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His grin is crooked as he leans forward to brush his lips over mine. “Why can’t I?”
“Because…you’ve only been talking to me again for a couple ofdays,” I remind him. “We haven’t really seen each other in years. But you act like we’re…” I don’t know how to finish the sentence eloquently, so I take a breath and just say it. “You act like I mean more to you than whatever’s going on with the whole Lost Boys situation.”
“Oh.” He tilts his head to the side like a confused, possibly wounded puppy. His grin holds, but it looks more earnest than before. “You don’t think this ‘situation’ is serious?”
“No,” I say flatly. “Come on, Isaac. You’ll get bored, at best. At worst, I make good on my threat andleave.”
“No,” he replies simply, holding me tighter to him.
“What do you meanno?”I demand, unsure of what he’s getting at.
“We won’tget bored, Ari. We all had the chance to get bored over the last few months when we were watching you.”
Those words somehow don’t make me feel any better. I squirm in his grip, but he doesn’t let me go.
“We aren’tfickle, either. So we aren’t going to decide one day that you aren’t that interesting anymore.”
“Then, at best, I’m basically an indentured servant for the rest of my life,” I snap, fighting to face him, though he keeps his hands around my waist. “That’s not exactly what I want out of life.”
“Oh, yeah, because we’re working youso hard,” Isaac counters with a scoff. “In fact, I came by today to tell you that it’s your job to scrub the tattoo shop’s floors every Sunday.”
“Are youjoking?”
“Of course, I’mjoking,Ari.” He rolls his eyes at me slowly enough that I can appreciate every moment of the theatrical response. “Why the hell would I tell you to scrub the floor?”
“Seems like a veryyou guysthing to do,” I say, looking over at my refrigerator like it’s the most interesting appliance known to man. “Who am I to question–”
“Bullshit. You’d never do it even if Ididtell you to.” He sounds delighted by the fact, and before I can respond, he lets out a huff and continues. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for the past three minutes. So I’d really appreciate it if you could stop arguing with me andlet me,” he tells me in a tone that tells me he really is frustrated.
But just by this?
I open my mouth to say something again, but he’s apparently past letting me get my two cents in. He kisses me like he’s trying to make me believe he means it, with his entire body moving to press mine into the counter at my back as he coaxes my mouth open and lets his tongue dart between my lips.
“We’re going to go get brunch,” he says in between kisses that I can’t find it in me to say no to. “Because it’s a little too late for breakfast, but I refuse to call it lunch.” When I start to move, he cups my face in both hands and holds me still, kissing me sweetly but not at all chastely.
Finally, he pulls away, and I find that I’m gasping, and my cheeks burn under his hands.
“Yeah, umm…” My voice comes out in a breathy whisper. “Sure, I guess. I could go for brunch.”
“Wonderful.” He kisses me again, slow and unhurried, then says, “Because I wasn’t asking.”
“None of you ever are,” I grumble, which makes him laugh as he pulls me toward the door.
“Oh!” He grabs theInkubushoodie off of the counter, where I definitely didn’t leave it, and tosses it in my direction. When I frown at him, he chuckles and says, “You can’t be surprised. And I’m not the only one who likes seeing you in something that’sours. Though…” he looks me over. “I’d much rather see you injustthat instead of everything else with it.”
“Not on your life,” I say cheerfully, pulling the hoodie on as my stomach tightens, then releases in a strangely excited but anxious way.
“Sure,” Isaac agrees, swinging the door open. “I absolutely believe you.”
