I meet her stare and smirk at her, just enough to make my signature dimples come out.
“Never have I ever been in love,” I say, and only Tae and Jax drink.
Interesting, so she didn’t love Drew. At least there’s that.
Kenna’s eyes are still stuck on me. She’s looking at me as if I’m a puzzle she’s trying to piece together. Maybe that’s a good thing—she’s always loved puzzles. She used to do the crossword in the Sunday paper growing up when she stayed over. My dad would sit at the breakfasttable reading the sports section, leaving the crossword and a pencil in the spot she’d sit in.
“Kitty, I just got the text that we’re up next for beer pong,” Carson says to Katie, and that seems to break whatever trance Kenna and I were in.
“Do you want a refill?” I ask Kenna, still mindlessly rubbing circles on her thigh.
Kenna clears her throat. “Yeah, I could use another.”
We top off our drinks and I ask, “Do you want to go back out to the fire and keep playing?”
Kenna nods, and I can’t help but feel mesmerized as I stare into her gorgeous aqua eyes. I want to get lost in them.
I follow her lead through the packed house back outside. Taking her hand in mine, sparks shoot up my arm from the touch. I see the slightest blush on her cheeks at my gesture.
Once we get back outside, we notice the game is over, and everyone else must’ve gone in to get refills and watch the beer pong match.
“Do you want to go back in?” I ask.
“Maybe we could play a little game of our own?” she asks.
I’d like to play a lot of games with you.
“Yeah. This time, let’s play two truths, one lie,” I suggest as I take a seat back in my chair by the fire.
“Isn’t it supposed to be two lies, one truth?”
“Not sure, honestly. But this way, I’ll get to catch up with you more,” I say as I smirk.
She smiles back at me. “Griffin Owen Turner, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to charm my pants off with those dimples.”
“I’m guessing it’d take more than these hideous indents in my cheeks to make that happen.”
“Hideous? Blasphemy! You know I’ve been a sucker for your dimples since we were kids. They’re my kryptonite.”
I do know that. Any time Carson and I would do something to upset Kenna and Katie, I’d break out the dimples, and she’d convince Katie that all should be forgiven. But hearing her say it makes me smile like the Cheshire Cat, only enhancing the dimples more.
Kenna bites at her bottom lip again, and my thoughts spiral.
I need to know what she tastes like. What would she do if I leaned in right now and kissed her? Would she pull away? Would she lean into it?
Stop being such a bitch, Turner, and kiss her already.
Kenna’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “My favorite snack is an apple with peanut butter. My first pet was Ranger. My biggest fear is never taking chances.”
“What kind of chances do you want to take, Kenna?” I ask as I pull her into my lap.
“What?” she responds with a breathlessness. “How did you know that wasn’t a lie?”
“Easy. You used to come home every day after school or practice and cut up an apple with peanut butter for as long as I’ve known you. And your first pet was Bits the Bunny, who passed away when you were eleven. That was before your mom and dad got Ranger to help you deal with the loss of Bits.”
Kenna’s breath hitches as she stares into my eyes. “I want to take as many chances as I can. What’s a life without risk? Without risks, there are no rewards, right? That’s my biggest fear—if I don’t take any chances, I’ll have a boring,unfulfilled life.”
I keep my eyes locked with hers. “You know, I’ve always been one to live just enough on the edge, like each day is my last. But I’m never reckless. I can’t be. Katie and my dad would kill me. We’ve been through enough after losing my mom.”
