Page 94 of Lucky Mother Pucker

“I-I should check on my sister.”

Lucy’s eyes are dazed and cloudy as she wordlessly nods.

I run down the hall after Zoey. When I’m back in the area in front of the ballroom entrance, I look around for her. I see a flash of her red gown near the back by the restrooms.

I run after her and gently grab her arm. “Zoey, wait. Let me explain.”

She spins around and shakes her head at me, her expression somewhere between disbelief and disappointment.

“Leo, what are you thinking?”

I lean back at the sharpness in her tone.

“You know, I was worried about you. I overheard Dad laying into you and felt awful, so I went looking for you to make sure you were okay. But then I see you making out with Lucy, so I guess you’re doing just fine.”

I’m confused. Why is she so upset?

“Zoey, why are you mad about this?”

She tilts her head at me like I’m an idiot. “Leo, who kissed who first?”

I almost scoff. What the hell, that’s not her business.

“Leo. Tell me.”

I huff out a breath. “I kissed her.”

Zoey crosses her arms over her chest, like she’s disappointed in me. “Leo, listen to me. You need to think about this differently. Lucy is your friend, who you live with. Your roommate. You’ve known each other for what, a month? Do you really think the smartest thing to do right now is to cross this line with her?”

I’m quiet. I didn’t even think of that.

“What if something goes wrong? What if your feelings change? What if her feelings change? Then what? Are you going to keep living together? Are you going to keep letting her stay in the house if things get so awkward between you two because you blurred the lines between friends and something more?”

My sister’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. She’s right.

I tug a hand through my hair, annoyed and frustrated with myself. “I wasn’t thinking,” I say. “I was so pissed from arguing with Dad. Lucy comforted me, and I guess we just got caught up in the moment.”

My sister’s pointed expression eases. “I like Lucy a lot. She seems like a sweet girl and a good friend to you. I just think you two should be careful. Nothing runs a friendship faster than a hook-up.”

I let out a heavy breath. “Yeah. You’re right.”

She pats my shoulder. “Are you really okay? I overheard some of what Dad said to you. He was out of line, and you didn’t deserve that.”

“I’m fine.” I pull at my tie. I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t want to think about him.

She walks off, and I head back out to find Lucy.

* * *

“We need to talk about that kiss,” I say when we’re back in my car.

My nerves are firing off as Lucy turns to look at me.

“Okay.”

That pretty pink flush paints her cheeks and neck and chest. Her hair’s a little messy too from when I ran my fingers through it minutes ago.

She looks so sexy and disheveled, and fuck, I want her so bad.