Page 115 of Contentious

Cresley laughed at his petulant expression. “Truth hurts, my friend. They’re the most important people in your life, and they need to know that you’ve crossed the line into the dark side with Julian.”

“They’ll never forgive me—or you.”

“Eh, we’ll be fine.”

“You won’t let their reactions run you off, will you? It’s apt to be intense, especially with the parents deciding to rekindle and all that.”

“I can handle it, and no, I won’t let them run me off.”

“You promise? We can be a tough crowd.”

“I’ve seen that already through Isla’s point of view. I know what I’m getting myself into, and I’ve decided you might be worth it. We’ll see. Jury’s still out as to whether you’ve got what it takes to be a boyfriend.”

“I’ve never been one of those before.”

“Not once ever?”

“Nope. When I tell you I steered clear, I meant it.”

“Good God. You really are a babe in the woods, aren’t you?”

“Big-time.”

“I have one request before we officially make it official.”

“What’s that?”

“No matter what happens between us, even if it goes south in epic fashion⁠—”

“Which it will not.”

“You can’t know that.”

“If it goes south, it’ll happen gently.”

“So we hope, but regardless… Ty is already attached to you, and it would be important to me that you try to stay involved with him. That is, unless you do something horrible like cheat on me, in which case you’re dead to us.”

“Who in their right mind would cheat on Cresley Dane?”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Well, I won’t. That much I can promise you. After spending almost ten years tracking cheating spouses for a living, I’m all set with that drama. If I want out, I’ll tell you, and I’ll never stop seeing Ty as long as that’s okay with you.”

“Now that we’ve negotiated the end of our relationship, how do you feel about the beginning?”

“Kiss me.”

“Right now?”

“This very second.”

Cresley moved carefully to get closer to him and pressed her lips against his.

“Mmm, yes, more of that, please.”

She placed a hand on his face and kissed him again.

“In case you’re still wondering, I’m feeling pretty good about the beginning of our… relationship.”