“Apact?”
“Mhm.” She nods quickly, like she’s convincing herself at the same time. “Yeah. Yes, let’s make a pact.”
My pulse thumps. “What kind of pact?”
“A just-for-the-summer, no-strings-fling kind of pact.”
I cough, choking on air.What the fuck?
My eyebrows practically jump off my face. “No. You’re not a fuck-buddy kind of girl.”
She crosses her arms, defensive. “I’m sorry, weren’t youjustsaying how I’m not the kind of girl you thought I’d be? It’s not…fuck buddies. It’s afling. A summer fling. Those are light. Airy. Cute.” She waves her hands, completely casual and unbothered. “Calling it fuck buddies makes it sound so…filthy.”
I smirk despite myself. “Good sex is at least alittledirty. If we’re taking away all the feelings and emotions, that’s all that’s left.”
She tilts her head back and forth like she’s still considering this asinine idea. “What if we laid down some rules so that we’re both on the same page? Clear up any confusion about what this is and isn’t.”
“How do you manage to make the prospect of a…flingsound so formal?”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I just thought it would be smart to lay out our expectations. That way nobody is disappointed.”
“I wasn’t worried about you being disappointed.” I grin.
Her eyes widen and she smacks my still-bare shoulder with the back of her hand, but I see the hint of a smile peeking through.
“Hey, all I’m saying is that wouldn’t be an issue. It would be a very…mutually satisfyingarrangement.”
“So you’re considering it then?”
“I didn’t say that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I already said no.”
“Well,” she says breezily. “You should think about it. Maybe it would help with all of”—she gestures vaguely at my face—“this.”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“Nothing. You have a lovely face. It’s the constant brooding and scowling that’s the issue. Perhaps a sex pact isexactlywhat you need, Wesley.”
“Ah, so now it’s a sex pact.”
She groans. “Can you not be difficult for, like, five minutes? I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”
I raise both hands in surrender, but inside, everything is coming apart.
Holy shit.
She wants this.
She wants this withme—even after everything.
She makes it sound so easy and simple. Nothing about her is simple for me.
I want her. I want her so badly my chest aches. But I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to cross a line that can’t be uncrossed.
Every warning flashing in my head can’t drown out how much I want her.
But this is her idea—and she’s not the girl I thought she was.
What if I say no and she asks someone else? I won’t survive another Lane situation.
