“Charmed,” is all the older sister says.
Maggie rolls her eyes. “My sister doesn’t do well in the cold. Excuse her.”
Sadie looks back at me. “I’m also mad you’re the reason that Galentine’s got canceled.”
I want to laugh, but I’m worried she may claw my eyes out. Instead, I grin up at Maggie. “Did it?”
She waves me off. “I told you I wasn’t sure yet,” she says to her sister.
Sadie isn’t impressed. “I know he hasn’t asked, but he has hearts in his eyes and is ten seconds from tattooing your name across his chest.”
Now I laugh.
’Cause she’s not wrong.
“So, trust, I’m right to assume,” Sadie says on an exhale. “Now remember, your thirty-minute spot is from one thirty to two. I know you said tongue was out of the question, but may I remind you that the money we make from this is going to provide a new art room to the high school? And if I can get some old dude to give you a hundred bucks for some tongue action, I feel you should take one for the team.”
I choke on my spit. I stand, towering over them both as Maggie sputters her answer. “I totally forgot I said I’d do that.”
Yeah, I don’t like any of this.
Maggie’s cheeks turn red, and I know it’s not from the cold. I’ve never felt this burning feeling in my chest before. I don’t do jealousy. I’ve never had a reason to be jealous, but right now, I feel it tenfold.
Fuck, call me the Hulkbecause I’m turning green as hell. “It’s flu season,” I blurt out. “Is kissing necessary?”
Sadie gives me a look. “It’s Valentine’s Day. Kissing is literally part of the day.”
“But she could get sick.”
“So we’ll pump her full of some Emergen-C to help her immune system. This is a big moneymaker for the festival.”
I blink. I don’t want Maggie kissing anyone. At all.
Ever.
“How much are you thinking she’ll bring in?”
Sadie looks up at me, and I see the gleam in her eyes. This is about to cost me a fortune. “Have you seen her? She’s a hot commodity. We already have a sign-up list.” She turns her phone to face me, and no shit, there are over fifty guys on the list—and eight girls. “It costs $20 for a peck on the cheek, $50 for on the lips, and it’s supposed to be $100 for some tongue, but my sister is being difficult.”
“Sadie—”
Maggie is getting flustered, but I can’t even think. My ears are burning, my chest hurts, and everything feels a little woozy. I look at Maggie, and her frantic eyes meet mine. This may make me look really pathetic, but I can’t help myself. “Would you be okay if I paid for your whole time slot to have all your kisses to myself?”
Maggie’s mouth parts. “What?”
I step in closer. “I don’t want to share your lips with anyone. Hell, I get jealous of Kip when he gets a kiss. I will go out of my mind watching other people kiss my woman.”
“Your woman?” Maggie’s lips curve.
“Mine,” I say, cuddling her closer. She comes willingly, her arms snaking up my chest and around my neck. I hold her tightly to me as our gazes lock, and the whole world disappears but her. “I know it’s hot in books when guys do something crazy without thought, and I want to do just that, but I also want you to have the choice. If you want to kiss a bunch of people, I’ll suck it up. But each time someone gets the feel of your lips, I’ll die a bit inside.” I admit, and I know this is the moment she tells me I’m needy.
But am I? I mean, who is really okay with the person they’re falling for kissing other people?
But she doesn’t know that.
Because I haven’t told her what I want.
Before she can say anything, I say, “You haven’t promised me anything. I haven’t even asked you to be my woman, but I want you to be.” I sigh deeply. “I need you to be, because I really, really like you.”
