Page 49 of Hot Girl Summer

“I could see it was different with you.”

I throw my head back and scoff. “That’s adorable. I’m obviously not enough to stay for, though, right? Not even to say goodbye to. I’m never enough.”

“I think you are.”

In the eerie silence, his gaze falls to my lips. He inches closer, and in a hasty decision, I kiss him. It isn’t long before my nails claw his skin, tearing at the tension, anger and frustration that has built up over the last few days, sating my desire for human contact.

Straddling his thick, muscular thighs, I pull my top over my head, and find his mouth again. His kiss is hungry, and that passion exactly what I need, just not his.

Gripping his strong, wide shoulders, I push my body into his, grinding against his hardness as he grabs my hips. Running my hands along his smooth pecs, I throw my head back and let him explore my body with his mouth.

Soft moans escape my lips, and my body responds in all the right ways under his touch, but my mind is elsewhere.

“Are you sure you want this?” he asks, between heavy breaths.

No. I want Danny.

I don’t answer. Instead, I throw myself into another kiss and try to push the thought to the back of my mind, but every time I do, it comes charging forward stronger than before. The irritating little voice in my head keeps insisting that I’m done with feeling nothing. That I’m done with feeling lonely and empty. But I’m not ready to admit to what my heart is trying to tell me.

“Sophia? I need a yes or a no.”

Luke’s words trigger something inside me, giving me the push I need to stop this from escalating any further.

“I’m sorry,” I say, climbing off his lap and admitting defeat. “I can’t.”

I bury my head in my hands, and when I finally emerge, he’s clutching my shirt to his chest.

“You don’t have to apologise. I could sense something was off. We can talk about it, if you’d like?”

His dark eyes are warm, soft, and full of pity.

“Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Real talk? I think it would have been a mistake.” He pauses, running a hand through his perfectly mussed hair. “This must be what breaking bro code feels like.”

“Anyone would think the two of us together would be fire, right? But it just feels all kinds of wrong.”

“Some things aren’t meant to be.”

“Amen to that. Thank you for not being an absolute dick about this.” Although the bar is set dangerously low, he has singlehandedly restored my faith in men. Maybe I’m being hasty about how I left things with Danny, but I want to let things simmer before I reach out to him. I’m not ready to bare my feelings. I have a heart to protect.

“Contrary to popular opinion, I’m a real neat guy,” he says.

His terrible attempt at an accent sounds like an American taking the piss out of a Brit who’s trying to do an American accent.

“But seriously, you know how Italian women are. I grew up in a family full of matriarchs, and even if Alex—or anyone for that matter—doesn’t respect you, know that I do.”

I smile. This is the most unlikely friendship, but I’m here for it.

“Who knew you were a secret cinnamon roll?”

“I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take it. Cinnamon rolls are sweet and gooey, and they taste fucking delicious. Plus, there are plenty of girls on Insta who keep my ego topped up,” he smirks.

I huff a quick laugh. “Sure...what happened with that girl you were seeing, anyway?”

He shrugs. “Didn’t work out.”

“Oh?”

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