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I see Jake near the gates as we’re leaving, and I’m surprised to catch him staring when I glance at his face. His bright eyes seem darker than usual, and I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I know I’ve never seen that look on his face before. My skin warms.
“I’ll be home late,” Jillian tells him as we pass. “We’re hitting the beach.”
He shrugs. “Whatever. Hey, Amanda.”
“Hey,” I murmur, knowing my cheeks are bright red.
He leans in. “You look good today.”
“Uh …” I trail off as his gaze moves to my lips.
Is he going to kiss me? Oh, Goddess. My heart is pounding so damn fast.
He moves back. “Have fun at the beach.”
“Thanks,” I finally manage to sputter before Jillian grabs my hand and yanks me away from her twin brother.
“Later, losers!” she yells back at him, and whoever else happens to be passing.
We get in the car, and I try not to think about what might happen at the beach.
“Hey, you don’t like my stupid brother, do you?” Jillian asks, out of the blue.
If I wasn’t already flushed and flustered, that question would have done the same thing. I’ve never admitted it out loud before, even though there were times when it was probably super obvious.
“Uh, I don’t know,” I murmur, as I start the car. “He’s okay.”
“You can do way better,” she says. “Don’t sell yourself short.”
“He’s your brother,” I remind her, as I drive out of the parking spot, heading for the road that leads to the beach.
She laughs. “Why do you think I’m warning you off him? I know better than anyone how much of an idiot he really is. No one else sees that side of him.”
“Would it be so bad if we …” I start, wondering how she’d take it.
She is my best friend, and I honestly don’t know how I’d choose between them if it came to that.
“Yes,” she whips back at me, no hesitation. “It would be bad, Amanda. Because you’re worth so much more than that loser.”
Too bad I don’t see Jake like she does.
Maybe if she sees we’re meant to be true mates, she’ll understand.
Chapter thirty-seven
Amanda
Jillianchecksonhermakeup as soon as I find a parking spot at the beach. My stomach’s churning badly now, making me a little afraid that I might throw up. Our conversation about Jake didn’t go so well, and I can’t seem to convince her that literally anywhere else would be better than the beach.
She steps out of the car when her lips are perfectly glossed, and I follow suit quickly, not wanting to be too far behind her when the bad thing happens. I don’t know what I can do to help, but I know I’m going to have to do something.
I can’t just let her end up with a gator bite. That would turn her into a hybrid.
In a pack town like Fallen Pines, that’s not a good thing to be.
We’re barely tolerated. We’re expected to play by the rules and ignore our non-wolf-shifter side, and we’re not expected to take mates or have families. No one wants more hybrids around.
“Jillian, I don’t think this is a good idea,” I tell her, as she approaches the group of gators.
