Page 88 of Under the Influence

And Drayton losing his baby sister?

Devasting.

I wonder if Nash knows any of that. He probably didn’t care to ask, and I highly doubt he even went to their wedding.

“I’m sorry you have to do this. It’s not fair.”

He pulls me down next to him on his bed, positioning my head on his shoulder. His hands slide into my hair, causing my heart to beat faster.

“Our parents do things all the time that aren't fair to us. One of mine even died, and that definitely wasn’t fair.”

“What was he like?” I ask, hoping that he’ll tell me.

“Hilarious. Strong. Kind. One of the good ones.”

I tilt my head up to him, “So a lot like you?”

He smiles, bringing his lips to mine, and all of my anxiety washes away with his kiss. He opens his eyes looking straight down into mine, and I feel something I’ve never felt before.

I’m not entirely sure if his heart is changing mine or restoring it, but I think I’m falling in love with him.

“Will you be my date for homecoming?” I ask, following it up with a quick bout of word vomit, “I know you haven’t even set foot in Legacy yet, but I want to stake my claim on you, and I just⁠—”

He interrupts me, grabbing my jaw, “I’m your boyfriend, Lainey. You aren’t allowed to go with anyone else.”

Then he kisses me again, soft and delicate but in a “you’re mine” kind of way. I roll into him, feeling the rigidness of his body against my more petite one as our tongues clash together.

His hands roam up my torso and his fingertips brush the pale skin underneath the fabric of my dress, that is now hiked up above my panties. The further his hand roams upward, the heat between my thighs grows.

As his hands wrap around my back to unhook my bra, I stop him, “Drayton.”

“Yeah?” he breathes, all but panting at this point.

“Can we slow down a little?”

We’ve made out plenty of times, but this is the first time it’s gotten this far. I’m pretty sure that my first time will be with him, but I don’t know when the right time will be. Especially after hearing Cori say she wishes she would’ve waited.

He pulls back, fixing my dress, “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

“I want to,” I rush. “I just haven’t ever.”

“You’re a virgin?” he gasps, sitting straight up in his bed.

“Don’t act so surprised.”

The shock on his face is priceless, “I just didn’t expect that. I honestly figured you and Madden had.”

I internally roll my eyes, “I told you that Madden and I are friends, and we’ve never crossed any of those lines.”

Drayton smiles, “I like him more and more by the minute.”

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know If I’m ready.”

He pulls me back closer to him, kissing my neck, “Well, I’m not here to rush you.”

“What are you here for then?” I tease.

“To make you fall in love with me, duh.”