I walk over to Michael, who pulls me in for a side hug. Side hug or regular hug, this is the best hug I’ve ever had. My body wants to stay right here in his embrace forever.
“I think you’re naturally talented.” Michael’s eyes twinkle, and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Tingles skate down my neck and spine like they are on a water slide.
“Must be beginner’s luck,” Sean mutters.
He insists on another game, a harder one this time, and I agree. One by one, each member of the family shows up to watch. Every time I hit a ball in, a louder cheer erupts from them.
Finally, there’s only one ball left. I release the cue and sink the shot.
I look across the table at Sean. “Were we doing double or nothing?”
His frown twitches. “What just happened?”
My face can’t hold up the ruse anymore and morphs into a grin. I glance at Michael to find a similar smile lighting his features.
Sean looks between the two of us. “I think I was duped.”
I bite the inside of my cheek with a shrug, but Michael is the first to crack, and he chuckles.
“I knew you were in on it.” Sean points his cue at Michael. “You were smiling way too much.”
Michael comes behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I’m not sure if he’s using me as a shield or if he’s proud of me. Either way, it sends molten lava to my core. My breathing becomes quick and unsteady. I can feel every point of contact with him like his touch is being branded on my skin. I’ve never been held like this. But it seems to come so natural to him.
Because he’s not like you. He’s made for love. You aren’t.
My smile dissolves, and my throat constricts.
My inner voice hasn’t been that mean for a while.
“She’s my secret weapon.” Michael’s breath tickles my ear, and I want so badly to leaninto him and let him be my secret weapon against my biggest fears.
“Well, maybe I was only playing nice because she’s already dating a loser,” Sean taunts.
He’s not a loser.It would make thisso much easier if he was.
I swallow and face Sean. “So you want to play again, then? For real this time?”
Pink crawls up his cheeks and he looks away with a scoff. “No one likes a show-off, Juliet.”
“I do.” Michael whispers, so soft I can’t be sure if he actually said it.
He lets go of me to clean up the game, but I can’t get my body to move. It doesn’t want to be separated from him.
That’s the problem.
This thing with Michael, the five dates I promised him, it’s not working. The guards protecting my heart have left their posts, and I’m fighting this war by myself.
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it up.
Chapter 17
Juliet
I was prepared to leave after pool, but then Michael’s mom invited us to stay and watch their favorite Christmas movie with them. I don’t know why, but I imagined sitting in their cozy family room watching something heart-warming and filled with the Christmas spirit, something likeAChristmas Carol.
But instead, they turned onJingleallthe Way.
I’ve never seen it before and now I very much regret it. Or maybe I regret not having a family to watch it with. All the Bentleys are in hysterics over a show they must have seen dozens of times, and I can’t help but laugh along.
