I barely hold back a chuckle as I run my hand up and down her back in a soothing manner. “I got you. I’ll protect you from the evil lake monsters. You can trust me.”
She leans back, looking into my eyes as her fear subsides. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“I’m your best friend.” I lean forward to the point my lips almost touch hers. “In the future, if you want to kiss me, then kiss me. Don’t do it on a dare or because someone else wants you to. Do it because you want to do it.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll kiss you back with everything I have. I’ll give you whatever you want to take. You want to make Tiffany and every other woman back off? Stake your claim. Show them I’m not theirs to touch. Until then, you have no right to be jealous. Until you can admit what you're scared of, you will be stuck with your best friend.”
The entire time I talked, I swam us back to the dock. Turning, I pick her up and set her on the edge of the dock. I kiss the inside of her knee before I pull myself up right in front of her, careful not to look at her naked body, as much as it kills me.
“Figure out why you’re afraid, then come talk to me. I’ll wait for you.”
I kiss her right next to her lips before dipping back down to move and pull myself up on the dock next to her.
Morgan sits shocked at the end of the dock. I pull my shirt over her head before lifting her up to stand. After handing her the rest of her clothes, I slide on my jeans. She shimmies into her own pants, choosing to carry her bra and shirt, leaving mine on.
✽✽✽
Chapter 8
Morgan
“What’s that god-awful noise?” I moan as a shove a pillow over my head.
A deep chuckle from beside me makes me freeze. Pulling the pillow away, I look next to me to see the muscled back of Keaton Yates leaning over to shut off the alarm on his phone.
“What are you doing here?” I gasp.
He looks back at me. “This is my room. Where else would I be?”
I look around to see that it is in fact his bedroom. I try to think back to last night, but the pounding in my head is hindering that particular task at the moment. I glance under the blanket at my body to find myself in only my underwear and Keaton’s T-shirt.
“Did we…?” I trail off, looking back up as Keaton steps out of bed wearing only boxers.
“Did we what?” His fake innocent act makes me want to smack him.
Then again, my eyes can’t help but stray to his bare chest, counting every single….
“Fuck, why am I in here?” I moan.
“Well, after you threw up, you stumbled in here and passed out on my bed. I let you stay. You know, because I’m such an exceptional friend.”
“Ugh. Be a better friend. Leave me to my misery.”
He leans down over me, kissing my head. “Get up, take a shower, and come downstairs. I’ll make you my hangover cure. Then we can watch a movie until you feel better. Deal?”
I peek up at him. God, he’s gorgeous. Even with disheveled hair and sleep lines on his face, he looks like an Adonis god.
Why do I always end up in his bed?
“Deal,” I mumble.
He kisses my head once more before heading out of the room. After taking a quick shower, I finally make my way downstairs. I smile as I see Keaton in the kitchen attempting to make pancakes.
“You are failing at that.” I can’t help the laugh that escapes.
“Fuck. Reed usually does this shit for Sage. I thought you might like it too.”
My heart warms. He’s trying to do something nice for me?
“How about I help?” Moving to his side, I turn down the stove before trashing the burnt pancake in the pan. After rinsing it out and wiping it down, I add a sliver of butter, letting the pan heat back up.
“I might not be able to make pancakes, but I did make bacon.” He holds a piece to my lips.
I take a bite, moaning at the taste of it. “Fuck, I love bacon.” I glance at Keaton, frozen next to me. “What?”
He clears his throat. “Nothing. Is it crunchy enough for you?”
I try to hide my smile as I turn back to start the pancakes. He remembered. “It’s perfect.”
“Good.” He busies himself behind me.
Once I finish the pancakes, I join him in the breakfast nook. He holds his hand out to me and drops two small, white pills in my hand.
“For your headache. I brought you a glass of apple juice too.”
For a moment, I can’t look at him. I stare at the glass of apple juice, trying to control my emotions. “You remembered?” I whisper.
His fingers find my chin, pulling my face up until I meet his eyes. The raw adoration I see there just about kills me. “I never forgot a single thing about you.”
The moment’s broken when Reed walks into the kitchen. “Who burnt something?”
Keaton and I laugh, neither one answering his question.
✽✽✽
“Come on, Morgan. Go to the party with me.”
Tinsley’s been talking my ear off since I got home from school. She wants me to go out with her, but I, being more responsible, want to stay home and study. Besides, it’s a Thursday night. Who throws a party on a Thursday?
“I told you, Tin. I need to study.”
“Pretty please. If you don’t go, I have to hang out with Keaton and Finley on my own or stay home. I don’t want to do either. Especially since I know each one will hook up once they get to the party. I can’t stomach that.”
The ache in her voice breaks my resolve. I know what she’s really
