Page 104 of Always Love You More

She crosses her arms over her chest. “What?”

“You’re a jealous little thing, aren’t you?”

She narrows her eyes. “No.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Fine.” She blows out a breath. “But so are you.”

“Damn right I am.”

That makes her smile.

I move forward until my lips graze her ear. “You’re all mine.”

Before she can respond, I pull back, grabbing her hand and guiding us over to the makeshift bar.

Billy and Sasha are nowhere to be found, but Johnny is hunched over the table, pouring himself a drink.

He turns, and a genuine smile lights his face. “Hey, Bug,” he says to Sam before shifting to me. “Happy birthday.”

I nod a thanks as Sam holds out her hand.

Johnny laughs and gives her the drink he just poured. “You behaving?”

She grins, bringing the Solo cup up to her lips. “Never.”

I watch them as they talk about nothing in particular, just shooting the shit. She’s different when she’s around him, like he smooths out her edges.

She has another drink, and I watch as she becomes more loose.

“I want to go for a—”

Her words cut off when a hand comes down on Johnny’s shoulder.

“Why’re you all hiding in the corner?” my father asks. “It’s a party.”

His eyes lock with mine. “I have something for you.”

“You do?”

“It’s your birthday, isn’t it?”

I nod.

My mother comes up beside him and asks excitedly, “Are you gonna give it to him now?”

“Everyone outside,” my father yells.

I guess that’s a yes.

We all follow him as he leads the way to the front lot.

I search for Billy, finding him next to Luke. We catch eyes, and he jogs over to me and Sam.

“You know about this?”

He shakes his head. “No idea.”