Page 16 of Come Back To Me

Her body was rubbing all over mine, making it difficult for me to concentrate. The last thing I needed was a damn hard on. So not the time for that.

“Why are you stopping me?” She fixed her angry blue eyes on me, and it was impossible not to stare at her. I lost count of the times I got lost in those eyes, whether we were goofing around or having sex.

Kenzi inhaled, and I became aware of every point our bodies were touching. Her forehead creased, confusion lining her features.

“Why are you here with him?” The words fell from my mouth before I could think twice. Telling her Collin wasn’t her type would in all likelihood do more harm than good. This was the closest Kenzi and I had been in weeks and I didn’t want to scare her off by saying something that she could easily misinterpret. I had no idea what kind of state she’d been in since coming back to school.

Kenzi tilted her head. “Huh. How about that.”

“What?”

“Your face is kinda nice when you’re not scowling.”

My lips twitched. She was referring to when she helped in the weight room after I hurt my hand. I wasn’t the friendliest and it had nothing to do with my hand.

“I was an asshole that night,” I admitted, feeling somewhat sheepish. “Sorry.”

Kenzi’s gaze was still questioning, always curious. “We don’t know each other, do we?”

A moment ago this conversation felt natural, we were nothing more than a guy and a girl talking in a bar. But Kenzi’s innocent question made my stomach drop. Aiden’s earlier ultimatum came to mind, and for the life of me I didn’t know what to do next. I swallowed the tightness in my throat, and then slowly released her from my grasp. My body missed her warmth immediately.

“No.” I rubbed my hand through my hair, more exasperated now than when I arrived. Served me right for coming out when I didn’t want to.

“I feel like you’re lying.”

“Why would I be lying?”

A small glimmer of hope took root in my chest. “That day in the locker room, you knew who I was, and you looked at me like I should have known who you are.”

Well, fuck. She had me. When I walked into the locker room all those weeks ago, and she had no idea who I was and it gutted me, tore me to shreds. I was lucky Staci wouldn’t allow me to wallow, and because of her the days didn’t seem so…endless.

My mouth opened, ready to tell her…what? That we had a fling last year? That I was madly in love with her? That I’m still madly in love with her?

None of those options meant anything unless Kenzi’s memories came back. And all I felt right then was indecision. Kenzi picked it up, giving me a small tilt of her mouth.

“Why does it feel so…right?” she mused quietly. I’m not sure she intended for me to hear it.

My response died on my lips when I saw Aiden walking towards us in my peripheral. My arms fell, and I took a tentative step away from Kenzi.

“Collin’s gone.” His tone conveyed just how displeased he was with his sister.

“Did you hit him?”

Aiden snorted. “Hell no, then you’d have to tell Dad why I hit him, and I doubt he’d be happy. That dickhead isn’t someone Dad would want you bringing home.”

I looked down, well aware of the kind of guy Coach didn’t want Kenzi going home with. He never said as much, but I had no doubt my name was right at the top of that shitlist.

“It was a blind date,” huffed Kenzi. That had my attention. “Maddy set it up, he’s in one of her business classes. I agreed because she already told him I would come, and I didn’t want to be rude.”

“Yeah no, if Maddy does something like that again, be rude. You have no business hanging out with guys who just want to fuck you.”

Kenzi sucked in a breath, leering at Aiden. “I will go out with whoever I damn well please, Aiden,” — and that was my cue to leave — “You’re not my keeper.”

I started walking away, unable to listen to anymore. Aiden and Kenzi continued to bicker — like they always had — and I sought Staci out to let her know I was leaving. She spotted me, and pushed through the crowd.

“I’m heading out. Thanks for inviting me.”

“You didn’t even watch us,” she snickered. “You were too busy drinking with Aiden.”

I shrugged, tucking my hands in my jean pockets. “He’s not so bad.”

She quirked a brow. “You have a new best friend now?”

“Never.” I smiled. Something behind me catches her attention.

“Good.” She stepped forward, wrapping a slender hand around my neck. “Because he can’t do this.”

Her mouth was on mine before I could blink, and I was shocked to do anything. So I let her kiss me, and when she was done, she tucked her head into my neck and whispered, “She may not remember you, but she remembers what jealousy feels like.” And with that, she walked back to her bandmates, waving at me over her shoulder. I twisted my head, and found that’s Staci was right. Kenzi was glowering at Staci’s retreating form, even if she didn’t realize it yet. Our eyes met, blue to green, and she might not have understood it, but I did.

She was jealous.

And to me that was reason enough to consider fighting.