Unable to stop myself, I tuck the strands back behind her ear. She flinches.
It reminds me of how physically close we still are. I ease her back onto the couch, take her hand in mine, running my thumb over her knuckles.
“That answers the question of our compatibility.”
I mean to say it to lighten the mood, but the intensity in my voice only makes her flush deeper.
She draws in a sharp breath. "James, I?—"
There's a knock on the door, followed by someone immediately opening it.
"Did you know—" Phoenix stops just inside the threshold.
22
Harper
"Oh, sorry. Am I intruding?" Phe looks between us, and her eyes round.
"Phe." I blush to the roots of my hair. My face feels like it’s on fire.
If she’d walked in just a few seconds earlier, she’d have found me kissing her brother.
I’m so embarrassed.
I’m also reeling from the intensity of that kiss. It blew my mind and shook me to my core.
Now, I recall why I never got over James. It was never just attraction. There’s a charge beneath it, something that burns between us. It makes every moment together impossible to forget.
My thoughts race. My heart somersaults into my throat.
I must look guilty, for her eyes narrow with suspicion.
I want to pull away from James, put more distance between us, but I worry that will only implicate me further. But if I don’t, then it’s going to seem odd to have James squatting down in front of me.
I have a mental image of how the two of us must seem to her, and blush all over again.
She crosses her arms, as if waiting for one of us to explain what we’ve been up to.
“Uh, Phe…” I cringe. "Hi?"
My thoughts race and jump over each other. I’m unable to say anything more.
"Phoenix," James rumbles.
Mr. Unsinkable Soufflé is all composed, like his sister did not walk in on us almost kissing.
Her gaze drops to where my hand is still ensconced in James’ much bigger one.
I try to pull my hand from his, but he holds onto it.
"Let go," I hiss under my breath.
But does he?
Of course, not.
Instead, he sits down on the couch next to me and releases my hand, only to wrap his arm around me and tuck me into his side.
