Page 74 of Play For Keeps

“No, not at all. It was perfect. I’ll never forget it.”

“I got two out of you.”

She scoffs and shoves me in the chest. “I’m scared to think what the tally will be by Sunday morning.”

I smirk. “You won’t be able to walk.”

She thinks I’m kidding.

I’m not.

“Have you ever been in love, Jake?” The question comes out of nowhere the next day as we’re walking hand-in-hand along a quiet strip of beach in Brookmont after meeting up with her best friend, Willa, for a drink.

Everly is in jeans and a tank top, and I admire her unreal body. Her skin golden, and her legs long. I haven’t been able to stop staring at her all day.

I raise a brow at her. “I have been, it was a few years ago. Her name was Jade.”

“How long were you together?”

“We dated for two years. She is my only long-term relationship. Kinda sad, right?” I think back to when we were together. I was 23, and I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but we had a connection that was too strong to ignore.

“Why is it sad?”

“I’m 27 and I’ve been in love once.” Or twice, if I’m counting Everly.

“What happened? I mean, only if you want to tell me. I’m just curious, that’s all, how any girl could ever let you get away.”

“I wondered the same at the time,” I say with a self-deprecating laugh. “She wanted to see the world. Said we were too young. She was on a plane to Europe three weeks later after she ended things.”

“And she broke your heart.” Everly says it as if it’s a statement rather than a question because she gets me. She sees me too.

“She did,” I admit, looking back at her. Everly takes my hand in hers, going up on her toes to kiss me. “What was that for?”

“I felt like kissing you.”

“I’m glad you did,” I say, leaning down for another because one is never enough with her.

“Do you ever miss her?” She glances up at me, the ocean breeze blowing her hair around her face.

“I used to. Jade was a big part of my life. I was pretty messed up when I met her. I was mad at the world for taking my parents from me. I felt like nobody understood me.” I pause. “I’d never met anyone who knew what it felt like to lose a parent, but Jade was different. She lost her mom when she was a kid too. She got me. It was easy. If I wanted to be angry, she gave me the space to be angry and she seemed to always know what I needed. I worked through my emotions when I was with her and became a better person.”

“But you don’t miss her anymore?”

“No.”

Everly doesn’t say a word. We walk for a few moments in silence, and then I stop and tug her gently towards me. “I stopped missing her the day I met you. I haven’t thought about her since.” I place my hands gently on either side of her neck. Her hands move to my chest. “I’ve fallen so hard for you, Ev, I can’t think about anything else. I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you. I’ve never felt this completely out of control.”

How this girl has managed to knock me so off balance, I’ll never know. I want nights with her, and I want to wake up next to her. I want breakfasts with her and Birdie, and bike rides after school. Our own little family.

“Birdie has me wrapped around her little finger too. I’d do anything for her. “

“You have no idea what that means to me.”

“I think I do.”

Everly looks back at me with warm, hazel eyes and places her palm against my cheek. “I love how sweet you are to Birdie. You are the best man I know. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to find you, but I want to keep you, Jake.” She swallows. “I convinced myself that it wouldn’t be possible to find a man who would accept my past, accept my daughter, and stay when times get tough. But you’ve been there for us in every way possible, and you’ll never be able to understand what that means to me. I’m falling so hard for you too.”

Dammit to hell, I want to push her into the sand and maul her. I’m crazed for this girl.

---