“Yeah, of course. You’re pretty impressive, Bails.”
“I never really saw myself that way.”
He nodded. “It’s why Holden has such high expectations for you.”
“Not you too,” I said glumly.
“No.” Flynn shook his head, expression serious. “I don’t have any expectations of you, except for you to be the great guy you are. You don’t have to prove anything to me, ever.”
I locked eyes with him—well,eye. One was still swollen shut. “I think you’re great too.”
“I’m not great. I’m an ex-con,” he scoffed. “Nothing special about?—”
I swayed over and kissed him right in the middle of his sentence, cutting off his words.
I kissed him as if I had any right to his lips. As if I’d done it before. Like my heart wasn’t trying to beat out of my chest and my pulse wasn’t rushing in my ears.
Flynn’s lips were dry and firm beneath mine, but not unyielding. He gasped, lips parting, and for half a second, it was bliss.
Damn, that had been a smooth move.
Funny, because I wasn’t calm at all. Not inside. I’d wanted this too damn long for it to be anything but scary as hell.
My tongue met Flynn’s, tasting the cinnamon of the toothpicks he was always sticking in his mouth. He made a growly sound in his throat that was hot as fuck, and one hand tightened in my hair, yanking me closer.
The other came up to frame my face. Only Flynn’s hands were so damn big that his index finger brushed the bruising around my eye.
I flinched, and Flynn jerked back.
“Shit.” He picked up the forgotten bag of thawing veggies from my lap and pressed it against my eye. “Hold this. I need to make you a sandwich.”
“Or you could keep kissing me,” I suggested. “That would be a great plan too.”
“You kissed me,” he pointed out. “And it can’t happen again. You’re just in pain and looking for a distraction.”
“That’s bullshit,” I said. “I like you, Flynn. I always have.”
“I like you too,” Flynn said, “but we can’t do this.”
“Why not? You kissed me back. I felt it. You must be into guys at least a little!”
He stared at me incredulously. “Well, yeah. I’m into guys a lot. I’m bi, Bailey.”
“Oh. Well, then…why not keep kissing?” My confidence surged. “You want me too. I’ve seen the looks you try to hide from me.”
“Bailey, you’re so young, and I’m not even close to good enough for you.”
“What the fuck? You said I was amazing, just as I am. I feel the same about you, so why?—”
“It’s different,” he cut in. “I’ve made real mistakes, Bailey. I’m not someone you want to be with.”
“Yes, you are.” I reached for him, determined to show him, but Flynn jumped to his feet and headed for the kitchen.
“I’ll make you that sandwich.”
“Fuck the sandwich!” I exclaimed, exasperated, as I followed him. “I like you, Flynn. I think you like me. Stop acting like I’m your little brother! All anyone sees is little Bailey who can’t handle the world. Fuck. You should have just let that guy kick my ass. I would’ve dealt with it. I’m not a child.”
He yanked open the fridge. “I don’t see you as a child, Bailey.” He slapped packages of deli meat and cheese on the counter between us. “It’s more complicated than that.”
