Page 15 of Burning Daylight

“Maybe,” she agrees. “But he’smydouchebag.”

My mouth drops open again, but when Felicity’s eyes turn into slits, I snap it shut.

“What?” I ask innocently.

“Your thoughts are loud,” she complains.

“Okay, fine. God, you act like the world’s gonna end if I’m a little grumpy.”

She beams and leans forward, throwing her arms around my neck, her strawberry shampoo flooding my senses.

“It’ll be fun tonight,” she says against my shoulder. “You’ll see.”

“If you say so.”

She pulls back and grabs my hand, a flicker of sincerity breaking through her sass. “When will you admit I always know what’s best for you?”

“That’sincrediblydebatable.” I laugh. “I can list off several times you’ve put me in bad spots.”

She narrows her gaze. “I told you to forget about those.”

“What do you want me to do, give myself a lobotomy?” I grin, tapping my temple. “My mind’s a steel trap, baby.”

She groans, sitting back. “Whatever. The point is, you’ve only got a few days left here in the land of the free, and you’ve never once really let go of who you think you should be to just…”

“Just what?”

“You know…let loose. Just be Juliette.”

I nod, but I swallow the words that rise in my throat. I’m not sure I evenknowwho Juliette is. That little girl who used to sneak around corners with a notebook and a nose for gossip disappeared somewhere along the way. After years of saying yes to my parents and smiling pretty for the papers, I became exactly what they wanted. Just another cookie-cutter cutout.

It’s only in college that I’ve started to find that little girl again.

Doesn’t matter. Graduation is next week, and after that, it’s back home to Rosebrook Falls. Back to being a polished, palatable version of myself.

“If you want my advice,” Felicity cuts into my thoughts. “You should find someone to fuck before your archaic family rolls into town for graduation and ruins your chances.”

I guffaw.

She frowns. “Why are you laughing? You could use a good dicking.”

“Ew, don’t say it like that.”

She cackles. “What? I’m just saying. Ever since Keagan started giving me his, I’ve been in a much better mood.”

My features screw up.

“Don’t make that face,” she says.

I wipe the look. “What face?”

“The one where it’s clear you think Keagan’s Satan. You wouldn’t hate him if you saw how big his dick is, that’s for sure.”

“A big dick doesn’t mean they know how to use it. And I still wouldn’t be the one sleeping with him, so I doubt that.”

“I’d let him fuck you.” She eyes me. “I’d probably fuck you, too.”

“You make it sound so romantic.”