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There’s something so intimate about seeing her this way. And those pants are begging me to snuggle up with her. It’s a good thing Ronnie doesn’t know we’re on this campout together. He wouldn’t know it was Hayden’s idea to bring Jenni along and wouldn’t see a reason for me to bring her, since I’m not actually dating her. But the truth is, I wanted Jenni to come, and not because I had to keep up some act. No, I wanted her company because I actually like her and want to spend time with her. And let’s be honest, I’m kind of hoping for another kiss from her at some point.
But if Hayden or Mom or someone else mentions to Ronnie that I’m camping with his sister and my son and no one else, he probably won’t like it.
“Dad, are you going to kiss her?” I turn to see Hayden studying me. He must have caught me staring at Jenni with who knows what kind of look on my face.
“Well…”
Jenni looks over at me with a crooked smile. “There’s nothing to be scared of, Langston. My breath is fresh.” She waves her toothbrush at me and then crooks her finger for me to approach her.
I look from her to Hayden and then back again. If I don’t kiss her, Hayden will think something is wrong between us, and he might repeat that to my mom or his mom even. But Jenni looks like she’s ready and willing.
So I go to her. She smiles up at me, and it hits me in the gut like a punch and dazzles me. I bend my head down to her, breathing in her lavender scent. It’s a little worn off now that we’re in the woods, but the woodsy fresh-air smell of her is just as enticing.
I hesitate for a moment with just a fraction of air between us. “I won’t bite, Langston. I promise,” she whispers to me.
“It’s not you I’m afraid of.”
“Just play along,” she murmurs.
So I comply. Just throw me in that briar patch. Her lips are soft and warm, but pliable beneath mine. Something clicks into place, and this moment feels so right. I want to run my hands through her hair, pull her toward me. If I could, I’d stay like this forever until our hearts knit together and I could show her the way she deserves to be cherished. Because she is amazing—smart, funny, driven—even if she can be a bit too competitive at times. But I wouldn’t change that about her. It’s part of the draw.
“Eww. Gross, you guys.”
We pull apart, laughing. “You’re the one who wanted me to kiss her,” I say.
“No way! I just wanted to know if you were going to. That doesn’t mean I wanted you to. Ick!”
“Hayden, this is what boyfriends and girlfriends do,” Jenni tells him.
“I know, I know. But it’s still gross.”
“You won’t mind it so much when you’re older,” I say.
After all these years, who would have thought that I’d be proving my family right after all the times they told me I should date Jenni. I know it’s still technically fake, but every day I’m with Jenni it’s starting to feel more and more real.
And after that kiss, I’m wondering if maybe I can talk some sense into Ronnie, after all. Because this woman is stealing my heart more and more.
Hayden heads to bed, and Jenni and I sit around the campfire together. Jenni’s wrapped in a plaid blanket, and she looks so snuggly. I want to take her in my arms and kiss her more, but I don’t.
“I really like you, Jenni. I may have been competitive with you over the racetrack, but I’ve always thought you were incredible. The only thing stopping me from being with you now is Ronnie.”
“I hate that. Ronnie isn’t in charge of me.” Jenni sounds angrier than before when we talked about this.
“I don’t want to make you upset. The point is, I want to be with you, and Ronnie is a concern.”
“I like you too, Langston. But if you knew everything about me, you’d probably change your mind about wanting to be with me.” Her face is pained in the firelight.
“What do you mean?”
She presses her lips together. “It’s late. We should probably get some sleep.” She gets up and leaves me hanging.
Now my mind is racing as she retreats into her tent.
What could possibly be wrong with Jenni, who seems perfect and wonderful in every way?
13
JENNI