Page 210 of Red Marked

It’s on the tip of my tongue. It’s over, Jett. But I can’t do that to him. Not like this. Not in front of Flint.

“I’ll go and see my family,” I tell Flint. “But we need to talk.”

“Go and be with your family, Star. Let me know what you decide. It’s all good.” He touches the side of my arm. One quick tap, and his hand is gone. “This is what you wanted. You get to live your life now.”

He’s pushing me away.

“Thank you for bringing the love of my life back to me,” Jett says.

I bite my tongue.

Flint’s eyes narrow at him for a second. Then they’re on me. “Take care of yourself, Star.”

Why does that sound like goodbye?

It isn’t.

No.

“We’ll catch up soon, Flint.”

He nods once, and then Jett is walking him to the door.

59

Star

Jett shakes Flint’s hand for a long time.

I want to go after him. I could go after him. I want to… What? Tell him not to go?

I can’t, so I don’t move. I have to force myself not to call his name.

“Thank you again,” Jett is saying. “For bringing Star home to me. I’ll never forget it.”

Please stop.

That’s the third time. Was he always this sappy?

A car door thuds.

The engine starts up as Jett walks back inside.

He’s smiling like a crazy person.

“Alone at last,” he says.

He walks up to me and hugs me, his chin on top of my head, his chest warm through his shirt.

I feel nothing but awkward.

I wish he would let me go already. I pull back a bit, but he still holds on.

Jett finally pulls away, but only far enough to look at me. His hand comes up under my jaw, and he leans in, his eyes on my mouth.

No!

I turn my face, and his mouth lands on my cheek.