There's vulnerability in Kaylee's green eyes.

No matter what I say, my answer is going to break her.

I don't want you.

I want you, but we can't be together.

She presses her fingertips into her knees. Her eyes stay fixed on mine.

They demand an answer.

God, I wish I could tell her what she wants to hear.

I wish we lived in some alternate universe where this could happen.

"Brendon." Her voice is shaky. "I'm not leaving until you answer."

"You're my best friend, Kay."

She stares back at me as if to say and?

"If a million things were different, yeah. But they're not. Why focus on what ifs?"

"But you... you want to be with me." She sits up straighter. "You want to fuck me."

"If you were some girl I knew, one who wanted me, then yeah, I'd fuck you."

"But you... do you want it now?"

Fuck yeah.

Let's go home now.

Straight to my room.

I'll strip you out of that dress.

Pin you to my bed.

Teach you every fucking thing you need to know.

Her voice gets firm. Confident. "You must have bet Dean for a reason. Because you like the idea of me as a virgin."

"No. It didn't mean anything."

That's bullshit.

I fucking love that Kaylee is a virgin. I love the idea of being the first person inside her. Of my name being the first on her lips. Of my hand being the first on her ass.

It's not because I'm hot for virgins.

It's because it's Kay. Because she's an angel. Because she's sweet. Because I want to watch her bloom in every fucking way she can.

"It doesn't matter, Kay. We can't." I take her hand and pull her to her feet. "Get the thought out of your head."

"What if it won't go?"

"It will. It just takes time." I take a step backward. I can't lie to her. Not when she's looking at me with those gorgeous green eyes. "Forget about me. Find another guy. One you actually want to be with."

"But I..." Her eyes turn down. She wraps her arms around her chest. "I need to get my purse."

"I will. Stay here."

She nods.

I move back into the shop.

Everyone—save Ryan and Dean—is sitting on the benches. Staring at me like I'm holding a hundred-thousand-dollar vase.

Emma glares at me. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah," I say.

"Why would you bet Dean about that?" Emma grabs Kaylee's pink purse as she pushes herself to her feet.

"We get bored. Look for stuff to do." More bullshit.

Walker shoots me an incredulous look.

I shoot him a shut the fuck up.

Leighton shakes her head I don't think so, but Emma doesn't notice.

My sister moves toward the door. "I'll take her home." She grabs the door. "I'm tired anyway."

I nod. "You okay walking?"

"It's only five blocks." Emma steps outside without glancing in my direction. Pure cold shoulder.

Walker shakes his head. "You're lucky Ryan didn't hear that." He looks to Leighton for support.

She wraps a pink strand around her finger. It matches the cherry blossom tattoo on her forearm.

"You have something to add?" I ask.

She brings her hand to her other arm. "Kaylee deserves better."

"I'm aware of that."

"But the heart wants what it wants. And she's clearly in love with you." Leighton pushes herself to her feet. "If you care about her—and we all know you do—then grab onto her or let her go."

"I do—"

"No. I see the way you look at her. The way you flirt with her. You keep tossing her I want you breadcrumbs. You're keeping her in waiting." She reaches for the door. "She deserves better than that."

* * *

At home, Kaylee is on the couch in a tiny tank top and smaller shorts, her arms wrapped around her knees, her hands on her Kindle.

She looks up at me as the door swings shut. Her eyes fill with frustration. Then regret.

"Hey." I toss my keys on the table. Leave my shoes by the door. Like tonight never happened. "Emma go to bed?"

"Yeah." Her voice is shaky. She looks back to her Kindle. Taps her fingers against its edge. "So, we're... we're gonna act like everything is normal?"

Not exactly, but close.

Leighton is right.

I need to let Kaylee go.

To be her friend, and nothing more.

"That's for the best," I say.

"Yeah."

"Oh." Her voice is hollow. "So, we're..."

"We're friends."

I wish there were some way to make this easier for her.

To wipe every thought of me from her head.

But if I can't stop thinking about her, I don't see how I can convince her to stop thinking about me.

"Yeah. Of course." There's no fight in her voice. Because she's tired of fighting or because she understands this is how it has to be?

It doesn't matter. She'll get used to it.

We are friends. The sooner we act like things are normal, the better.

I take a seat on the other side of the couch. "I'm gonna watch something."

She sets her Kindle down. Sits so her back is against the back cushion of the couch, her legs hanging over the edge. "Something dumb with explosions?" There's humor in her voice. It's not all the way to Kaylee teasing me, but it's getting there.

"Not that you'd ever judge?" I tease back. Almost. I'm only at eighty percent.

She forces a smile. "I'd never." Her eyes catch mine as she turns toward me. "What do you like about that stuff anyway?"

"What do you like about The Hunger Games?"

Her eyes light up. All of a sudden, the tension between us melts. I don't know she's a virgin. She doesn't know I want her. It's just Kaylee and Brendon on the couch debating movies again.

