Page 45 of Kiss Me Ever After
Curtis let out a laugh. “Well, that’s never gonna happen. Do you know how long Justin has actually been in love with you?”
“He’s right. If you could have heard all the heart-to-hearts he used to have with Alex after you’d left him heartbroken again when you went home after the holidays.” Amber clutched her hands to her chest.
She was teasing. That couldn’t possibly be true.
I laughed. “I need to go and ask him about it.” I grabbed a fresh paper cup and poured a generous amount of wine into it.
I wandered from the kitchen to the dining room and into the living room, before I finally found Justin, Alex, two girls I didn’t know, and Candace in the conservatory.
“Hey, babe.” Justin greeted me with open arms and I gratefully slipped into his embrace. Whatever Candace had been banging on about clearly hadn’t made it into the conversation yet.
“Lennon.” Candace nodded in my direction, fixing me with a fake smile.
Safe in Justin’s arms, I confronted her. “Candace. What were you referring to in the kitchen just now?”
She blinked. “I don’t know what you mean?”
“How you’re sure Justin’s going to leave me and come running back to you.” My eyes didn’t leave her face as she paled.
“I’m going to do what?” Justin looked between the two of us. “Believe me, I’m perfectly happy with the way things are right now. I’ve no intention of changing a thing.”
Although I didn’t let it show outwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief at Justin’s words. Part of me had been threatened by Candace, and hearing Justin pretty much cut her off eased any lingering fears I had.
“Are you sure about that?” Candace challenged.
“Candace, you and I have been over for months. I will never, and I repeat,nevergo back there.” Justin tightened his hold on me. “Lennon is everything you aren’t and so much more. Why on earth would I want to go back?”
If I’d expected Candace to crumble at his words, I was wrong. She drew herself up and pulled back her shoulders. “One day, you’ll find out,” she spat, before stalking off into the living room.
Justin, Alex, and I exchanged glances.
“What the hell is that all about?” asked Alex.
“I swear I hope I never find out.” Justin nuzzled the back of my neck. “I’ve waited too long to be with Lennon, nothing is going to spoil it.”
21
Justin
Lennon:Hey, what do you think about a trip to London? xx
It was shortly after lunch and I was tidying up the hotel bar, cleaning glasses and making coffees. I frowned. It was relatively quiet, and I replied quickly before I needed to serve anyone.
Justin: London? Sounds good, but why? xxx
The sound of a message notification pinged close by and I glanced up to see Lennon striding towards me. A smile spread over my face.
Her gaze took in my uniform—the black-and-white striped t-shirt and dark jeans—and the corners of her mouth curved.
“Because I need to find somewhere to live,” she said, answering my question in person.
I had to face up to the fact that it wouldn’t be long before Lennon was back at university and our two-month long stretch of living together would be over. To banish that thought, I leaned over the bar and gave her a swift kiss, making sure no one was watching. The last thing I needed was to get into trouble with my boss. Lennon, however, seemed oblivious to that fact. Her hand snaked around the back of my neck, drawing me closer, her tongue teasing my mouth. Reluctantly, I pushed her away.
“Not here,” I sighed.
“Curtis won’t tell on you.” Lennon pouted. “We could always go to the staff room…” The tip of her tongue traced her lips and my breath caught.
“Shit, Lennon, I can’t… not that I don’t want to.” The image of taking her over the bar floated through my brain and I adjusted myself, feeling my cock grow hard.
