It comes out of nowhere, but I immediately kiss him back, moving closer to him until my leg is sprawled over his body. I know damn well what this kiss entails. He’s proving a point, and when he captures my face, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth, my skin morphs into a bundle of goose bumps.
Point made.
He doesn’t care about Lacey.
He doesn’t stop there, his hand darting to my leg draped across his stomach. He squeezes my thigh, marking my skin. He’s two seconds away from pulling me on top of him when I call him to order.
“Way to investigate, Emery,” I mock.
“Fuck them, I’d rather investigate you.” Xavier’s lips are back on mine in a heartbeat, and I laugh through the kiss. I can’t get enough, and it takes everything I have to withdraw.
“Xav, seriously. We need a suspect.” I’m breathless with need.
“Fine.” He pecks my mouth with a grin. “Only other person I can think of is Brie. I broke it off with her as soon as I realized I was a fucking idiot falling for his pen pal.” He tucks a piece of hair that fell in front of my eye behind my ear. “Do we have any Jolly Ranchers left?”
I’m completely baffled, thrown off by his ability to change the topic as though he didn’t drop a massive bombshell on me.
“What did you just say?” I’m staggered.
Xav arches an eyebrow. “Do we have any Jolly Ranchers left?”
“No, the other thing.”
“I broke it off with Brie?” He plays dumb.
Irritated, I huff. “No, the other thing.”
Xavier dazzles me with a stunning, boyish smile. “Oh, you mean the part where I tell you I’m falling for you?”
My brain takes its sweet time deciphering the information.
Did that just happen?
I’m sure any other girl would be overjoyed to hear him say that, euphoric at the thought of possessing Xavier Emery’s heart.
But me?
I’m mad—furious, even. I stiffen up, detaching myself from him and sitting up in the bed of his truck.
“Don’t do that,” I warn.
His smile withers away.
“Do what?” Xavier frowns. “Tell the truth?”
“Xav, stop. It’s not funny.”
I need him to knock it off before he inflicts damage that can’t be reversed. I’m afraid my heart wouldn’t recover.
“Do you see me laughing?” he says with a straight face.
His obstinate behavior sets me off.
“I said stop!” I snap. “You can’t just… say these things.”
I jolt to my feet on an impulse and hop off the truck using the retractable tailgate step.
“Where are you going?” Xavier calls behind me, but I don’t stop, walking with no specific direction in mind. All I know is I need to run the hell away from him before I make the mistake of believing him.