Page 37 of Fine, Dork

“Why are you crying?”

“Because we’re not best friends anymore! Go away!”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, we are, K. Come on.”

“No, we’re not! You called me stupid and made me feel bad! Best friends don’t do that!” The tears fell even faster down her cheeks.

I didn’t call her stupid, did I? “I didn’t say that, Kinley!”

“Do you think I’m stupid, J?”

“Of course not!”

Kinley sniffled. “Really?”

“Really. You’re way better at art. Your stuff always gets hung in the front of the room. Mine never does.” I reached my hand out to help her up. “Let’s go, best friend.”

Kinley wiped her tears and took my hand with a hopeful half-smile. As we walked back toward the school, she said, “J, I didn’t want to play the math game because it’s hard and confusing for me, but I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll try it.” She still clutched my hand.

I glanced over at my best friend. “I didn’t know that. You don’t have to play it.” We walked in silence for a moment, and then I admitted, “I thought you liked your other new friends better than me.”

Kinley smiled and shook her head. She looked like a jack-o-lantern with three of her teeth missing. “Nope. You’re my only best friend.”

When we reached the end of our class line, Sam turned around and saw us holding hands. He snickered and yelled, “Jaxon and Kinley sittin’ in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

I yanked my hand from Kinley’s with my cheeks burning. She yelled, “Shut up!” and threw a pebble at his face.

20

Jaxon

When I got home from work that evening, I was relieved to find Kinley in my kitchen. I’d spent the day thinking about how stupid we were both being. I was just going to kiss her. I had to.

“Thank you for not leaving.” I set my laptop bag down on the table and pulled her in for a hug. Kinley stayed stiff in my arms for a moment before finally melting into me. Her body felt so damn good against mine. I fucking wanted her, even though she was acting crazy.

She pulled away too quickly and mumbled, “I’m making pork quesadillas and lime rice if you’re hungry.” She turned back to a pan on the stove.

“Thank you. Are we going to talk now?”

“Sure.” Kinley didn’t meet my gaze.

I let out a deep breath and ran my hands through my hair. Kinley didn’t say a word as she filled two plates and brought them to my kitchen table. She sat across from me, her back rigid and eyes still not meeting mine. She cleared her throat. “I’m uh, I’m sorry for being a brat when I got here. I was disappointed and jealous when I saw Savannah, and then I overreacted.”

“Yeah, ya did.” I raised an eyebrow at her and took a bite. Damn, when did K turn into such a good cook?

Kinley shot me a glare and pushed rice around her plate with her fork. “Anyway. I’m sorry, and I don’t want to fight anymore. You’re allowed to date whoever you want, and it was stupid of me to think that anything was going to change between us after what happened in Hawaii. We said we were just messing around, and that’s all it was. I made it awkward. I’ll be here for a week or two if that’s all right. I’m sure I’ll get another photography job soon. I’m already talking with a travel agency that wants updated pictures of tourist destinations in Ireland, so I’ll probably go there, and then I’ll be out of your space.”

Kinley stood and walked down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door without waiting for my response.

Fucking hell. What was that? That was our big talk after everything that happened between us in the last month? Nope. No. I stood and followed her down the hall. I pulled open her door and stared at her. She was sitting in the center of my guest bed with tears in her pretty brown eyes.

My heart pounded in my chest. I had to be a grown-ass man and make it happen with Kinley. “Do you want me, K?”

Kinley blinked at me and bit her lip. She looked down at her trembling hands, then glanced back up to meet my gaze. Apprehension filled her gorgeous eyes. “I want you, J.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “Then take me.” I tugged my shirt off over my head and crossed the room in only a few steps. I climbed on top of Kinley, and her soft, perfect lips found mine immediately. She buried her hands in my hair and wrapped her legs around my waist.

Her breathing was heavy as my lips trailed down her neck. “Jaxon,” she gasped. “I want you so bad. I love you.”

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