“You love me?” A hungry laugh lives and dies in my chest. “That’s great news because I love you, too. I love you, Serena. And I want something real with you. Not just crazy sex for the summer.”
“Aw, fuck,” Marlin howls as if he were struck with a bullet.
But I can’t take my eyes off of Serena, this beautiful girl, this woman who has openly and perhaps precariously declared her love for me. It feels amazing to have this with her. It feels better than mere words can describe to know she feels the same way about me as I do her. In a strange way, it feels downright impossible.
“I want something real with you, too, Shep. And you know what? I think we already have it.” She gives a slight nod before collapsing her mouth over mine. Serena and I exchange a lusty kiss for the ages, a hard, dark, delicious kiss that sayswe have arrived and we do not give a single shit who is watching us. Serena and I have been through hell this summer. What’s an irate big brother with a gun going to do to me in a room full of cops?
A powerfully loud explosion goes off and rattles every bone in my body.
I think I have my answer.
After that fiasco of a night,both Belinda and Craig were taken into custody. Shelby Trainee has also been detained for questioning in the involvement of her brother’s murder.
That night at the lumberyard still rings clear in my mind. Somehow, by sheer “coincidence,” Marlin’s gun misfired just moments after I took Serena into my arms to comfort her. Okay, so I may have had my mouth plastered over hers—but still, he unloaded a bullet in my direction. He cited the fact Craig had tried to make a break for it, which he did. But I have a feeling that shot he fired just shy of where I was standing was meant as a dire warning for yours truly. And the warning was well-received.
The following week, Serena is busy planning a surprise baby shower for Sunday, so there hasn’t been a chance for us to connect the way we’d like, but tonight at the Black Bear, all of that is going to change. We came to a mutual agreement that we would formally apprise our families of our relationship status at dinner. It’s our first taste of being a couple out in the open, and we’re hoping there will be no threats of a restraining order and nary a bullet will fly.
The Black Bear is thick with bodies. Perfume and cologne of every brand mingle with the scent of fries and the faint scent of hard liquor layered underneath.
Serena is still on her way. She’s been comforting Harley ever since she heard that her friend endured an ugly breakup. Apparently, the night I found her in tears, she had just seen the guy she was dating doing some chick on a frat house pool table. It sounds to me she’s better off without him. Some guys just aren’t cut out for a long-term commitment—but lucky for me, I’m all in.
My biggest fear is scaring Serena. I don’t ever want her to feel smothered by me. The fact is, she is young and she might change her mind. But I’m hoping she won’t. I’m hoping with everything in me that we last. It feels right. It feels as if we’ve been together a lot longer than just the summer. And I want nothing more than to be with her for a hell of a lot longer than just the summer.
Baya, the owner’s wife, was nice enough to save an elongated table for the eight of us in the back. Mom and Dad arrive and get settled with Teagan. Marlin shows up and heads straight over and takes a seat, doesn’t even nod a simple hello my way. I get it. He’s pissed. I wouldn’t be too thrilled with whomever Teagan was locking lips with either.
I head to the bar, putting in an order for a drink, when a hand falls over my shoulder and I turn to find Axel lifting his brows my way.
“You ready for tonight?”
“I’m ready.” I glance back to find Lex waving and heading over to the table herself. “I guess we’re just waiting on Serena.”
He winces. “So, you guys are happening, huh? You do realize what you’re getting into. You know Lex will strangle you with her bare hands if you break Serena’s heart.”
“I know. And, believe me, I’d be cheering Lex on if I were stupid enough to hurt Serena. It’s not happening. I’m ready for this. It feels as if I’ve been waiting for Serena all my life. And all my life she was right in front of me.”
Axel nods. “I get it. Those Maxfield sisters are something else.”
“And so is that brother of theirs.” I take a moment to glare at Marlin.
Axel belts out a short-lived laugh. “His bark is worse than his bite. You’ll be fine. Maybe.”
I stare wild-eyed at my brother. “He fired his gun at me.”
“In that case, I’ll get you a Kevlar vest for your birthday.” Axel flashes that infamous grin we both seem to don when we know we’re beat.
“Good thinking.”
Sunday and Seth come in, as do Nolan and Misty, followed by Rush and Trixie. Serena’s family has been soldered together from the tragedies they’ve shared. Her cousins are just as good as her siblings.
And finally, Serena herself enters the doors, and I’d swear on all that is holy that the crowd of coeds and frat boys parts like the Red Sea.
Axel gives my arm a quick squeeze. “I’ll see you at the table.”
Serena is a vision in that tight red dress that dangerously hugs her every curve, and her hair is fanned out around her like a crimson halo. She’s got enough angel in her to qualify, but just enough devil to assure you she’s one naughty girl. She floats into my arms, and I land a kiss over her lips right here at the Black Bear.
“Whoa,” a deep voice strums from behind, and we find Eli Gates grimacing as if he just caught his parents knocking boots. “Dude”—he pinches his eyes shut a moment—“you realize the school is going to give you your walking papers for this.”
“I’m better suited for law anyhow.” I look to Serena. “You look stunning tonight.” I was going to saydelicious, but I’d hate to make Eli lose his lunch.
