Page 31 of Take My Kiss
“Absolutely not. No man is worth it.”
This time, I full-on belly laugh, nearly losing my stomach in the process. “You sound just like me. Too bad I didn’t learn it at your age. Although if I had, I wouldn’t have Lily.”
Watching her shove more strawberries in her mouth, I beam at how much of a blessing she is and how she changed my life for the better.
“As far as I know, Maddox is single, so if you and Colt don’t work out, you should ask him out.”
“What?”
“Oh, please.” She raises a brow. “I know y’all hooked up last year.”
My eyes bug out. “He told you?”
“Yeah, right. Posey did. Colt doesn’t know I know, but Posey and I share everythin’. Even if she hadn’t, I would’ve figured it out eventually by the way you two eye-fuck each other.”
“We do not!”
“Girl. C’mon,” she deadpans. “I’m twenty-five with amazin’ vision.”
I scoff, but don’t have the desire to argue about it.
“He thinks I don’t remember,” I blurt. “And we never talked ’bout it.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. Colt doesn’t do random hookups. I’m not even sure when he last had a date. If I didn’t see with my own two eyes the way he looks at you, I would’ve assumed he took a vow of abstinence.”
“Really? He’s a handsome guy with a great job and owns a house. He’s a rare breed at his age. I’m surprised he’s not off the market already.”
“He’s picky, but mostly, he’s not the sleep-around type. Unlike me, he wants to settle down and start a family.”
My stomach turns because I figured that was the case, and it’s another reason I had to leave his hotel room before he woke up—no point in giving him false hope when there was no future between us.
“I can tell he’d be good at it—being a husband and dad. But it’d be too complicated to try and be anythin’ more than friends.”
“Why?” she asks, pouring herself more coffee.
“My life is two hours away, and his is here.”
“He’d probably move for you, if he knew you felt the same way, that is.”
“I couldn’t ask him to do that when his job and family are here. It wouldn’t be fair. I’d feel guilty and worried he’d resent me for it someday.”
“Then…move here.” She sits across from me, adding more sugar to her mug. “We need more women than men in the Langston family.”
“What ’bout when you and Bodie get married?” I ask, hoping to take the attention off me for a moment. “They’ll be five of each, then.”
“Oh, no…I’m never gettin’ married. Likeever. So once Colt and Bodie get hitched, that’s it. We’ll have more women than men for once. I’ll be the cool aunt who gifts candy and condoms.”
“Candy! Me want some candy,” Lily squeals, bouncing in her seat.
“No, sweetie. Maybe later,” I say, giving Bellamy a look.
Lily was quiet and distracted with her blocks two seconds ago. Now she’s going to hyperfixate on this until she gets what she wants.
“Sorry,” she mouths.
“Candy for me. Pwease?”
“I don’t have any, baby. And it’s too early. You just had breakfast.”
