When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(32)

“Looks like you found where you belong then,” Kennedy states, patting him on the back.

“And where do you belong?” Rico asks. His face, which is usually full of laughter lines, is drawn in a serious, flat smile.

“Where I’ve always belonged.” Her wink makes the weight on my heart ease a small amount. She sits on my lap, and Rico’s slides a plate in front of us.

Kennedy grabs the fork and feeds me several pieces of chicken. The conversation around us moves to everyone’s majors and plans after college. I find it funny how a short year can change you, can affect you, and the future you dream about. It wasn’t so long ago we were too wrapped up in our own messes to take the time to even think about tomorrow.

“Do you want to put a movie in?” I whisper in Kennedy’s ear when our plate is empty. She wiggles in my lap and clutches the towel wrapped around her.

Over her shoulder, she smiles. “Only if I get to pick.” She stands and walks to the door, but not without me watching her. “I’ll see you guys in the morning,” she calls over her shoulder.

I follow behind her, but a petite hand wrapping around my forearm stops me. A bushel of red hair greets me. Violet pulls me into a tight hug. When she steps back, her eyes grow tender.

“Thank you for loving her as much as you do, even when she became unlovable.” Violet sniffs, then runs over to Dan.

“Violet,” I call. She turns. “Kennedy has never been unlovable a day in her life.”

She nods, but her lips are flat and an underlying tension fills her eyes.

“I’ll catch you guys in the morning, okay?” I wave over my shoulder.

“Remind Kennedy we have pedicures scheduled tomorrow morning,” Bea shouts down the hallway.

I turn to acknowledge the fact the girls will be stealing some time away from me. When I walk in my room, I find Kennedy cozied up to my pillow. For a split second, I swear she’s sniffing the cotton pillowcase.

“What are you doing?”

She’s fast to sit up, adjusting her tank top and flattening her hair. She’s been caught. Kennedy sighs, and her shoulders slump.

“I forgot what you smelled like.” A look of defeat wraps around her eyes. “I mean, it hasn’t been that long, but I think I found it hardest when little parts of you started to slip from my memory.”

I grab a pair of sweats from my dresser, and, remembering the way she looked at me in the hot tub, drop my wet shorts. When I turn, her bottom lip is tucked between her teeth. Her eyes roam my body, never truly landing on any particular part. She groans when I put on a t-shirt. As I pull the covers back, Kennedy writhes against the soft sheets, her knees clenched tight. I crawl into the space beside her and rest my head against the pillow she’d been romancing.

“What movie did you choose to bore me?”

“I thought we’d switch it up and watch a scary movie,” Kennedy says.

I lean over to the light switch and darken the room.

“What are you doing?” Kennedy abruptly sits up.

“If it’s a scary movie, then we’re doing it right, which means the lights are off, and you’re half-naked.”

“What?” Kennedy’s eyes narrow.

“Every classic scary movie has half-naked girls, so it only seems right you take your pants off.” I pinch the tight fabric covering her skin.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Does this look like I’m kidding?” I attempt to keep a straight face but crack a smile.

“Graham Black, two can play that game.” Kennedy yanks her tank top over her head, leaving her in tight yoga pants and a bright pink bra. I shrug, thinking she’s done, but always willing to surprise me, she reaches beneath the blanket, coming up with a handful of black material. “Don’t challenge me, Mr. Black. You’ll lose.”

“Is that a threat?” I reach past her to put my phone on the bedside table. My chest bumps against hers with deliberation. Her intake of breath says it has the effect I’m hoping for.

“Aren’t we too old to be playing these games?” Kennedy tries to straighten out the situation.

“That sort of sounded like a white flag waving in the air, if I ever heard one before.” I laugh.

“I felt you in the hot tub. It took two seconds for me to be on your lap before little Graham down there stood at attention. You won’t last a day,” Kennedy threatens as she rolls over and tucks the blanket beneath her chin. Her eyes settle on the television.

I wrap my body around her until we’re tucked together like a pair of spoons, my dick bumping against her ass. “Little, huh?” I whisper in her ear. “Let’s put a little wager on this one, shall we?” I roll her back over to look in her crystal clear eyes but am surprised to glimpse a storm brewing in them.

“What are the stakes?” Kennedy’s eyebrow perks up as if she’s actually flirting with the idea of making a bet with me.

“If I win … you have to get my name tattooed on your ass.”

“And if I manage to keep my hands to myself longer, you have to perform a scene from Swan Lake … in front of everyone.”

“Deal.” I reach out to shake her hand.

“Did I mention in a tutu and tights?” She clenches mine and we make a silent agreement.