Page 70 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

Jesus.

Were crushes supposed to make you feel lightheaded?

She didn’t get the chance to think on it for long. Once she was close enough, Juan took the chance to wrap an arm around her neck, and then he pulled her in for a tight hug that all but took her breath away for a quick second.

Strong arms.

Woodsy scent.

Cece’s heart skipped beats.

“Hey, Cece,” Juan murmured into her hair. “I missed you, my girl.”

Maybe it was the whole my girl thing that caused this mess that was Cece’s heart, too.

Yep.

Much more than a little crush.

Cece’s face was going to permanently settle into a scowl if she couldn’t get her raging jealousy under control. It didn’t help that Juan seemed entirely oblivious to Cece’s growing frustrations ten feet away.

Light, girlish giggles brought Cece out of her thoughts. Sure enough, she found the girl, who had approached Juan from the moment he and Cece came down to the hotel’s pool, was the owner of the stupid laughter.

Why did girls think giggling was cute?

Child-like giggles.

It wasn’t cute.

The girl was pretty, though.

Blue-eyed.

Peach and cream skin.

Blonde hair.

Total Cali girl.

Everything opposite to Cece.

Older, too.

Fifteen, or sixteen.

“You should come,” the girl said. “Oh, my God. I bet you would have so much fun with us, Juan.”

Juan shot a glance over his shoulder at Cece. She quickly turned her head to pretend she wasn’t listening to their conversation. He probably still saw her doing it.

“Uh,” Juan started to say.

Cece looked back just in time to see the girl reach out and place her palm against Juan’s pec. The girl’s white bikini was so small, it might as well not even be there at all.

Jealousy burned through Cece even hotter.

“I would really like it if you would come,” the girl said.

Cece wouldn’t blame Juan at all if he went with the pretty girl and her giggling friends waiting at the other side of the pool. He was closer to them in age, and they probably had better plans other than sitting poolside all day.