I clear my throat.
“I bet he didn’t need to do that for the shoot.”
No, but—”He was acting.”
“And you—”
“Were acting.”
She raises a brow really.
“I can’t let it be more than that, Ariel.” I want it to be more. I need it to be more. But only if it is more. “He’s in love with Mackenzie. He’s not going to love me.”
“No.” Her eyes go to her brother as he stands and moves toward us. “He just doesn’t know how to let go of her.”
“Yeah.”
“It sucks.”
“Worked out for you.”
She nods it did. “Maybe he needs a push.”
“Love has changed you.”
She just smiles.
Forest cuts through the crowd. Goes right to us. He hugs his sister hello. Whispers some warning about how Chase better be taking care of her.
His eyes flit to the door. Then to me.
They fill with deep, pure affection.
He blushes as he moves closer.
His hand skims my hip. My side. My lower back.
He rests his palm there. Applies the softest, lightest pressure.
Slowly, he pulls my body into his. “Hey.” He looks down at me.
“Hey.” I look up at him.
His fingers skim my temple.
He holds my gaze. Pulls me closer, closer.
He leans in.
Like he’s going to kiss me.
I close my eyes. Rise to my tiptoes.
It needs to be real. Just us. No camera. No pretending. Nothing but our lips connecting—
“Hey.” Mackenzie’s voice breaks the moment.
He turns his head.
His lips brush my neck.
Fuck, that feels good. It’s not the same as a proper kiss, but it’s still hot as hell.
Is it for me?
Or for her?
“You make a lovely couple,” she says.
I step backward, breaking our touch. “Don’t sell yourself short.” She’s many things. Including pretty. “You look very stylish.”
She smooths her red dress. Rubs her engagement ring with her thumb. “You do too.” She looks to Forest. “And you…”
He nods hey.
She forces a smile. “Can we talk?”
“Where’s Diego?”
“Parking the car. I, uh…” She bites her lip. “I have to ask you a favor.”
My nails curl into my palms.
Forest looks to me for a split second. He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes.
He turns to his ex. “Yeah, sure.” He nods later. “We’ll talk later.”
About the kiss?
Or is that some platitude for her sake?
I watch them cut through the crowd.
Ariel grabs onto my wrist so I won’t chase after them. “He has to work through it himself.”
“I know.” But I don’t have to like it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Forest
Mack wraps her fingers around my wrist. She takes a half step toward me. Then another.
A familiar scent wafts into my nostrils. Her strawberry shampoo. It’s too strong, too artificial, too chemical.
It hits every pleasure center in my brain. Every raw nerve. Every tucked memory.
Too many things flit through my head.
Then her red nails scrape my forearm and my thoughts scatter.
This is too much. I need to leave. I need to tell her I’m not interested.
But I don’t.
I can’t.
I’m frozen.
Mack moves closer. Brings her lips to my ear. “Can we take a bottle outside?”
“Is that a—” No, I’m not asking her if it’s smart. If she needs to be sober. If she needs to stay lucid.
She’s not my responsibility anymore.
“Sure.” I step in front of her. Take her hand. Weave through the crowd, to the bar, grab a bottle of her favorite red wine.
“Outside?”
“Yeah.” I lead us through the sliding glass door.
Despite the happening party, the backyard is quiet. There are two women sitting on the bench in the back, tangled in each other, kissing, touching, laughing.
It’s too dark to see the details. But I get the gist. They’re happy. In love as much as they’re in lust.
Must be Holden’s friends.
“Oh.” Mack laughs. “Does your brother know he’s missing this?”
“If he knew, he’d be here.”
“Isn’t he trying to bed Oliver’s little sister?”
I motion to the patio table, the one next to the basketball court.
She ducks under the cream umbrella. Places her purse—and two wineglasses—on the glass table. Sits on one of the white cushions.
I open the bottle.
Maybe a drink will clear my head. It’s not like it can make my thoughts any fuzzier.
I want to be inside, with Skye, holding her close, kissing her hard.
But I can’t offer her my heart—I don’t know how—and I can’t let her accept less than everything.
“Here.” Mack hands me a full glass of wine.
“Thanks.” I take a long sip. It’s strong. Astringent. Fruity. Not terrible. Not great either. Not that I appreciate wine.
“Is Holden trying to sleep with that high school girl?” She looks up at me, her big brown eyes wide.
The way she always looked at me. Like she trusts me. Like she wants me.
Like she needs to know exactly what I’m thinking.
“I don’t know.” I take another sip. “I can’t tell with him anymore.”
“Isn’t she seventeen?”
“Turns eighteen soon.”
Mack laughs. “God, his life is like a porno. Girl on girl in the backyard. Barely legal women waiting for his bed.”