Page 49 of Mountain Pine
“Conner Michael Montgomery, I never once looked below the belt.” She crosses her arms and her brow furrows. “I respected the friendship line every time. Didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
She cocks her brow as if she doesn’t believe me.
“I swear.” Putting my hand on my chest, I bow my head. “Never once peeked.” After I think she’s good, I pull up my boxers and then my jeans. “I mean except for that one time when you—”
She throws her shirt at me.
“I’m kidding! I’m kidding. I swear I never looked.” I dodge another piece of clothing that goes sailing through the air at me and laugh. Grabbing her by the waist, I bring her close until our chests press against each other. “But I’m real grateful I get to look all I want now.”
Her cheeks are rosy again. Man, I love how she can’t hide her emotions at all.
“You’re the most beautiful star in the galaxy, Taylor.”
Something strange passes across her face. “I… better get going.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
She quickly finishes getting dressed and then kisses me on the cheek before leaving me in her room.
“Share you location!” she yells at me just before I hear the front door shut.
I obey, but once I put my phone in my back pocket, something uneasy and ugly stirs in my gut.
Chapter 15
Taylor
I had to get out of there before I lost my chill. I’ve had two yoga classes so far today but after Conner basically ate my soul out of my pussy, I’m fresh out of namaste. There are way too many feelings ricocheting inside my bones right now, which have me vibrating like a tuning fork.
Excitement. Confusion. Fear. Happiness. Resentment.
To find out Conner has had a thing for me for so long and never acted on it pisses me off. And yes, I’m very aware that I’m a hypocrite. But I think he liked me first so shouldn’t he have made the first move?
Why thefuckdid he push me away in that kissing trend?
We’ve wasted so much time. I’ve cried buckets of tears over him. Dated all kinds of guys to try to get Conner out of my system. Hell, I even contemplated a cord cutting ritual to sever this unseen, unspoken thread that always seemed to bind me to the one guy I couldn’t have. Can you imagine the damage that could have been done if I’d gone through with that? I might have ruined everything!
Thank goodness I didn’t sprinkle the herbs, tie a string around two candles, light them both on fire and say my intentions, or do any other kinds of witchy shit that would have altered us forever. Talk about a closecall.
And before you eyeroll me, Idobelieve that those things work. It’s why I don’t like messing with them. I’m not about to tempt fate or karma, so I don’t perform any of the spells I’ve read about. As helpful as they might be, I’m not one to fuck around and find out.
Which means I also didn’t conjure a love spell for him either. Geez, that temptation called my name more times than I can count, but I was always too scared—and bitter—to do it. If Conner was going to fall in love with me, it would have to be all natural and all him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have trusted his actions because in the back of my mind, I’d always wonder if it was his true feelings, or something I did out of desperation.
Practical Magic has taught me all my life lessons.
Leaving my house, and Conner, feels like I’ve torn my heart in half. Did I just hit it and split it? He only came once, and he had me blowing apart like a million times. Does he feel used? Regretful? Hurt?
Crap. I don’t know how to do this.
Just as I’m doubling back to head inside my house, Conner comes out of the front door. He shuts it softly and turns, surprise and confusion lighting his face. “Did you forget something?”
“Yeah.” I grab him by the t-shirt and smash my mouth to his.
His arms wrap around me like an anaconda, holding me tight, and he moans.
When we finally break apart, I think I’m floating.
