Page 3 of Be My Compass

“I should take her under my wing,” Mom says thoughtfully. “Men don’t like women that pushy.”

“That’s not true.”

Hell, that’s the opposite of true. Kaelyn’s intelligence and passion for history is freaking sexy. Like yesterday, when she talked my ear off about some African empress who led her own all-female army.

Her black eyes sparkled.

Her maroon lips curled.

Her laughter danced in the air like magic.

My pants start to tighten at the memory.

I pull at my shirt to fan my chest and cool off.

My thoughts about Kaelyn have been getting out of hand lately. My body doesn’t give a damn that she’s my best friend. That there’s no way in hell I’m going there with her.

It only wants her dangerous curves, her thick thighs, her lush lips.

Hell, the thought of those lips on my—

“She’s been single for years now, Kastle.”

The fantasy runs away.

Feels like a bucket of cold water got dunked over my head.

But it’s good. It’s what I need right now. I squeeze my eyes shut. Shove away the mental images of my best friend parting her lips for me.

“So?” I ask.

“So?”

So? Why the hell does it matter if Kaelyn hasn’t had a boyfriend in years? She’s got her job and her friends and me. She has enough. She doesn’t need some jerk playing with her heart and breaking it.

She’s better off single.

“Mom, enough about Kaelyn.”

“But—”

“She’s busy that night.”

“I’ll talk to her then.”

“She’s busy,” I say in a firm tone.

Mom pauses. Seems to gather herself. “Fine. But you’re coming right? Even if she isn’t?”

I grit my teeth. “Sure.”

“Amazing, Kastle. I knew you’d come around.”

I can picture her grinning, dark red lipstick stretching across her mouth in victory. He’s doing exactly what I want. I’m so glad we bought him. So glad.

No.

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