I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“Do you have a photo?”

I pull out my cell and show him a photo of Kelsey holding Baby Liam. He is the perfect combo of both his mother and his father.

“Wow, look at her, all grown up, married, with a baby.” He hands me back my phone, and I slide it back into my pocket.

“Ha! Like you have room to talk, Mr. Back From His Honeymoon, and I bet you already put a bun in your wife’s oven.”

He smirks but doesn’t deny it.

“It’s just funny to think that back in the day, she was my first kiss, and here we are all grown up.”

I choke on my beer. Excuse me? Did he just say his first kiss? I wipe my mouth and set the bottle back on the table. “What are you talking about?”

He blushes. “You don’t know this story?”

My eyes widen, and I shake my head, waiting for him to continue. Does he honestly think that if I knew this story, I would be asking about it?

“Well, this is embarrassing.” He chuckles as he brings the glass to his mouth and takes another swig of his beer.

Ky sits back. “Let’s see, we were about eleven, I think. We had just come home from Katey Sweet’s birthday party and walked into the living room to find you and my sister making out on the couch. You two were both in your own world; you didn’t even hear us come in. Which, thanks for that, asshole—of course back then, gross, and now it’s whatever.” He pauses before shaking his head and laughing. “Nope, it’s still gross!”

I smile and take another sip of beer, my mouth suddenly quite dry. The talk of Lauren and kissing has my heart beating faster, my palms sweating, and my head swimming with memories. I need to think of other thoughts before I can add my pants being too tight to the list. I also realize that this is the first time he’s mentioned her. There were plenty of moments where I had a conversation in my head, where I asked everything I wanted to know about her, but I never allowed my brain to connect those words to my lips.

“So, anyway,” Ky says, pulling me from my thoughts, “Kelsey and I snuck out back to the treehouse in my backyard.”

“Oh shit, I remember that thing.”

“Yeah, it was one of my favorite places in that house. So once we were out there, we were joking and laughing, making fun of the two of you. You know, the typical pretending to kiss yourself antics kids do.”

I nod.

“Neither of us had ever kissed someone before, so we just didn’t see the big deal. Before I knew what was happening, Kelsey grabbed my cheeks and planted one on my lips.”

My jaw drops. “Wow, I had no idea.”

“Of course, it was nothing like the kiss we saw you and Lauren share. I’m pretty sure you were checking her tonsils with your tongue, dude.” He cringes, and I snicker. She always tasted so sweet; I wonder if she still does.

“Why didn’t you ever say anything to us. Does Lauren know?”

He shrugs. “I don’t think she does. I never told her. Anyways, it was weird. We broke apart as quickly as our lips had connected. There was an awkward silence before Kelsey left me there alone, ran inside, and forced you to take her home. She didn’t talk to me for a week, which at eleven, that was forever. Then we just pretended it never happened.”

“I am so going to give her shit about this. I can’t believe she held out on this info.” Guess maybe she didn’t want me to threaten to kick his ass like I did all the boys she tried to date.

Kyler laughs. “I mean, siblings don’t tell each other everything.”

He has a point. Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth nervously, I use this as an opportunity to bring her up. “Speaking of, does your sister know you’re hanging out with me tonight?”

His back straightens. “As I said, I don’t tell my sister everything.” I can see it all over his face that he wants to say something else, but something is holding him back. He clears his throat. “You know I’m not getting involved.” I nod; I would never put him in a position like that. “But Lauren is stubborn, and sometimes she just needs a little push to realize what’s important.” He adjusts in his seat and takes a sip of his beer. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he smiles. “But as I said, I’m not getting involved.”

It’s been two weeks since I saw my brother and new sister-in-law. I know that Kyler had said that my abrupt exit from the wedding reception was fine, but I still feel as though I owe them an apology in person. Before leaving school, I had texted Dani to see if she was home, and she responded right away with “yes.”

I pull up to their house and only see Dani’s car parked in the driveway. The door swings open before I even get a chance to ring the doorbell. Dani is standing there looking extremely tan, but then again, I would be too if I just got back from a tropical honeymoon.

Why couldn’t Finn have stuck to the plan? Why couldn’t I have just said yes? Why does he always have to sne

ak his way into my thoughts? Ever since I went through that box, I can’t get him out of my head, but who am I kidding—has he ever really left my thoughts? Of course, it doesn’t help that I keep running into him what seems to be everywhere.

Dani pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m so glad you texted me. I missed you so much. And you and me need to talk, missy.” She pulls me inside before closing the door. “Do you want anything to drink?”