Page 34 of Blue Jeans in Low Beams

Brenna whimpers again, and I know that’s my sign to step back. So I do.

Not because I’m not enjoying it. If anything, I’m enjoying it too much. She tastes sweet and spicy all at the same time. It’s new and different, and fuck, do I want to explore. I want to chase the high it’s giving me. I want her to feel the same high. And more.

I want more of those little noises I know she makes. The coos and cries she made last week when I walked in on her. But I can’t. And not just because we’re at our front door.

Brenna and I are friends. That will never change. But that’s also all we can ever be. She’s twelve years younger than I am and the baby sister of my best friend in the entire world. So yes, I have to stop kissing her.

No matter how much I don’t want to.

I need to walk this off…

I suck in a breath, trying to steel myself. Brenna’s lips are swollen, her eyes dreamy as she sighs in return. Turning to unlock the door, I open it, ushering her inside. I need space to clear my head, so I don’t follow.

“I need to check on Pour Decisions,” I say, making an excuse. “I had a lot of fun tonight. I’m glad you did too. Sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams,” she returns, closing the door.

Not as sweet as you…

11

BRENNA

Here’s the thing about the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, or NAPLEX for short. It’s big, it’s scary, and the worst part of it—twenty percent of it is fake.

Yes, fake.

Of the two hundred plus questions on this exam, up to fifty of them are “experimental,” meaning that they are being evaluated as potential questions for future use and do not count toward your score. They’re scattered throughout the exam and not identified as experimental. Meaning, as one sitting for such a test, you have no idea what is real and what isn’t and what is going to affect your score. So you have to assume it all is.

All two hundred plus questions.

All that said, concentrating on studying is not an easy task when the only thing your brain wants to do is relive the best kiss of your life. Because that certainly wasn’t experimental.

I’m not entirely sure what I expected when Milo asked me out on a date. Dinner, I guess. Certainly not anything as magical as a murder mystery dinner. And yes, I do mean magical. The character envelope I was handed at the beginning of the night might as well have been my Hogwarts acceptance letter for as much joy as it brought me.

And I was absolutely not expecting the date to end with a kiss. A real kiss. Not a brush-off kiss to the cheek, but one that made my toes wiggle and my insides tingle.

It also means that I’ve thought of little else since. And that topics such as how to dose vancomycin to ensure CNS penetration can’t compete. So, it’s time for a change of scenery. One that doesn’t make me think of Milo every time I look up because his coffee mug is sitting on the counter or his shoes are sitting in the middle of the living room. And certainly one that doesn’t hold the temptation to head to my bed, bust out Sherlock, and lose myself in thoughts of Milo doing more than kissing me.

So the Hickory Hills town library it is.

Walking into the white, antebellum style building, a cold blast of air hits me. It’s a nice change from the thick, humid air outside, but still a little shocking to the system. A shiver runs through me as I adjust, looking around to see if anyone is here. The front desk is unoccupied, but that’s not surprising, since most of the time the only person here is the town librarian, Kenzie Noble—no, she’s Kenzie Wilder now—and maybe one volunteer. Although this late in the day, I bet it’s just Kenzie.

Nothing but silence greets me, which is a good sign. Means I shouldn't have any interruptions and can focus on all the information I need to make sure I know before next month. That is, if my brain will let me.

“We did not agree to that!” Willa Hayes’s voice slices through the air. Much like it did the other night at family dinner.

Oh boy…

“Hey Brenna!” Kenzie greets, appearing from the back section of the library where the study tables are.

The look on her face tells me that she’s doing her best to hold it together and keep her composure. Not that I’ve ever seen Kenzie lose her composure, but I’m sure it’s possible.

“Absolutely not!” Willa screams.

Willa Hayes on the other hand…

“Weekly Rhythm and Brews meeting,” Kenzie says, as if that explains everything. Which, it does. “Only nine more weeks.”