Page 3

Don’tpassout
Don’tpas—
“I’m hungry,” Simon announces from the doorway, and I jerk my wrist out of his grip like we were caught doing something wrong. Which we weren’t. I’m eighteen. Old enough to be kissed. More than kissed. The fact that I haven’t been eats at me, almost shames me, even though I know the reason why. The reason why is standing right in front of me. I don’t want to be kissed—more than kissed—by just anyone.
I want to be more than kissed by Jaxon Bennett.
“Eight minutes,” I say, reaching for the box of pasta. My hands are shaking, and I fumble with the top for a second before I finally just rip it off. I drop dried noodles into boiling water before adding another generous pinch of salt.
I step back from the stove while wiping my hands on a dish towel. Jaxon is still looking at me. Watching me. “I’ve got to get home.” I’m not sure which brother I’m saying it to, but as soon as I do, Simon lets out a wail of protest that snags at my heart.
“I’ll be back—”
“Simon, should we ask Claire to stay?” Jaxon says, still looking at me.
“Yeah!” Simon runs at me, throwing his arms around my legs, digging his chin into my belly so he can look up at me. “Stay for dinner, plleease.”
I drop a hand on his head, running my fingers through his dark hair—the same, exact shade as his older brother’s—looking down into his pleading face.
Did I happen to mention how much I love this kid?
I sigh, my resolve to get myself out of here and away from Jaxon before I do or say something stupid, wobbling under the weight of his stare.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll stay.”