"That doesn't explain the numbers changing, though." June knits her brows together, but I don't respond. Dad would've wanted me to have Parker's back. I owe it to him.
I'll just have to fucking kill him later when I get home.
“Why did you react like that?” I wonder out loud next. "To the kiss."
She sighs. “I… I was scared. Remember when my mom saw us kiss?”
I nod. I don't need a reminder—I remember it all too well.
"I kept thinking about that," June admits guiltily. "I knew how upset she'd be. She wanted us to be a family. She would think this was so fucking wrong."
"But she's gone now, June." I stand and face her. Her hands are folded behind her back, and she won't quite meet my eyes. I can tell that guilt's still plaguing her, forcing her to fight this. "She can't stop us now."
"But she would've hated this," she argues, glancing up at me. "She wouldn't want us together."
I don't know what to tell her. Of course, she's right. Her mother would've been against this. Against us.
"I don't care," I finally mutter, caging her body beneath mine. "I don't fucking care anymore, June. I want you. Tell me you want me too."
"I can't," she breathes.
"Why not?"
"Because..." She chews her bottom lip. "Because if I say it, it will be real."
I cup her face in my hands and make her look into my eyes.
“I'm not giving you up,” I tell her resolutely. “Never fucking did, June. You’re in here.” I point at my head. “And most of all, you’re in here.” I take her hand, guiding it to my heart.
She’s trembling, but she doesn’t break eye contact. Her lips part softly, and I lean in closer. I take my time because this girl isn’t like the others.
They were rough. June is soft.
Where they were fast and eager, June hesitated, slowing me down.
When they kissed me, it made me want them so fucking bad.
When I kiss her, I feel like she’ll break in my arms, and the need to take care of her scares me.
“Kade,” she whispers against my lips, and I interrupt her by sliding my tongue in her mouth, taking her innocence, rough, the way I know she wants it.
“No more lies,” she begs as I pull her head back for easier access. “Say it, Kade,” she demands.
“No more lies,” I tell my love, crossing my fingers behind my back. Maybe the lies can stop when I deal with Parker, that fucking snake.
11
June
In a weird way, I'm glad I ran into Kade at Pulse tonight. Even though watching him with that girl had been awful, at least we got to the bottom of things together. I still can't believe all the lies Parker's told me. Even though Kade's been defending him, I don't think I'll ever be able to trust his twin again.
Kade drives back home with me. There's no question about it—he just gets in the limo beside me, and his hand somehow finds its way into mine as we begin the drive back.
When we arrive, I ask Kade if he wants to come in. I lean in close, allowing my lipstick to leave traces against his cheek, and he mutters a yes into the shell of my ear.
The house is quiet at this time of night, and for the first time ever, I find myself wondering if it's strange for Kade to be back here. But if it is, he doesn't say anything about it. Instead, he wordlessly follows me into my bedroom and sits down on an armchair. He watches with a smile as I brush out my hair. I'm a little shy about removing my makeup in front of him, and he sees me hesitate as I pull out my makeup wipes.
"Don't be nervous." He smirks. "I've seen you without plenty of times."
"Still." I giggle, nervous. "I look different than I used to."
"You do. You look better."
"Oh, stop." I hesitate, but then remove the traces of makeup from my face anyway. It's a relief to be bare in front of him like this, not a burden. It feels so good.
"Do you want me to stay the night?" Kade asks after I return from the bathroom where I've put my hair up in a ponytail and changed into satin pajamas.
"Can you? Will Parker be worried?"
Kade approaches me, his hands finding the small of my back as he mutters, "I don't fucking care."
"Do you want to leave?"
He laughs out loud. "What do you think, June?"
I smile tightly. I don't want to get my hopes up again. Not when Kade could so easily crush my dreams into nothing. "Please, stay with me."
"Of course I will."
We get on my bed together. It feels strangely familiar yet so vastly different at the same time. Kade and I haven't done this before, and it's filling me with nervousness and excitement at the same time.