she turns to me, and I shoot her a contrite smile. I raise my voice over the crowd noise. “Was that enough time, or are you still mad at me?”

She sets her soft hand on my arm, and it makes my gut clench. Her signature arm grab used to be the only kind of touch I could handle from her.

Not anymore.

“I’m not mad.” She lifts her head in the direction of my ear, and even though I know she’s going to tell me something, my whole body grows tense in anticipation. I’ve always had to brace myself whenever her mouth gets anywhere near my body.

“That was really sweet of you to take his car home.” Her warm breath tickles my ear, sending tingles down my spine. “Even though he was rude.”

“I deserved it.” I glance at Travis and back at her. “Would you mind if we went outside and talked for a bit?”

She smiles wide, and, oh God, it’s heaven to be back in her good graces. After saying something to Travis, she slips off her bar stool and starts making her way through the crowd. I set my hand on her shoulder to guide her to the back patio, and just that small touch sends electricity into my gut. After her proposition yesterday, every brush of her skin sets me on fire.

As soon as I find a secluded spot on the patio, I turn to her. “I’ve been really overbearing tonight, and I’m sorry. I need to give you more space.”

She smiles sadly. “I only needed a minute. Of course I want to spend time with you on my first wild night out.”

“Yeah, but I’m not letting you be wild. I don’t know why I’m like this with you. I know being sheltered doesn’t mean you need a babysitter, but I just…” I run a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I have no chill, and I hate it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Her smile grows. “You’re a very protective daddy.”

I snort, shutting my eyes. Of course she would say that right now.

“I bet you like it when girls call you Daddy in the bedroom, huh?”

My eyes pop open. “What?” I nearly shout.

Her expression grows hesitant. “I was just teasing.”

“Did you know that’s a thing?”

Her gaze falls to the concrete. “Well, yeah. Mari’s told me some things…”

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