Page 56 of An Unexpected Turn
“I know, and I know you’re not,” I said, unable to mask the crack in my voice.
I believed him, but things wouldn’t be as easy now that we had our clothes back on and were headed into the real world.
“I just ... feel a lot for you, and if I’m being honest, it’s scary as hell. And yes, this situation is a little more familiar than I would like, but not because of you. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to keep the man I’m falling for a secret, and I wouldn’t be responsible for my uncle losing his best friend.”
He nodded, his chest deflating with a long sigh.
“In a perfect world, you’d come back home with me. You’d tell Mike all the right things to make him feel better about school like only you know how to do, meet my nieces, who will fall in love with you on sight, and I’d sit close enough to you at your uncle’s dinner table the next time we’re there so that there is no question that we are together—and he’d be happy that we’re happy.” He kissed me, closemouthed and featherlight, but lingering long enough to make my pulse race. “I have faith all of that will happen, but I’ll take any world I can get right now as long as I have you in it.”
“You have me.” I snuggled against his chest as he held me tighter.
A slow smile spread across his face when I lifted my head.
“Then everything else will fall into place. You’ll see.”
I knew he meant every word, but I wasn’t as sure. But I’d take any world with him in it too, even if it crumbled around us.
TWENTY-FOUR
JAKE
“Text me when you’re on your way home,” I told Mike as he slipped on his jacket by the door.
“I’m only at Liam’s house for the night. What’s the big deal?”
“I know you’re all just going to congregate and play video games like you do on the headset, but eleven is the latest I want you home, and I want to make sure I’m here when you are.”
“Where are you going?” Mike turned to me with a furrowed brow.
“I’m seeing some friends too. Why? Only one of us can have a social life?”
Mike’s lips twitched as he shrugged.
“No, you can.”
“Well, thank you.” I pressed a dramatic hand to my chest. “I appreciate it. But like I said, home by eleven and text me.”
He nodded and made his way out the door.
How would Mike react to Peyton and me? I hated lying to him about it, but it didn’t seem like the right time to tell him. I’d have to make sure to do it soon, as the last thing I needed was for him to be blindsided at school.
I hopped into my truck, ignoring the inclination to floor the gas pedal on my way to Peyton. I jumped on any time I could get with her, not wanting to waste a second. I wished I could take her out instead of holing up in her apartment, but I wouldn’t do that until we spoke to Keith first. I had mentioned stopping by a few times, but he’d been knocked out from extra shifts and asked if we could make it next week.
I was antsy to get it—get us—out in the open and didn’t want Peyton to tell him alone. It was me he’d be furious at, even though we were both adults. I never felt an imbalance due to the age difference between us. In fact, Peyton was ahead of me in so many ways—but he wouldn’t see it like that. Oldest friend or not, his first instinct, once he found out, would be to kick my ass for taking advantage of his niece.
“Hey.” Peyton gave me a tired smile when she opened her door, pressing her lips to mine with a long, lingering kiss before moving aside to let me in. “I planned to cook for you, but the school day lasted longer than I would have liked.”
“I don’t need a fancy dinner. I just need you for a few hours.”
I gathered her in my arms and kissed her. Another smile that didn’t make it to her eyes played on her lips.
“Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Just a long day. A lot more students stopped by than usual during my office hours. They had to put chairs outside my office for a couple of them to wait.”
“So I’m not the only one itching to see you every day?”
I drew her closer and coaxed a real smile out of her.
