Page 22 of Forget Me Not

Long sleek, straight black hair runs down her back. So smooth and shiny it looks like she belongs in a hair commercial. Crystal-blue eyes that make me feel like she’s looking right through me. Not to mention her legs are a mile long and she has a good six inches or so on me.

She’s wearing tight skinny jeans that mold to her every curve and a lacy black long-sleeve crop top that cuts low, showing off her ample cleavage, which is much more than I have to offer. In comparison, I’m in a light-blue turtleneck sweater dress. It’s a little tighter on the top but not nearly as form-fitting as her outfit. Kayla doesn’t necessarily make me feel unattractive, just dull compared to her. But Kade’s words give my self-esteem the boost it’s looking for, even if they are just lies.

“Whatever, Kade.” She scoffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “You’re just a fucking loser who never appreciated what he had.” She sends one more glare my way before rolling her eyes and walking back outside into the yard. The door closes behind her and not a second later, I’m being yanked down the hallway and into an empty bedroom.

“Are you okay?” Kade immediately turns to me, concern evident in his voice. “I’m sorry for throwing you into that situation, she just won’t leave me the fuck alone.” He runs his hands through his hair, effectively messing it up in a way that makes him look even more like a sex god than he already does. I’ve never seen him this way before, he seems almost nervous.

“It’s fine, and I’m fine.”

He looks at me skeptically, like the words are a lie.

“No, really, I am. I’m happy to help. You really didn’t have to defend me like that. I mean, the whole most beautiful girl thing was a little overkill.” I laugh uncomfortably, not knowing why I even brought it up.

This is why I can’t be trusted alone with him. I apparently lose all sense of a filter in his presence, making me want to crawlinto a hole and hide from the disastrous situations I put myself into. Especially considering he looks pissed off at my response.

“Is this Willow’s room?” I walk around the neon-pink-painted room, trying to change the subject. I plop down on the twin-size bed that has purple bedding, a complete contrast to the rest of the room. It matches the little girl’s chaotic personality, making me smile. “It’s cute.” I look back up toward Kade, who still has a grumpy-looking frown on his face.

“It wasn’t overkill, it was the truth, Logan,” he says. He walks toward the bed and stands over me. He gently grabs my chin, nudging my head up to meet his stare. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire twenty-eight years of living.”

He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, staring at it as if he’s mesmerized by the movement. I just feel mesmerized by him. “You’re fucking captivating, Lo. Don’t you ever think otherwise, understand?”

I nod my head, unable to form any words.

“Good girl.”

My tongue involuntarily sneaks out to wet my bottom lip, more out of habit than anything else, and a groan leaves his throat when it swipes across his digit.

“Fuck,” he says, his voice an octave deeper than it was just minutes ago.

I stare into his eyes, and I think he’s finally going to do it. He’s going to throw caution to the wind and just kiss me. I shouldn’t want it, I shouldn’t need it, but I do. I let my eyes fall closed, urging him to make the move. Then the door slams open.

“Shit, sorry. Am I interrupting something?” I’ve never been as frustrated to hear Asher’s voice. Kade pulls away, clearing his throat and putting distance between us.

“In a little girl’s bedroom? Kinky.” Asher smirks.

“What?” Kade asks, ignoring his best friend’s antics.

“Yeah, so we have a problem,” Asher says, more serious than he was a minute ago. Well, as serious as Asher can get. “Demi is shit-faced.”

“Shit, okay.” I jump up from the bed. “I’ll go take her home.” Asher looks between Kade and me, clearly trying to decipher what is going on. If he figures it out, I hope he’ll clue me in because I feel just as fucking confused.

“No, you stay. Enjoy the barbecue. I’ll drive her car home and just Uber home after. I came here with Kade anyway.” He smiles at Kade like he knows something I don’t. “I’m sure Kade can drive you home.”

I stay quiet, expecting Kade to tell him the idea is ridiculous so that I won’t have to, except that’s not what he does at all.

“You touch a hair on my sister’s head, I’ll murder you. Painfully. Are we fucking clear?” Kade says, shocking me and Asher, who looks surprised for all of a second before a wide grin spreads across his face.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Asher salutes him like he’s a true captain.

“Let me at least go check on her first,” I say, to which Asher nods and gestures for me to follow him.

“After you, milady.”

I walk in front of Asher, seeing Kade move to follow behind the both of us.

“She’s not your anything.” I hear Kade grumble under his breath, followed by Asher’s laugh and then a grunt from when I’m assuming Kade hit him. I ignore the two of them, making my way back out into the backyard to find Demi lying on the grass, laughing so hard it looks like she’s crying.

I walk over to stand next to Willow, who’s standing over Demi, observing her like she’s some sort of foreign species. “What’s wrong with her?” Willow looks up to me.

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