Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

“All I wanted was to be tied to her forever.”

Her eyes turn down. “And now

?”

“I want that with someone. One day.”

“With her?”

“Fuck no.” The light turns green. I focus on the road. Two lanes all full of cars. Bright blue sky. Brown lawns and beige store fronts. “Someone else. Someone I can trust.”

“Are you ready to trust someone?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re honest with me.”

“I try.”

Her fingers brush my wrist. “That means a lot.”

“Same for you. I mean me. I mean—”

“I know.” She traces the lines of the ink on my forearm. “I think I trust you more than I trust anyone.”

“Yeah?” Traffic stops me. I turn to her. Stare into those blue-green eyes. She’s back to the Leighton everyone knows—dark makeup, fierce hair, tight dress, I’m friendly until you fuck with me smile.

But there’s something in her eyes.

A promise of more.

Or maybe a plea for it.

Or maybe I’m imaging shit.

I don’t know how any of this works anymore.

A car honks behind us.

“Oh. Ryan.” Leighton motions to the road.

Traffic is zooming. I hit the gas. Focus on driving the dozen blocks to school.

I pull up to a side street.

She lifts her bag into her lap. “Is it a fancy party?”

“Dean’s wearing a suit.”

“You have one?”

Somebody behind us honks. We’re parked in the loading zone. We’re the assholes fucking with the flow of traffic.

But I can’t bring myself to drive away.

I shake my head.

“You want my help picking one out?”