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I blew out a breath. “I have no heart. You know that.”
She shook her head, tears pooling. “You suck,” she joked.
“Why?” I grinned. “Because I’m letting another girl have some summer fun with me?”
“No,” she blurted out. “Because you’re keeping her to yourself.”
My chest shook with laughter as I yanked her in by the neck and kissed her forehead. Her blond hair, hanging in a high ponytail, smelled like overripe strawberries. I glanced down at Juliet, thinking of her hair that smelled like a crisp fall morning.
And she was looking up at me.
Shit.
Her eyes were narrowed as she rested her elbows on her knees and watched me with my arm around Cameron.
I sighed, pulling away. “I’ll see you, okay?”
I left Cameron and climbed down the ladder, facing forward as I jumped the last five steps to the ground.
Girls liked to make a mountain out of a molehill, so now I had to go put out the damn fire she’d no doubt started in her head.
As I approached the bleachers—where she sat two rows up—I noticed Shane sitting next to her, talking to friends on her other side, while Madoc, Fallon, and Adam stood up, talking to a group of people.
She saw me and looked away, straightening her back. I set my foot on the bottom bleacher and leaned in next to her face.
“Don’t,” I cautioned, looking in her eyes.
She dropped her chin, looking almost sad. God, I wanted to wrap my arms around her.
“Don’t what?” she mumbled.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“I’m not,” she maintained, looking defiant.
I nearly whispered. “Three years ago, I laid eyes on you for the first time,” I said, “and every time I’ve looked at another girl since then, I’ve compared her to you. Every time.”
She raised her eyes hesitantly.
I gave a half smile. “Your big green eyes that give away everything you’re feeling. Your pouty little mouth that tells me when you’re happy or pissed.” I leaned in, close to her lips. “And your tight little body that I finally got my fucking hands on after years of waiting for you.”
Her throat moved up and down as she listened.
“I have lots of energy for you, Juliet—only you—so don’t go imagining shit that’s not true.”
No more bullshit. I always knew what I wanted, and I never failed at getting it. I had an appetite for a lot, but when I found my niche, I knew it. Lacrosse, computers, the Loop …
And Juliet. She was my niche, too.
When her lips pursed against a smile she desperately tried to hold back, I knew she’d relaxed.
“Keep your eyes open,” I whispered.
A confused look crossed her face right before I dived in, caught her lips in mine, and kissed her deep and soft. My tongue flicked over hers, owning her mouth. She was helpless against me, and I was absolutely fine with that.
I pulled away to nuzzle in her ear. “You drive me crazy.”
She shivered, breathing hard. “Good.”
I smiled, continuing to trail my lips over her jaw.
“Jax.” I heard Madoc’s voice off to the side. “Adam’s going to race me in his 370Z, okay?”
I stopped, my lips hovering over Juliet’s skin.
Standing up, I turned and saw all three of them looking at me and waiting. “What’s the point of that?” I scoffed.
Madoc’s face fell, and I saw the eyebrow shoot up as he realized I was insulting his friend’s car. A GTO against a 370Z? He knew better.
“Juliet?” Madoc averted his eyes to her, ignoring me. “It’s a couple’s race. You want to ride with him?”
I turned around completely, facing him. “Enough already,” I growled low. “I’m sick of your bullshit.”
Everyone clammed up, and I struggled between feeling bad that I was getting pissy with my friends, feeling shitty that I was determining for Juliet what she would and would not be doing, and being angry that every time I felt fucking high on life, someone or something messed with it.
Adam stepped forward. “If I’m supposed to have a girl in the car—”
“You can have a guy, too,” I shot back. “Love is love. We don’t discriminate.”
Fallon snorted, and Madoc scowled down at her.
I bit back my smile, locking eyes with Madoc. “She’s not going.”
I heard Juliet clearing her throat behind me, but I ignored it. Would she be okay with me taking another girl for a drive?
Madoc held out his hands. “Shane won’t do it. I asked,” he explained. “I’m honestly not trying to get under your skin, okay?”
“Relax.” Adam stepped forward, and I folded my arms over my chest. “It’s obvious Madoc set me up with a girl who’s already taken. I’ll keep my hands off. I promise.”
“That’s right.” I nodded. “Because she won’t be in the car. You’re not a screened driver, and she could get hurt. You want to mess up your ride. Go ahead. But not with her in it.”
“Jax,” Juliet said under her breath behind me, and I could tell she was trying to rein me in.
Yeah, no.
Fallon spoke up. “So, how about Madoc takes K.C….” She paused, shaking her head clear. “Juliet, I mean—and I’ll go with Adam.”
“No,” Madoc maintained. “This is supposed to be you and me riding together.”