Page 90 of Counting On You

“I thought everything was closed for a mile down.” I let go of Kade’s hand and turn to him. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

“We even get ice cream.” He points to a stand with a guy dressed in white, offering ice cream to whoever passes by. “I think they’re trying to pretend this isn’t like prison at all.”

“Yeah. Treat us to candies when we have guests, and let the real torture begin tomorrow.” I scan the room, not expecting to see anyone familiar because, to be honest, none of my friends know I’m here. That’s when I see my sister. “I shouldn’t be here,” I mutter.

“Why?” Kade asks.

“Because I didn’t go to group therapy until a few days ago and I feel like I’m not making much progress.” My gaze remains glued to her. She’s talking to someone and nods sympathetically.

“If it helps,” Kade says, leaning into me, “I’m a work in progress, too.”

I can’t help but smile. “You’re a goof, you know?”

“Life’s already serious like shit.” He follows my line of vision. “I have another good one.”

“Yeah?”

“If you don’t feel it, fake it,” he says.

“Is that your new philosophy?”

“No, that’s my survival strategy.” He flashes me a grin. “I’m just roaring with the crowd. Doesn’t mean I mean what I say.”

“I thought you wanted to get help here?”

“How the hell did you come to that conclusion?”

I should claim that I was taking a guess. That I don’t really care. But I do care. I want him to get help. “You know, I’ve been wondering, how the hell could you be so successful in your job with all the sex pop-ups and the dates and the meaningless sex?”

Probably a lot of that.

“What can I say? I’m a juggler.”

His fingers settle beneath my chin and before I know it, his lips are on mine.

His mouth is both tender and wild—the kiss too short.

“It’s all for a higher purpose,” he says, taking a step back.

I stare at him, aghast. “You didn’t just do that in public.”

He laughs. “What can I say? I’m a rebel.”

“You’re not a rebel. You’re insane. What if someone saw us?” My gaze sweeps across the room.

No one’s looking.

They’re all focused on their conversation.

“What could anyone possibly do to us?” Kade asks, drawing my attention back to him.

“How about serve us some jail time?” I say.

This shuts him up…for all of three seconds.

When I look up at him and see his lips twitching, I know he’s about to say something stupid. “You’d look hot in orange.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “Wow, first a nun, then an inmate. You really have the strangest fantasies.”

“I don’t judge a book by its cover, and you shouldn’t either. You should give me another try.” His eyes twinkle with something. “Remember when I did that little flip with my fingers that curled your toes and you said—”

I clap my hand over his mouth.

Out of all the moments he could have chosen to mention our little oral sesh, he had to choose this one. “Please stop talking.”

“You sure…”

“Hush.” I press my finger to my lips and turn my back to him. “My sister’s coming over.”

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