Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"There's someone he talks about a lot." Emma presses her lips together. "A girl."

A voice echoes through the room. "Five minutes."

"Damn." Joel shakes his head. "They really gotta warn us about this shit. Pretty sure Ethan is still fingering Vi off some place."

"Oh... Uh..." My mouth gets sticky. How can he be so casual with that information? It's just... Umm... Uh...

"It was nice to meet you, Kaylee. Emma." He winks. "Give your brother a hard time, for me."

She laughs. "Will do."

The three of us make our way back to the main room. We cut through the crowd just in time for the lights to go down and the band to step on stage.

Emma and I get lost in the music for the entire set. Even Brendon seems to enjoy it.

Everything is perfect.

Until we're on our way out.

And Emma is dragging me into the bathroom. "Come on, Kay. We need to talk."

Chapter Forty-One

Kaylee

Emma goes straight to the sink. She sets her purse on the counter and digs through it until she finds her lipstick.

I lean against the wall. Watch her add another coat of red. Try to wipe the guilt from my eyes.

It's not working.

I find the lipstick in my purse and apply another coat. But my hands are shaking. The line is messy. Like it was after I was making out with her brother.

"So..." She zips her purse and taps her fingers against it.

"So...?"

Her chest heaves with her sigh.

I keep my lips pressed together.

I can't say anything.

She can't know.

It's just not an option.

"Whatever is happening, you can tell me." She turns toward me. "I won't be mad."

I don't believe that. I force my lips into a smile. "Nothing is happening."

"You... you and Brendon are being weird. And your lipstick was smudged in the car."

"I had a snack at Inked Hearts."

"Nobody snacks at Inked Hearts."

"In the lobby."