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“When you showed up at the hospital, it was the first time I felt like I could breathe since seeing my father lying in a hospital bed. Like you were the only person I knew who could hold me together when it felt like my world was falling apart.”

I place my hand on top of hers, the heat of her skin practically burning me. “I’m glad I could be there for you.”

“Me too.”

“And I will always be here when shit hits the fan, Lennon. No matter what.”

Her eyes bounce between mine as her brows draw together. “But you left, Easton.”

“You did too, Lennon.”

“No, you left me.” Her head lands on my shoulder, so I wrap my arm around her waist, holding her closer. Breathing her in, I close my eyes as her warmth overtakes me.

But then my eyes pop open just as I feel her head shift and her lips brush my skin.

Jesus Christ.

If I wasn’t hard before, with that one press of her mouth against my neck, my dick turns to steel.

“Lennon…”

“But you’re here now,” she mumbles against my Adam’s apple before pressing her lips right beneath my ear.

Teenage me would be in disbelief at what’s happening here.

But adult me is wondering if this is intentional, or just because she’s drinking.

I squeeze her hand on my leg. “Lennon, stop.”

She leans back and meets my eyes, frowning. “Why?”

“Because you’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Well, you’re sure as fuck not sober.”

Her eyes narrow and she retreats from the closeness we just shared. “You know what? Forget it.”

I grip her chin gently and tip her face toward mine, holding her gaze. “No. Don’t do that. Say what you want to say, Lennon.”

I can practically hear the wheels turning in her brain. “It doesn’t matter. I guess I just read this week all wrong.”

Closing my eyes, I blow out a breath as I war over how to respond to that.

The truth is, I’m fighting my desire to capture her lips with mine and finish what she started, watching her writhe beneath me as I do everything I’ve ever imagined doing to her perfect body.

But on the other hand, come Monday, I’m back in North Carolina, far away from Garnet Valley and the closeness we’ve shared for the past week.

Lennon deserves more than one night. She deserves more than I can offer her right now, which is exactly why I need to shut this down, no matter how amazing I know it would be.

“I guess you did read this wrong,” I say, lying through my fucking teeth, but it’s easier than offering her the truth—that a less gentleman version of myself didn’t want to stop her.

And she deserves better than that.

She deserves to know exactly how I’ve felt about her—and most likely still do—before we ever cross that line.

Glaring at me, she drains the rest of her drink and then stands from her stool, heading straight for the door.