Page 102 of See Me

I wrap my hands around his neck and lean into the kiss. A moan leaves my throat when he deepens the kiss and his tongue caresses mine. Although passion flares from the kiss, itremains soft, both of us leisurely exploring each other without the rush of primal instincts taking over. He runs his palms up and down my back and I slide my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.

Just when I think this is going to continue, he pulls back. He runs a finger down my cheek and over my bottom lip.

“Thank you.” He keeps his eyes on my lip as he strokes his finger back and forth, breathing life into the flame in my chest I’ve been trying to ignore.

I smile and his eyes meet mine. “You’re welcome. We’re pretty good at gift giving, huh?”

“It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.” He drops his head at the admission.

“Same,” I say, rubbing my fingers through his hair.

He scoffs and smirks, clear uncertainty in his eyes when he looks up at me. “The markers?”

“The thought.” I punctuate the words so it conveys my true feelings. I don’t want him to think I’m overexaggerating. “No one has ever put any thought into a gift like that before. I mean, how sad is that? Poor little rich girl, right? The best gift I’ve ever gotten is from a fake boyfriend playing house.”

He bites his lip and his onyx eyes hold mine for a prolonged moment, words on the edge of his tongue. He pushes off his knee to stand and holds a hand out to help me up. “Let’s go check out my new system.” He pulls his new shirt over his head and smooths his hands down the front with a smirk. “And please tell me Enzo was a part of it. I can’t anticipate another one of his gifts.”

“He was.” I laugh. “Why? What did he get you last year?”

“He downloaded a dating app on my phone. I almost had to change my name and go into witness protection.”

Jess and I exchange glances and both set our wine glasses down at the same time.

She looks toward the terrace seeing our two best friends fully entranced in their male counterparts. “I know the plan was to have a sleepover tonight but…”

“Agreed.” I pick up both our glasses and head into the kitchen to deposit them and start a pot of coffee. “I’m not staying here listening to,” I wave my hand aimlessly at the terrace, “whatever noise that is going to produce.”

“So,” I say. Jess immediately drops her gaze to her feet, most likely anticipating where this is headed. We haven’t had any time alone to talk and there’s so much we both haven’t shared. “How was the cabin?” I draw the question out and her face tinges pink, a smile trying to breach the surface.

“Infuriating.” She tips her head back and forth. “Then tolerable.” She bites her lip and gives me only a flash of her eyes before diverting them again.

“And then?” I’m not above prying the words out of her mouth.

“And then… hopeful?” She ends on a question and I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.

I pull two mugs out and set them in front of us. “What does that mean, exactly?”

She tucks her onyx hair behind her ear and sighs. “I don’t even know. Things are so complicated.”

I peek up at her while grabbing the coffee pot, curious as to how much she wants to share. “Because of your brother Jack?”

“I feel like that’s most of it. But I can’t help but think there’s something else.”

“Like what? You’ve known him your whole life.”

“And I think that’s working against me.” She shrugs. “I don’t know. I can’t pinpoint it.”

“So, are you together? Like officially?”

She blinks several times and it takes me only a second to recognize the action. She’s holding back the burn of tears.

I discard the pot and round the island. “Hey. Talk to me.”

I reach her just before the first tear falls. “What is there to say? I’ve loved him my whole life. I don’t think he’s on the same page.”

I pull her into a hug and she drops her head to my shoulder. “So, what now? Keep trying? Tell him to kick rocks? What’s the plan?”

She pulls back and swipes the sleeves of her sweater under her eyes. “Still mulling that over myself.”

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