Page 40 of Ruined Promises

“Well, Brynn, Hadley, and I all have the same one. Mine is purple, Hadley’s is green, and Brynn’s is blue. We got it in our junior year at WCU. These girls are my everything. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them and them for me.”

“Like convince their best friend to pose as your boyfriend and kiss you.”

Lexi buries her face in my neck, her breath tickling the skin. “Ugh, you’re never going to let us live that down, are you.”

I run my hand over her brown hair, tangling my fingers through it. “Probably not, I don’t like to share what’s mine,” I say softly yet in a commanding tone. “But I also love giving you a hard time about it. Your friends clearly care enough to want to see you happy, no matter the cost.” I tilt her chin up so that she is facing me. “And are you?”

“Am I what?” Her eyes search mine.

“Happy.”

Lexi cups my cheeks in both hands and pulls my face to hers. She whispers, “Very,” before kissing me. The soft whimper that leaves her mouth has me needing more of her.

“Lexi,” Brynn shouts, and we pull apart. “Get your ass up here and dance with us.”

The girls have since turned up the music and are dancing in front of the TV, holding their champagne flutes. I have never heard the song playing, but Lexi seems to recognize it. With one last quick kiss to my lips, she hops up and joins the girls on the makeshift dance floor. Whether it is the champagne or the company, there is no denying the smile on Lex’s face. Lexi continues to dance, swaying her hips side to side. She laughs over something one of the girls keeps saying and even spins a few times to face me and serenade me with lip-syncing. The song seems to be a remix of a song I recognize as Elton John’s—one of my father’s favorites.

If this is the life I have been missing out on, then sign me up.

“Does everyone have a refill?” Hadley asks, walking around with a bottle of champagne in her hands, making sure we all have enough in our glass for the midnight toast.

The countdown begins with the six of us crowded in the living room, Lexi encased in my arms.

“Happy New Year!” The room erupts in cheers as I spin Lexi around and block out the noise surrounding us.

I press a searing kiss to her lips, our tongues tangling and twisting together. If this is any indication of what I can look forward to this year, then fuck yes. With her hands linked behind my neck, she plays with the hair along my collar. I love the way she runs her nails into my scalp. It takes all the strength I have to pull back from her.

“Happy New Year, baby.” Last year may have brought me a new town, a new business, and a crazy one-night stand, but it’s this year I look forward to most with Lexi by my side.

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