Page 211 of For the Fans

Stop running. Stop hiding.

Man up.

“When I talked to him on Christmas, he mentioned that you two were getting along better,” Bridget says to Avi, who grins blithely.As usual.

“We had a really great holiday.” He tilts his face in my direction, that smile drumming up warmth in my chest.

He deserves this. He deserves something real.

“Did you see Mom at all?” Bridget asks me, and I falter once more.

“No,” I grunt, sidetracked by the mention of my thoroughly unsupportive parents. “I called her, but I just wasn’t in the mood to go over there and feel like an unwanted burden from her old life…”

Bridget nods, the same forlorn resentment I’m feeling being mirrored back at me in her shiny brown eyes.

Thankfully, she changes the subject with a smirk. “But you liked my gift?”

I grin. “Yea. I love that candle. It’s my favorite scent…” My eyes shift to Avi, who’s giving me a puzzled look.

And the words are on the march, like soldiers charging up a battlefield. My defenses are no use.

They’re going to win.

“It smells like you,” I whisper to him.

His lashes flutter as he chirps, “The candle?” I nod, and his face lights up. “Is that why you like it?”

“Well… Bridget used to always have one like it burning in her room,” I speak quietly, confessing just enough. “It was comforting when other stuff was… going on.” My voice trails and I clear my throat. “And now it’s comforting for another reason. Because it reminds me of you.”

Avi has never looked so thrilled before, and my nerves retreat just enough because I made the right decision.He’s happy.

His body turns in his seat, and his eyes fall to my lips, causing me to squirm.

“Kyran…” His tone is soft, but insistent. And I already know what he’s going to say.

“You’re gonna kiss me, aren’t you?” I murmur.

He nods. “I don’t think I can help it…”

Exhilaration sizzles inside me, bringing alive every neuron in my body.

We’re in public. In front of my sister….

But I don’t care. I’m waving the white flag…

I just can’t fight it anymore.

“Then do it.” I slide my hands onto his thigh. “Please…”

Without a moment of hesitation, his face slopes down at the same time that his fingers curl around my jaw. And he presses his warm, soft, perfectly unrelenting mouth to mine.

A small gasp breaks from my lips, and he devours it, breathing and parting wider to suck my lips just hard enough that I’m fast dizzy. His fingers glide back into my hair, and he holds me to him, humming as a sweet soundtrack to this romantic display.

It’s over way too quick, even though I get it. Making out in public is gross no matter how newly in love you are. But I can’t help leaning into him, not ready to let him pull away. I’m so desperate for more of those bewitching kisses that I’m actually gripping a fistful of his shirt, and I hadn’t even noticed.

When my eyes peel open, I catch his doing the same, our gazes locked as he puffs out a shivering exhale.

Wow… Who knew kissing a guy in public could feel so… exhilarating.