When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(25)

“You’re stronger than you know,” I whisper in her hair, but she’s quick to pull away from me.

“Don’t cry, Graham.” Kennedy wipes away the tears I reserve only for her.

I pull her from the ice, and she brushes the cold remnants from the back of her pants. Kennedy turns to me and nods once. She knows I need time to gather my wits together, put on a brave face, and pretend that remembering the first time Kennedy pulled away doesn’t scare the living shit out of me.

Dan’s curious eyes bore into me. “You okay?” He knows exactly what I’m doing, so he skates backward in front of me, blocking me from everyone’s view. He’d never call me out on it. Drawing attention to others in their time of weakness is not his way. Not that having emotions should be considered a weakness. Allowing Kennedy into my life has taught me crying doesn’t make a person weak. Sometimes, it’s the exact opposite.

“I wish I would’ve known. When she pushed me away, I imagined a worst-case scenario, but it turns out my worst-case was her easiest day.”

“If it’s any consolation, I haven’t seen her smile this much in a while. Maryland isn’t too far away. I try to get to the city as much as possible to check on her,” Dan says, half to make me feel better, and perhaps because it’s the truth.

We look to where Kennedy’s talking to Amanda and Violet. Her head falls back as she tries to catch her breath from laughing at something Violet has whispered in her ear. She’s never looked more beautiful with the wind whipping through her hair.





“Truth or Dare!” Rick shouts when he walks in the room. A basket, full of liquor and shot glasses, is placed on the oversized coffee table in front of us. Vodka in hand, he walks around the room, pointing at each of us individually. The smirk on his face screams ‘you can’t stop this’. We stay quiet as he targets us with the end of the bottle.

“What are we, in high school?” Sandy argues.

Mark and Bea walk down the stairs. Clearly, their morning’s been spent resourcefully. They tease and poke each other until their smiles are almost unbearable to witness. I can’t be happier for her. Hell, I can’t be happier for him. Bea’s the type of girl you can’t stop looking at. She has an infectious laugh and an even sharper mind. He’s going to want to keep her close. I’m not surprised when he pulls her into his side, a protective arm lazily rested behind her as he leans back.

“The rules are, there are no rules.” Rick winks at Graham. “Except one, if you refuse to answer or do a task, you take a shot.”

“And what exactly is the point of this game?” Graham leans back against the cushion behind us.

“To get to know each other better,” Rick answers as if his response is obvious.

“I’m in,” Amanda cheers.

“Fuck it,” Violet concedes, throwing her hands in the air.

“If she’s in, I’m in,” Dan answers and shrugs his shoulders. We haven’t talked since I learned he’s known about Graham’s proximity. I’m not mad at him, but at the same time, I am. He’s offered a few smiles but kept his distance.

“This surprises no one.” Amanda rolls her eyes, then smiles at the two of them.

Griffin saunters into the room and takes a seat on the floor in front of Sandy. She wraps her arms around him and whispers in his ear. The easiness behind their intimacy makes me jealous and uncomfortable. I glance back at Graham, and his eyes slide to where mine were moments before. A storm brews behind the honey of his irises.

“I’ll go first.” I twist away from Graham. I can’t have him digging too deep, exposing everything I’m afraid to say out loud.

Rick reaches across the table with an extended fist. “Right on, new girl.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” I blurt, without thinking about the people around me. As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize I should’ve called truth to save myself the embarrassment.

“I dare you to kiss …,” with a devilish grin on his face, he scans the group until his eyes land on my best friend, “Violet.”

“I don’t know what the big deal is.” Violet scoots to the side until her hip hits mine. “We’ve kissed before.” At the news, Rick’s eyes widen. His body hums.

Freshman year of college, Violet was trying to prove a point to one of the interns she worked with. He believed all girls had a little lesbian fantasy in them. Her way to prove him wrong was to kiss me, and show him how unaffected we would be. Needless to say, he lost the argument.

I turn to my best friend and we share a laugh. Graham’s throat clears behind me. His discomfort at the idea of Violet and me kissing makes me powerful.

Our lips gravitate to each other, and as they’re about to touch, Rick shouts, “With tongue.”

Dan sits straight up in his chair, waiting for the show to unfold.

“You don’t need to do this if you don’t want to,” Graham whispers in my ear.

I twist around to look at him. “Quit worrying so much. Remember, you’ll give yourself a heart attack.”

His hands come up in mock defense. “Be my guest, then.” He sits back and slices his hand through the air in Violet’s direction.

I turn back to my best friend, knowing, in an instant, we’re going to go through with the dare. Violet, never one to give up on a challenge, comes full force without giving me a chance to rethink.