I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

I take one last bite of pizza; after all, it could very well be my last. Kate walks through the kitchen, I assume heading out to the back patio.

I set my plate down on the coffee table and spin around to face Lauren. I lace my fingers through her hair and crash my lips on hers, hard. If I’m about to have a showdown with her other half, I’m going to at least go out with the taste of her on my lips. I lick the seam of her lips, and she opens willingly. A combination of the wine and tomato sauce hits my tongue as it swipes against her. A muffled moan slips out just before I break the kiss.

Her lids are still heavy when I fully pull back and release her.

Kyler hums Chopin’s “Funeral March,” and Dani waves as if sending me off to war.

“Bunch of assholes,” I mutter with a smile and place one last quick kiss on Lauren’s lip before I follow Kate out to the patio.

I find her leaning up against the cement wall that lines the back patio with one leg perched up. She has a beer in hand; she must have grabbed one out of the fridge on her way out here while I took my time.

I mimic her stance across from her. We stare at each other for what seems like forever.

She takes a long drag of her beer. “You gonna leave again?”

“Nope.”

“You gonna hurt my sister?”

“Nope.”

“You really love her?”

“With all that I am.” Wow, I sound like one of those book boyfriends Lauren is always reading about. Kate must notice it too because the corner of her mouth tips upward, and the movement of her shoulders tells me she’s chuckling.

She takes one more sip of her beer before hanging it by her side. She takes a few steps closer to me and wraps her arms around my shoulders, slapping my back. I gently wrap my arms around her. Even though she and her sister are built exactly the same, I feel nothing having Kate in my arms. She leans up on her toes. “You hurt her, I’ll kick your ass. Welcome home, buddy.” With one more slap, she leaves me alone and stunned.

“Hey, Finn?” I turn to find Kate standing in the doorway, her hand propped on the doorframe. “For the record, I was always team Finn. I knew she would eventually figure it out too.”

Kate disappears back into the house, and I turn back, looking up at the stars. Moments later, warm arms wrap around my shoulders from behind.

I spin, coming face-to-face with the love of my life, and guide her arms around my neck. My fingers are just beginning to trail down her arms when she pulls out of my grasp. Her eyes are playful as she pats me down.

“What are you doing?” I chuckle as her hands wander all over my body.

She joins in on my laughter. “Well, when I saw Kate come back inside without you, I got worried. So, I’m just checking to make sure she didn’t kill you and you’re just out here bleeding out.”

I tilt my head back in laughter before cupping her cheeks.

“Give me a little credit, babe. I think I know how to handle the Lawson women.” I press my lips to hers, halting whatever smart-ass comment may have come out of her mouth next. When her lips part, my tongue pushes into her mouth.

We pull back panting. With one last brief kiss on Lauren’s lips, I press my forehead to hers. “Are you happy?”

She pulls back and her brows furrow. “Of course I’m happy; I have you. Now, why don’t we get in there before someone thinks I’m mourning over your dead body.” I kiss her forehead and reach for her hand, linking her fingers with mine.

As we make our way back into the living room, we hear shouting, followed by laughter. Lauren moves forward, but I trail behind for a moment. “I’m gonna just grab another drink.” She nods and heads in the room to join her siblings.

I grab another beer from the fridge and am in awe at the scene in front of me.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Kate shouts from the couch next to her brother and his wife. “Get your ass in here already.”

I join Lauren on the love seat and press a kiss to her temple as she cuddles into my side, laughing at whatever her siblings just said.

“Oh, shit, you should have seen his face—it was priceless,” Kate gloats.

Ahh, laughing at my expense, I see. I can’t help but chuckle; they all had me going. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to have this be my life, but it feels damn good.

The feel of warm lips on my skin rouses me from sleep.