Hold On to Me

Her breathing accelerated, Alyssa was at a loss for words. “Neither,” rolled off her lips. John hovered in front of her mouth, feeling his breath mix with hers. Alyssa couldn’t move. Her hands were flat against the truck. He was so close she could almost taste him. If he breathed, his lips would be on hers.

“What would you do if I kissed you right now? Would you pull away? Or would you pull me closer?”

Her glossy, heavy eyes stared up at him with arousal. John danced dangerously close to her mouth with his, just barely grazing. He pressed his body firmly to hers, feeling every sweet inch of her. Alyssa gasped. She gripped his waist at the contact, digging her fingers into him.

“You,” he pressed his lips to her neck and grinded his hips into her. “Are.” She gasped when he repeated the action, pushing a little harder the second time. “Lying,” he said, then kissed her forehead and stepped back.

John walked away as if he wasn’t affected by the kiss the way she was. He pulled out the cornhole boards just in time for Jace and Ford to show up. John stole a quick glance at Alyssa and winked. Her jaw slackened.

He knew she was lying.

“You know, we don’t just let anyone ride our shit, unless we’re in the sack,” Jace said, wiggling his brows. “Then it’s a free for all.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes, playfully slapping his stomach with the back of her hand. “Please.”

Jace chugged his beer. “It’s true. I’ve never seen anyone ride his ATV before.” He nodded toward John who was standing in front of the fire pit talking to Sarah, which wasn’t boding well with her. This is exactly what she didn’t want to happen, to be left alone while he talked with another girl. “Next thing you know he’ll be letting you drive his fruity truck.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“If that’s what you think … but what would happen if I wrapped an arm around your shoulder right now?”

Her face scrunched together. “Nothing?”

Jace took a long gulp of his beer. “Wanna test it out?”

“Not particularly.”

“Scared?”

She huffed. “I’m not scared. Seriously, we’re just friends. I don’t know why you would think anything else.”

“I’ve known John much longer than you, and you may say you’re just friends, but by the way he’s looking at you and letting you drive his wheels? No, definitely not just friends.”

She tipped her beer to him. Could he be right?

“If you say so.”

Jace scooted closer. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her to him. Alyssa took another sip of her beer, relaxing into him and getting comfortable.

The spark, crisp sounds of the fire caught her eyes. The blue and yellow summoned her, forcing her to look at it. Alyssa was fascinated by the beautiful colors until she noticed John standing a few feet to the right, laughing away with someone other than Sarah now. She was gorgeous from head to toe with her bouncy blonde curls to her perfectly placed makeup. She looked like a Barbie doll. Her insecurities were coming out and she hated it.

“You see that?” he asked, flicking his jaw toward John.

Alyssa was conflicted. She cared for John as a friend, but she still felt a pang of jealousy seeing him talk with another girl. This is exactly why she said no good thing can come from a kiss. Because a kiss leads to another kiss and feelings are secretly woven through it all. Maybe it was the beer that was causing her emotions to bounce around and mess with her head. Jace’s fingers massaged her shoulder and she rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, trying to clear the unexpected feelings she had for John.

“I see it.”

“You’re playing with fire,” Ford mumbled, walking up to grab a beer and then left.

Alyssa sighed into Jace as John turned around. His eyes danced across the crowd until they landed on her. His smile dropped from his face, and he pierced them with a dark look as he sauntered over to where they stood.

“See?” Jace whispered in her ear. “Look at him walking over here ready to mark his claim.”

Alyssa chuckled. “You’re still wrong.”

“Whatever you say, sugar plum.”

John was in front of them. “Ready to play some cornhole? It can get pretty competitive,” he said casually.