Page 102 of Next to Everything We Wanted

My eyes locked with hers. Her diamond-shaped face glowed as the fireworks burst from above. How could someone be soprecious? How could a girl so special fall for someone as messed up as me?

Because she doesn’t know.

I drew in a sharp breath, my blood pounding in my ears. “Sienna . . .”

Her face fell. “W-What’s wrong?”

“I have to?—”

An explosive bang erupted in the sky, causing both of us to jump. It was just fireworks someone else was setting off from a few yards over, but theirs were way louder.

“What were you saying?” Sienna asked, both of us sitting straight up now.

I swallowed. “I have to kiss you.” My gaze went to everyone in front of us, who seemed too occupied with the fireworks to pay attention. Well, Dallas and Raina were making out on their towel. I couldn’t blame them when I was about to do the same.

Sienna’s lips spread in a grin. “That’s all I want to do.”

I pressed my mouth to hers before I could blurt anything else out. We didn’t need to talk about my past right now, or ever—all I needed was her lips on mine.

Sienna cupped my head with her warm hands as I wrapped my hands around her back. I pulled her closer until there was no space between us. Electricity hummed across my skin as the booming of the fireworks became muffled. When we kissed, I was transported to another world. We were no longer in the Tidwells’ backyard, I was no longer keeping an earth-shattering secret from her, and she was the only thing there.

The air left my lungs as our mouths continued their rhythm, my ribs squeezing with each second. I didn’t need oxygen when I had her. A hunger grew inside of me like I hadn’t eaten in days. I wanted to eat, drink, and breathe this kiss. To keep gliding my hands up and down her back, with only her thin tank top separating our skin.

Sienna’s hands traveled to my shoulders before she curled her fingers through my tank top sleeves. The sensation of her warm skin sent a thrill through my veins, my blood humming with each touch. I threaded her long hair through my fingers, absorbing the silkiness.

“Dating you was the best decision I’ve ever made,” I murmured against her lips. “I could never go back to how life was before.”

“I feel the same way,” she breathed as her hand stroked my hair. “I’ve always wanted this. With you.”

Heat bloomed in my stomach. “There’s no one else for me.”

I knew prying eyes were probably on us, but no one interrupted us as our mouths kept dancing. This was the best kiss we’d had in our relationship so far, and I wanted so many more. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Sienna, soaking in each inch of her. She brought me to an all-time high when I was low.

And I’d fallen so, so hard.

When I realized that maybe I did need oxygen, I moaned before breaking out of the kiss. My skin flushed from head to toe, buzzing with electricity. “I love the way you make me feel,” I whispered as my chest heaved. “The way you take my breath away.”

Sienna beamed, the final fireworks lighting up in her eyes. “And I love the way you take over my mind every moment of the day.”

CHAPTER 24

Sienna

The moment Gavin rang the doorbell, I sprung off the couch. I tripped over a few of Bailey’s dog toys on the way to the door, but I ignored the pain that zapped to my toes. When I opened the door, I pressed my lips against Gavin’s, gripping his shirt to pull him closer to me.

“Whoa.” He chuckled against my lips. “You have no time to waste.”

“It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.” We hadn’t seen each other yesterday, and texting wasn’t doing it for me. The way he’d kissed me on Sunday made me want to spend every waking moment with him. I’d never understood how couples never got sick of each other, but my relationship with Gavin made me realize how much I’d been missing out.

When he broke out of the kiss, he grinned at me. “I love your shirt.”

“Thank you.” I looked down at my Somewhere in the Sky T-shirt. It was a little baggy though I didn’t mind. “Just repping my favorite band.”

“Perfect for my favorite fan.” He kissed my forehead before following me inside.

“Gavin!” Emma and Adam shouted at the same time. They hopped over Bailey’s dog toys before tackling Gavin in a hug, nearly knocking him over.

“Whoa, now!” Gavin laughed as he regained his balance. “If I knew I was this loved, I would’ve come way sooner.”