"What don't I like about The Hunger Games? First of all, there's Katniss. She smart, strong, brave. But she's not trying to start a revolution. She's not even trying to resist. She's just trying to survive."

I know exactly how to press this. "Yeah, but she's a Mary Sue."

Kaylee jumps off the couch. "Excuse me? Katniss is all flaws. Mary Sue is a bullshit sex term anyway. You never hear anyone complain about guys being good at everything. You never hear people saying Harry Potter is such a Gary Stu. If you actually read the book, you'd know that her moodiness and her struggle to connect with other people is a big hindrance."

Warmth fills my chest. I fucking love seeing her like this.

And it feels normal.

"That guy she's into. He's boring." Truth be told, I enjoy The Hunger Games quite a bit. Even the love triangle. But it's too much fun seeing Kay's eyes light up.

"Oh, big surprise. Another guy complaining about Peeta. Where is it guys got the idea brooding and angry is better than supportive and funny?"

I raise a brow. "You could let a guy dream."

She laughs so hard her tits shake. "Is that why you're on Team Gale?"

"Brooding and handsome has to count for something."

He cheeks flush. "Yeah. But a sense of humor is important too. And being able take care of someone. Do you really think you would be able to take care of Katniss?"

"I'm not sure anyone could take care of Katniss."

Kaylee's lips press together. Her voice gets soft. Uncertain. "Yeah. I guess... I guess she's kinda broken at the end. But I like to believe she's okay. That time and love are enough."

"Me too."

She turns toward me. There's something in her eyes, but I don't know what it is. "Why do you love action movies?"

"I can't go after that. Your answer is poetic. Mine is boring."

"Then make it poetic."

"I'm not the writer. If you want something pretty, well, check out your temporary tattoo in the mirror."

She shakes her head. "I want your boring answer."

"The boldness of them grabs my attention."

"Hmm."

"Don't hmm me."

"You do it all the time."

"Still."

She laughs. "You're a hypocrite. But I guess I'll forgive you." She sinks into the leather. Her voice gets earnest. "I do forgive you."

"Thanks." My shoulders relax. Then my back. My jaw. A wave of easiness floats through my body. I need her forgiveness. I need her friendship. Hell, I need a lot more than that, but it's all I'm gonna get.

Her voice perks. Back to teasing. "You're going to make it up to me."

"Am I?" Loose the shorts and the panties and spread your legs. I want to look at that soft pink cunt before you come on my face.

"You're going let me pick which dumb action movie we watch. Actually, it won't be dumb."

"The Hunger Games doesn't count as an action movie."

"Yes, it does. It has fight scenes. It has people killing each other. It even has explosions."

"Okay. But I get to pick the next one."

"I bet the plot will be incomprehensible."

I can help but chuckle. "Maybe."

She leans back against the couch. Crosses her legs. "You're too smart to enjoy that."

I turn toward her. Soak in the way her lips are turning upward, the brightness in her eyes, the softness in her shoulders. "Says who?"

"Me. Obviously." Her eyes spark.

It lights me up inside. "It's not the same for you. You're a writer. You see the strings."

Kaylee shakes her head. Her cheeks flush. "I'm not a writer. I write things sometimes. It's different."

"You write things. Doesn't that make you a writer?"

"No."

"No? I tattoo people. That makes me a tattoo artist."

"Well, what if you'd only done it once? Or only sometimes? If it was a hobby?"

"I'd still be a tattoo artist."

"It's different."

"How?"

"It just is."

"I hate to break it to you, but you're a writer. You're always scribbling in your notebook."

The last word makes her tense. Her shoulders go back to her ears. Her teeth sink into her lip.

She shakes it off. "It's just a hobby."

"It could be more."

"No... I don't think so."

"Why not?"

She looks me in the eyes. Her voice gets strong. Confident. "Because it's my life and I can do what I want."

I can't argue with that. But it's not the reason. "I have a proposition for you."

She perks. "I'm listening."

"I'll watch all four movies with you."

Kaylee claps her hands together. Joy spills over her expression. Her eyes get bright. Her lip corners turn upward. Her brow relaxes. "Okay. Right now? All night?"

"Right now. All night. Can you really stay awake?"

"For Katniss? Of course."

"I bet you can't."

Her eyes narrow. Yeah, bets are a bit of a sore subject. But I don't see another way to make this happen.

"Okay." She taps her fingers against her thigh. "I bet I'll stay awake. What are the terms?"

"You're registering for classes this weekend?"

"Yeah. And?"

"If you fall asleep, you have to register for a creative writing class."

"I don't know..."

"If you're sure, what's it hurt to bet?"

She presses her lips to one side. "If I win, I get to pick your next tattoo. And you get no veto power."

"Harsh."

"Well, if you're sure, what's it hurt to bet?" She smiles as she throws my words back at me.

"True." I am sure. And I actually trust her not to fuck me over. Even though I deserve it. "You're on."