Grey eyes me for a split second, like he’s trying to read my mind. And just as quickly he wraps his arm around my waist. He pulls me closer, committing to the charade.
“Of course. Who else would it be?”
I tip up on my toes before I can overthink it and press a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Hey, baby,” I say, voice shaking. “I was beginning to worry.”
Grey stiffens for half a second—just enough for me to notice, but hopefully not enough that the leasing agent does. When he relaxes, a sly grin slips across his lips.
“Traffic,” he says smoothly. “Got held up.”
The leasing agent studies us for another tense beat before resuming her lecture. “Residents are required to accompany guests on the property at all times. That includes the pool, gym, laundry facilities…. Everywhere.”
“Got it.Everywhere,” Grey says as he pulls me closer to his body. His quick reaction surprises me, and I let out a soft squeak which only seems to embolden him. “Won’t happen again. Will it…baby?”
Silence engulfs us as we exchange looks, neither of us moving an inch. Heat swells in my belly, bursting outward until my ears ring and my throat clamps shut.
All the squishy parts I hide beneath oversized hoodies and body cinching spandex sink into all his hard parts. Every ounce of me wants to melt into his arms, but it’s Grey. Darby’s brother. The guy who’s seen the worst parts of me from childhood tantrums to middle school acne. I’m surprised he isn’t repulsed. But he doesn’t flinch, doesn’t seem to mind, just keeps me in his grip. I hold on for dear life while my insides light up like midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Convinced, the leasing agent leaves, her heels click sharply against the floor. I swear I don’t breathe until the door shuts behind her. But then, the real problem begins. Explaining this to Grey. A difficult task with my heart stuck in my throat, and my body locked to him.
My pulse roars in my ears. “Well,” I say weakly. “Hi…boyfriend.”
Grey
The leasing agent shuts the door, and the first thing I think about is Kari’s lips on my skin and her body, warm and soft against mine. Where she belongs.
Her chaste kiss should’ve been nothing. A performance to check off a box so we could both walk away. But it wasn’t nothing.
Not when I’ve wanted that and so much more for so damn long. Coming across Kelly’s engagement post and scrolling through years of photos documenting Kari’s life only stirred the pot. All the feelings I’ve kept to myself came rushing back like nothing’s changed. But we’re both older, hopefully wiser, and damn, if that doesn’t rattle me.
My brain tries to shift gears to what I planned to film tonight, but those plans are shattered. For now. There’s no way I can explain this to her. Not now. Probably not ever.
What would she think if she knew about my Fans page? Would she think I’m shallow performing for strangers? Would she laugh? Tease me the way she used to, always trying to get a rise out of me, always winning?
We were brutal as kids. Competitive. Smart-mouthed. Always trying to one-up each other.
Some secrets are better kept hidden.
She squirms like she’s suddenly realized this is a bad idea. But I tighten my arm around her. Because I’m not the only one with a secret. She’s hiding something, too. If the present is anything like the past, things could go sideways fast. Kari and Darby always had a knack for finding trouble. And I always bailed them out.
“Hi, yourself.” I dip my head, closer to hers. A bad idea I realize too late, when she sucks in a breath and swallows hard. But I need answers… now. “You wanna tell me what that was all about?” I cock an eyebrow just enough to let her know I’m not joking around. “Girlfriend.”
Whatever trouble Kari’s gotten herself into this time—I’m already in it with her.
4
Kari
My body hums like I brushed up against an electric fence. In some ways I wish I had. At least then I’d be closer to dead or hospital bound instead of here with Grey’s arms around me, his hand on my waist, and his lips so close I could just eat him up.
I’ve imagined Grey’s hands on me more times than I’d ever admit out loud, but dang, my imagination isn’t this good. I bet the girls he dates don’t have a clue how lucky they are. Which isn’t something I should be thinking about right now.
Heck, everything that’s happening right now shouldn’t be reality.
I finally peel myself free from his grip, stepping back before my knees and brain forget how to function. The second the space opens up between us, the air feels colder. And I want back in. I want the safety net that’s always been Grey.
He watches me closely, cataloging my every movement.
