Page 51 of False Start

“I know you don’t need me, but I need you.”

I’d thought it was bullshit when he’d said it. I thought he was just trying to control the situation. But seeing his face after Leo made that seemingly harmless joke, I realized there was more depth to the statement.

He really was tired of being stag at these weddings.

He really was tired of all the jokes.

And the moment I’d pressed up on my toes to kiss him, I’d felt the weight of the world slip off his shoulders before he wrapped me in his arms.

That kiss…

It was still burning through me like raw electricity, my body humming with the desire to continue it.

His hands in my hair…

His lips claiming mine…

The little groan that no one else could hear, but I felt like a brand imprinting me for life…

I tried not to read too much into it, tried to remind myself it was all fake as I buried my face in his chest.

And now, his entire friend group was gaping at us.

The first to speak was a tall, lean blond with dimples and a dazzling smile. I’d tried to do a little research before I came, and I was almost certain it was Holden Moore, a quarterback for the North Carolina Panthers.

“Well, seems we have a lot of catching up to do.”

He arched a brow at Kyle with the words, and then, we were hit with a blast of sound like a bomb had gone off.

Everyone started talking at once, greetings flying every which way.

Kyle was ripped from my grip into the arms of a very attractive man with rich brown skin and a jet-black fade. I thought to myself that it was likely Zeke Collins, if I had done my research properly, but before I could analyze, I was pulled into a hug, myself.

“Oh, my God. It’s so nice to meet you!”

The girl hugging me was as short and petite as I was, but her hug felt like that of a bear. When she released me, she held onto my arms, her gray-blue eyes searching mine. She had long, brown curly hair and wore a pair of gold-framed glasses almost too big for her face.

“I’m Giana Jones,” she said. “Soon to be Giana Johnson,” she added with a little dance. “I’m Kyle’s agent. I’ve heard so much about you, and yet not nearly enough because Kyle is stingy with tropes.”

I blinked, trying to keep up.

I was also breathing a little more shallowly after her saying Kyle had told her so much about me, mind racing with what he might have said.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I finally replied. “Thank you for inviting us.”

I cringed internally at how weird that sounded, but before I could fold in on myself, the three girls flanking Giana introduced themselves.

There was Riley Novo, petite like Giana and me with long brown hair and the most beautiful bronze skin. She was athletic, that I could tell even in the joggers and warm-up jacket she wore, and she introduced herself with a firm handshake.

Julep Moore was next, and with the name alone, I put together that she was Holden’s wife. She had the kind of smile that warmed you from the inside out, but the kind of eyes that told me she had ghosts from her past that would forever be a part of her.

I could tell because I carried spirits of my own.

We shared a look of understanding after she hugged me, and then I shook the hand of Mary Silver. Mary had the body of Aphrodite, except instead of hers being pale white, it was covered with the most stunning array of tattoos. Her makeup was flawless, her long, wavy blonde hair the kind you see in commercials, and one look at her spaghetti strap olive-green velvet dress and the combat boots she’d paired with it made me want to raid her closet and be her best friend immediately.

After our introductions, I chanced a glance at Kyle, who was laughing with the guys. His eyes flicked to me, and my cheeks warmed again when the corner of his mouth tilted up just an inch, like he was replaying our kiss and wondering where the hell it came from.

As if I had a clue. I felt like I’d been possessed.