I jump at the sound of JJ’s voice as he enters the kitchen. I tear my eyes from my phone and quickly lock the screen.
“Oh, umm,” I mumble as JJ quirks a brow with clear interest. I need to ignore how unbelievably good-looking he is because Ineed to focus on Isaac—I must focus on Isaac.“Nothing. Just made plans for tomorrow.”
JJ’s eyes glitter against the kitchen lights. “What plans?”
“With Isaac,” I admit.
The creases on his forehead push together quickly as he studies me. “Oh, that’s—” He pauses. “That’s nice. He seems like a good guy.”
“He is.” I nod. “How are you and Daisy?”
The words feel bitter on my tongue. We both need to pretend that night we had together never happened, for the sake of my brother and everything that went down all those years ago.
“Okay, I guess.” He shrugs and brushes a hand over his head. “She wants to go out, but?—”
“You should,” I blurt. “Go out with her. I know she really wants to get to know you.”
JJ blinks at me in surprise. His mouth parts, but before he says anything, he stops himself. “Uh, maybe.”
“If you do, I’m sure you’ll have fun,” I say quietly.
“Mm.”
Our eyes remain locked on one another’s for a moment too long.
My heart pounds against my ribcage, the back of my neck beginning to heat.
I can’t find it in me to take a small breath, not when his eyes latch onto mine like he’s trying to unravel my brain and find out how I’m really feeling.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and it drags me away from this silent conversation. Saved. Literallysaved.
I give my attention to the next message Isaac just sent me, but I physically can’t read the words. Not when the tension between me and JJ is suffocating me to death.
Goddamn this. I should have just chosen my vibrator that night instead.
CHAPTER 16
JJ WOODFORD
Daisy’s hand creeps along the open café table as we sit outside on the beachfront, her fingernails gingerly brush mine. They’re painted a rich Barbie pink and are pointy at the ends.
“I’m so happy you agreed to come out with me.” She props her chin onto a fist and flutters those dark eyelashes at me. “I was starting to get worried.”
I flash her a smile. Why did I listen to what Ivy said?Oh, probably because she’s going out with Isaac, and you decided to be bitter about it.
“I didn’t hear from you yesterday.” I clear my throat. “I thought you might have changed your mind.”
Daisy’s lips stretch into a wide grin. “Did I not make it clear enough how much I wanted to go out with you?”
“Yeah.”Maybe a little too much.
“So.” She grips my fingers with those claws and draws my attention back to her. “I heard back from a job that I applied for.”
“Yeah?”
Daisy nods, dark curls slipping past her narrow shoulders. “Said that my interview was good and they want me to come in to do a group interview, see how well I mix with other people.”
“Congrats. Which one was this for?”
