Page 56 of The Summer We Played Pretend

I watch the leaf drift aimlessly and land back onto the bench. “Yeah, stupid money.”

She laughs. “Who needs it anyway?”

I swallow hard when she shifts closer. The lingering sensation in my gut keeps reminding me that if I feel like this at the idea of being apart from her for a day, how the hell am I going to cope when she goes to college? The end of summer is beginning to feel like a death sentence hanging over my head.

And how I feel about Chloe is—

Crap, I don’t even know how to put it into words in my own head let alone aloud.

Chloe leans her head against my shoulder. “Don’t go.”

“I have to.”

“You suck,” she shoots back at me.

My lips curve at her pouty tone. “No, I don’t.”

“I know.” She sighs. “Since when are you the sensible one?”

I squeeze her hand. “I really don’t know. I hold you responsible for it, though.”

Chloe's lifts her head, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "So nowI'mthe corrupting influence in your life?"

I chuckle softly, the sound vibrating between us. "Absolutely. You've turned me into a model citizen against my will.”

The corners of her lips twitch, and she leans in closer. "Well, someone has to keep you in line.”

When I meet her gaze again my heart jolts. This girl drives me crazy. I can smell vanilla on her skin. I want to touch her everywhere. Kiss her until she forgets her name.

I don’t want to ever be apart from her.

It’s not possible, though. I know it’s not. Chloe has a whole life to lead and I’m not going to be like Brendan and dictate it to her. She has to leave Elmwood Glen and get an education. Meanwhile, my life is here.

I just don’t know how I’m going to cope with her gone and it scares the shit out of me.

"Chloe, I—”

Chloe’s lifts her head and her brows knit. I know she can hear the seriousness in my tone. I swallow hard. How do I tell her I’ve been in love with her for far too long? How do I say it without her thinking I’m asking something of her? Cause I’m not. I want her to fly, to achieve her dreams, and if I get to witness just a little bit of that, that’s all I can ask.

“Jackson?” she prompts when everything gets tangled in my throat.

“I have to kiss you,” is all I manage to say. It’s not far from the truth. Being near her and not touching her is driving me wild.

“No one’s stopping you.”

The kiss starts soft, tentative, but quickly deepens. Chloe's hand comes up to cup my cheek, and I pull her closer, overwhelmed by the taste of her, the feel of her pressed against me. It's as if every nerve ending in my body has come alive, hyper-aware of her touch.

We break apart briefly and as I look into her eyes, I know with absolute certainty that whatever challenges we might face—distance, Ethan's reaction, anything— it'll be worth it. Because what I feel for Chloe? It's real. It's deep. And I'm not letting it go without a fight.

This time I cup her face in both hands, angling her toward me so I can claim her mouth in a fierce kiss as though I can pour all my frustration and confusion into it. She gasps and I press the kiss deeper.

Chloe’s fingernails dig into my shoulders. Her breaths come in pants. Heat rolls through me and I know I need more. I slide a hand under Chloe's top, fingers tracing the soft skin of her waist. She shivers and leans into my touch. I trail kisses down her neck, savoring the sweet scent of her perfume clinging to her skin.

"I'm going to miss you so much," I murmur against her collarbone. She has no idea I’m talking about when she’s off to college.

I shift my hand higher, just where the fabric of her bra meets her ribcage. Tilting her head back, she sighs and I kiss up and down her neck and cup the soft swell of her breast through the fabric.

I capture her lips again. My heart is pounding, my thoughts are a whirlwind ofChloe, Chloe, Chloe. I never want this moment to end.

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