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“Who are we to deny them?” she whispers.
I lean in a little closer. “We don’t have to.” I feel like it’s important that I give her an out. More cheers from my brothers as they start to chant “Kiss” over and over again.
“They’re not going to stop until we do.”
My mouth moves closer to hers. “Last chance,” I whisper.
“Tank?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me already.”
No more words are needed. I close the remaining distance, and for the first time since we were kids, my lips press against hers. The last time I kissed her, we were nine years old, and it was during a game of Truth or Dare. It felt wrong, and it lasted maybe a second before we were pulling apart and wiping our mouths.
This time is different. Nothing about this kiss feels wrong. Keeping one hand around her waist, I slide the other behind her neck, angling her mouth where I want her, and kiss the breath from her lungs.
I’ve shared a lot of kisses in my lifetime, and none of them have lit my body on fire like this one. A tingle of anticipation washes over me. I can’t ever remember my heart stalling in my chest at first contact.
More cheering and whistles pull me back to the present. Slowly, even though I don’t want to, I pull out of the kiss and make sure she’s steady on her feet before releasing my hold on her and stepping back.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid!” Ramsey cheers. “Thank you,” she tells us. “I know we didn’t need to do that, but it was fun.”
“Speaking of fun.” Alyssa turns to look at Palmer. “What was your surprise?”
“Oh.” Palmer rubs her hands together. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’m going to run to the restroom.” Alyssa takes off behind her and disappears into the house. Not before I caught the pink hue to her cheeks, and the sight of the rapid rise and fall of her chest, and let’s not forget to mention the way that she licked her lips, placing her fingers against them in a gentle touch.
I turn to look at my family. “Not a word. Not one single word. We got shit to figure out, and I don’t need the peanut gallery confusing us.”
“We just want to see you happy,” Kennedy says.
“I know. This is— Fuck me, I don’t know what this is, but I need time.Weneed time.”
“That kiss.” Maverick nods his approval. “I give you a ten, brother.”
“Don’t.” I rub my hands over my face. “I’ve heard what you all have to say, and I just kissed my best friend, like she was mine, and she’s not, but I think I might want her to be, and I’m confused, and just… don’t.”
“We’re going to stay quiet for now. We know you need to work this out, but if we feel like we need to intervene, we will. Just like you would with us. We love you, brother,” Orrin says.
I nod. “Understood. This weekend, can we just… not? Let’s just let it be for the rest of the time we’re here, and don’t make her feel uncomfortable about the kiss.”
A chorus of “Done” and “You got it” surrounds me.
“Thank you,” I tell them. I think I’ve bought us some time without the meddling of my family. Now I just need to figure out where we go from here. Alyssa and I should probably talk, but I think I’m going to take Deacon’s advice. I’m going to take it slow, feel her out, and see what happens.
I just hope at the end of this that she’s still my best friend, and if I’m lucky, I’ll also get to call her mine.
CHAPTERTEN
Alyssa
I’m slumped against the wall outside our bedroom, trying to catch my breath and wrap my head around what just happened. We were pretending to be Deacon and Ramsey, and then— Well, things took a turn.
My lips are still tingling.
I can still taste him.
