Page 266 of Hide and Keep

“I’m sorry. I just wanted you to have the memory of how I was that night without who I usually am ruining it.”

Her head in my palms, I keep her from lowering it to search those watery eyes.

“Ever, you’re better than you think. You’re better than everyone thinks. You’re better than an anonymous kiss in the dark. Ruin the fucking memory…” I draw her even closer. “Just like you ruined me.”

She’s the one that closes the final inch, crushing my lips with hers.

I’m the one who deepens it though, sneaking my tongue inside like she sneaks into my room—unapologetically.

While she tastes exactly like I remember, her skill isn’t the same at all. She wasn’t a bad kisser at Hide and Keep, just lacked experience. She’s definitely improved since that night. She’s no longer hesitant or self-conscious. She knows what she’s doing now, along with what she wants.

I’m so fucking glad it’s me.

Relocating my hands to just under her ass, I pick her up off her feet. She wraps her legs around my waist and leans back, sending the butterflies on us flying. We both look up to watch them join all the others. It’s a kaleidoscope of color and activity above us and around us.

My gaze falls to Ever so I can watch her instead. At no point in my life could I have guessed I’d be here, in a private butterfly conservatory, holding Munreaux Motorcycles’ heiress, deeply,deeplyin love with her. Ever worked so hard to make me hate her. But falling for her was effortless. I was already face-first at her Louboutin-covered feet before I even realized I’d fallen.

“You’re magical,” I rasp, pulling her attention back to me.

She grips the back of my neck and meets my stare with an equally intense one of her own. Does she love me?

Only one way to find out.

“And I think I’m in love with you.”

Her laugh tinkles like the lightest bell chime, then she’s saying, “You think? IknowI’m in love with you.”

She pulls me or I pull her, I don’t know, but suddenly we’re kissing again and it’s magical, too.

As long as I live, nothing will ever top this moment. I want to live it over and over and over again.

“What are you doing for the next sixteen hours?” I ask the second we break for air.

With a smile like the Grand Canyon and eyes so bright they’re practically sparkling, she says, “You.”

“Are we ever going to get to see you again?” Crue’s mother, Phoebe, asks, her voice coming through my car’s speakers.

Crue shakes his head. “It’s only been one month, Mom.”

I love listening to their conversations. They’re never long but they’re always a surprise. Phoebe really does care about her son. She checks up on him all throughout the week.

“It feels like it’s been forever.”

Even without seeing her, I can sense her misery. To her, it does feel like forever. She genuinely misses her son.

A knife twists in my gut. My mother spent entire summers away from me and not once did she call to check on me, and certainly not to complain about the time apart. She didn’t care and she never missed me. My father, I understand, but me? Why didn’t she miss me? I was just a child. I wasn’t bad. I didn’t talk back. I played any game she wanted to, whenever she wanted to, for however long she wanted to. I would’ve done anything to make her love me. Or even just like me.

Crue takes a right into my neighborhood using only one hand. I love when he drives one-handed. I’m going to miss watching him drive. I’m going to miss watching him.

“Maybe this weekend I can stop by the house to pick up some more stuff,” Crue offers while shooting me a questioning look.

He’s so hopeful. So ignorant.

I make myself nod, then drop my gaze. Crue will be returning to his childhood home this weekend…whether he wants to or not.

Focusing on the amethyst bracelet on my wrist, my other hand finds my throat, my thumb and middle finger gripping the sides as my palm massages the center.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to live without him. He hasn’t even left yet and I’m already having difficulty breathing.

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