Page 9 of Forever After All

“Hanson. He’s new in town.”

Linc raised a brow. “Hanson? Like, the old teenie-bopper band?”

“I think so. Anyway, he was nice. His shoes were a little too shiny, but he didn’t run scared when I told him my dad was dead and my mom is probably one of Satan’s minions.”

Linc focused on the path leading out of the ranch. Thankfully, Jess didn’t live far. “Listen, I’m not the person to talk to about this.”

Jess leaned back against the seat and sighed.

Letting Jess down wasn’t on his list of things to do. It was in his makeup to be there for her, but he couldn’t help her with this.

“Why are you even asking me? I don’t date, and I don’t have any advice for you.”

In fact, it had been years since he’d kissed a woman, and there didn’t seem to be any Xs or Os in his future.

Unless Jess had a great awakening and decided she wanted him. Kissing Jess would be great for him and bad for her.

No, it would begloriousfor him. He’d imagined it plenty of times. Jess was the only woman who had captured his interest in years, and boy, did she have it all.

“What do I do?” Jess whispered.

Was she even talking to him now? Or was she just asking herself?

“Be yourself.”

She huffed. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not? If he doesn’t like it, then forget about him.”

“No one likes me,” Jess said.

Linc’s chest tightened. This must be what a broken heart felt like because it caused him actual pain when she was upset.

Not only that, she was wrong. Linc liked her plenty.

Jess covered her face with her hands. “Ugh. What do I do if he tries to kiss me?”

Linc’s foot slipped off the gas, jerking the truck to a much slower speed.

Jess grabbed for the door handle but didn’t seem bothered by his distracted driving.

Okay, this whole conversation was stirring up some frustration he really didn’t want to deal with. He jerked the truck to a stop and shifted into park.

Linc turned toward her and propped his arm on the steering wheel. “Jess, calm down. I finally have some advice for you. If he tries to kiss you on the first date, deck him.”

Jess laughed. “I’m serious.”

“So am I. You can tell him it's from me.”

She was actually smiling now. Hopefully, she’d interpret his words as literally as he’d meant them.

“Maybe I should just call it off. I’m only twenty-two.”

Linc pressed his lips together. It was always nice to be reminded that there was a six-year age gap between them. Not that six years was a lot as a general rule. It just translated to lightyears between him and Jess.

“Maybe I’m not meant to be in a relationship,” she whispered.

There she went again, breaking his heart into a million pieces.

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