seat belt, and turned to face Gabi—“are absolutely gorgeous.”
A red blush stained her cheeks. “Lex, it’s fine. I mean—”
I held up my hand. “Let me finish.”
She swallowed, her eyes darting to the center console while she wrung her hands together.
“You have the most amazing smile I’ve ever seen. It’s like staring at the sun . . .” I sighed. “I get lost in your eyes every time they lock onto me, and I’m ashamed to admit that some of the reason I’ve pushed you away lies in the fact that those very trusting eyes saw too much. Damn, they still see too much, but I’m done.” Another sigh slipped out. “Gabs, I’m so done with this, whatever it is.”
Gabi looked horrified, as if I’d just run over her pet. Her eyes got so huge it was hard to concentrate. Damn, she was gorgeous.
Her breaths came fast and harsh as she searched my eyes. With a mumble she said, “Okay then.”
I cursed and ran my hands over my buzzed head. “I like you. A lot. And if Ian can’t handle that, then screw him! I’m . . . just . . .” I shrugged. “I’m making a total ass out of myself right now . . . But I refuse to let another minute go by with you believing you’re a seven, or even a ten, when you’re a twelve, hell, a fifteen. When every time you look at me, it’s like seeing the sunrise over the mountains, its rays lighting up everything around it so even if someone wants to stay in the darkness, they won’t, not for long, not when you’re around.”
I’d stopped looking at her—probably wouldn’t have had the balls to say any of it if I did look—so I stared at my steering wheel. Something wet dropped onto my hand. I glanced up and found she was crying.
“That’s why you call me Sunshine?”
I smirked. “Even when I insult you it’s a compliment, Gabs.”
She punched me in the shoulder.
“I deserved that.”
“You really mean . . . all those things?”
“Yeah.” My voice cracked. “I really do.”
“You know I hate you, right?” She reached for me, grasping the front of my T-shirt and tugging my body as close as possible.
“Oh, I know.” I nodded smugly. “I hate you too.”
“Good.”
“Great.”
Her lips twitched. “Okay.”
“Okay.” My mouth met hers in a searing kiss.
Gabi’s hands pressed against my chest, then spread around my shoulders and hooked behind my neck. “You taste good.”
“Like sunshine?” I joked.
“Yeah.” She laughed against my mouth. “Like sunshine.”
I couldn’t pull her into my lap, even though that was all I wanted, and the idea of hopping into the backseat had merit, except it was Gabi, and she was more than a quick screw in the back of a car.
Our tongues tangled together as our mouths synced with kiss after dizzying kiss.
“Ian’s going to think you killed me,” Gabi breathed, mouth swollen. She broke away and then rested her chin on my shoulder, running her hands up and down my neck.
Shivering, I returned her hug and closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of vanilla and wildflowers. “Yeah, probably.”
“Pizza?”
“Can’t I just eat you?”
“Why do you have to ruin every moment?” She laughed against me.
“According to Ian I’m an asshole, so . . . from here on out, let’s just assume the worst, shall we?”
“You’re not . . .” Gabi chuckled, then made a face. “Only sometimes . . . like a few hours out of the day.”
“Good to know you have such a high opinion of me.”
She winked. “Always.” After buckling her seat belt, she spread her arms wide and smiled. “Okay, let’s get home before he calls the cops.”
I snorted and started the car. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Won’t be the last.”
“Nope.”
She reached for my hand. “Lex?”
“Yeah?” The last thing I wanted was to share her with Ian. “What’s up?”
“We’ll tell him together . . . But let’s wait until after my family dinner this weekend, alright? He’s going to take it hard, and I don’t know, I just think we should wait. I’ll tell Blake first. That way, when he does find out, she can talk him through it.”
“Whatever you want, Gabs, you know I’d agree to anything.”
“Anything?”
“Gabs,” I warned.
“My car’s been acting up. You should probably go see what’s wrong with it . . . shirtless . . .” She nodded. “Maybe rub a bit of oil on your face . . . No.” She clapped her hands, scaring the shit out of