Page 60 of Like You Know

“Anyway, they offered me the chance at a promotion. They said it wasn’t an ideal situation due to my lack of experience, but they needed to move on it soon—before the school year ended—and I was the only one who could pass as a teenager.” He grimaced, not too happy about his youthful appearance, but I could see why they chose him. As much as I’d questioned his scholarship and transfer so late in the year, I never thought he could bethatmuch older than us. He had that round baby face with the dimples and the full, pouty lips.

“So why did they stick you in Devilbend North if you’re supposed to be getting in with the rich and famous?” I asked.

“We came up with the scholarship story because I needed to be at Fulton and hanging around you guys, but I couldn’t have anyone too interested in me.”

“Like the kind of people interested in kids of the rich and famous.” If BestLyf dug too deeply because he seemed like a good recruit, his cover would be blown.

“Beauty and brains.” He grinned at me, letting those dimples come out to play.

“Don’t.” I pointed a finger at him. “Do not flirt with me right now. I’m so mad at you.”

His grin fell, the serious face replacing it. “Fair enough. There’s really not much more I can tell you, but considering what you witnessed, I was given permission to at least clue you in on the basics. Keeping that in mind, do you have any questions?”

I had so many important, relevant questions, but instead I blurted out the first thing that occurred to me. “Wait a minute. Is this why you wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole until my birthday?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “The age of consent in the state of California is eighteen. It would’ve been fine if I was actually your age but ...”

“How old are you?” Oh, Jesus, Allah, and Buddha, had I been getting it on with some middle-aged man?

“I’m twenty-five.” Jet pulled his wallet out and showed me his ID. It proved his age, the date right there under his name—Jethro Collin Burns.

“Well, at least your first name is actually Jethro.”

“I really am sorry I lied to you.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “But I was just doing my job. I didn’t come into this looking for a relationship.”

I stared at him, feeling myself harden inside and out, prepared for the blow. My voice was even, almost monotone, when I spoke. “Right. So this was just part of your cover then. At least I know where I stand now.”

Walk away!I screamed at myself in my head, but my feet didn’t obey before his hands were on me again.

“Amaya, no.” He gripped my shoulders and looked me right in the eyes. “I never intended to get personally involved with anyone, but I did. I was stunned by your beauty as soon as I saw you, and every time we interacted, I knew I was in more and more trouble because I can’t get you out of my fucking mind. It was killing me to lie to you. Please, please ...” His voice shook as he pulled me against his chest.

God dammit but I believed him. I returned his embrace and let myself melt into him again. He had no logical motive to try to manipulate me by declaring his feelings, not now that I knew everything.

“So, what now?” I mumbled into his chest.

“I still have a job to do,” he said against my hair. “And to be able to do it effectively, I need you to keep what you learned to yourself.”

I stiffened against him, my mind racing. I hadn’t really thought about it yet, but of course I was going to tell my friends. My mother had been abducted, I’d been through something traumatic, and all our worst fears about BestLyf were confirmed. They had a right to know the gravity of the situation. There was no way to keep Jet’s true identity out of it.

“I have to tell a few friends, Jet. They need to know. And I need them.”

He held me out at arm’s length and sighed, his face full of disappointment. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Let me?” I shrugged his hands off. I wasn’t sure how much more of this roller coaster I could handle.

“You know what I mean. We can’t risk my identity and purpose at Fulton getting out. I’m so close to getting the info we need. And I’m not saying you can’t ever tell your friends about us, about it all. Just not yet. I want to be with you, Amaya, more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. After this is all over—”

“I have no one.” I cut him off. “Do you understand what you’re asking? Those girls are my family. My mom ...” I clenched my teeth and shoved the overwhelming emotions down. I refused to cry. I’d been a fool to let my guard down with him moments earlier. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“You’re not alone, beautiful. You have me.” He moved forward as though to pull me into another embrace. I stepped aside and gave him a hard look.

“No, I don’t. You just said it—you want to be together once this is all over. How am I supposed to believe you’re not just telling me bullshit so I’ll keep my mouth shut?”

He pressed his lips together. I could see frustration rising to meet my defensiveness. I didn’t give a shit.

“Come on,” he said. “You know that’s not what this is. I want to be with you, but I can’t risk years of work and the resources of an entire task force, the opportunity to take down some seriously bad people, on some teenage gossip.”

I reeled back, momentarily shocked at his dismissive tone. He had no idea what we’d been through because of BestLyf. How dare he insinuate I was being immature or unreasonable after the night I’d had?

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