Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“It’s not that I want a kiss for my birthday, but that I want a kiss from you.”
Panic raced through me, and I snatched up my mug to take a big, scalding drink. The heat and caffeine gave a much-needed jolt to my brain while helping to get my fears under control. This entire conversation was utterly out of left field. Every other interaction I’d had with Simon had been short and mumbled. He almost never looked me in the eye. Had the shyness been because he had a crush on me?
The thought was sweet, but he was also a thirteen-year-old boy and the younger brother of my best friend. All that was a fuck no. Hell to the fuck no. I didn’t care how sweetly and innocently he asked.
“Simon, come on. You know I can’t do that.”
“Because I’m not attractive enough?”
I took another deep drink to stop my pained groan. He was trying to kill me. It was his fucking birthday. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He was such a good kid, even if he was torturing me right now.
“It has nothing to do with your appearance. It’s the age difference. Thirteen is a great age, but not old enough for kisses from guys in college. Plus, you’re my best friend’s little brother. If Sawyer found out I kissed you, he’d kill me.”
Simon rolled his eyes, proving that he was very much a teenager now. “I’m asking for a kiss. I’m not asking you to f—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I snapped, cutting him off.
Simon smirked at me. There was a new twinkle in those large blue eyes that convinced me it was time to reassess exactly how sweet and innocent this “boy” was. I’d been about to wonder how he might have learned anything about sex, but then I recalled that I’d seen and read things I shouldn’t have at a far younger age.
“Please, Pierce,” he pleaded, returning to his earlier sweet and innocent look. “It’s just that you’re so hot and smart. Everyone else my age is stupid and immature. A tiny kiss for my birthday.”
“Simon, no,” I said, pulling out my firmest tone. “It’s not happening. I’m flattered, but you’re far too young, and I don’t see you like that.” When I finished speaking, I braced myself for tears and a tantrum as I picked up my coffee mug. But what I got was a hundred times worse.
Simon’s smug smile had returned as he tipped his face up toward me while he continued to lean on the counter. “I’m not giving up,” he stated in a frighteningly calm, almost amused tone. “One of these days, you’re going to kiss me, and it’s going to be amazing. You’re going to wish you’d kissed me sooner.”
I bit my tongue to the point of almost bleeding as I walked out of the kitchen. There was nothing to be gained by continuing this argument. Nothing I said would sway him.
And I was afraid he was right—he would never give up until he got exactly what he wanted.
1
SIMON MILLER
January 17, 2026
Declan was so lucky. I thought I was going to choke on my jealousy.
It was Declan’s birthday, and his fiancé had thrown him a spectacular party filled with loving friends and even some of Parker’s family from Arizona. But all that big, silent man cared about was the smile on his fiancé’s face and the baby in his arms.
Joy loved every second of the attention, the colorful balloons, and the snacks Declan regularly sneaked to the soon-to-be one-year-old.
When the family’s new nanny swept in to put the little princess to bed, Declan swapped the child for Parker, keeping his arm around Parker’s waist as if he couldn’t bear to be parted from him.
Even though Declan had always been reserved and withdrawn, it was easy to see how happy Parker made him.
And I wanted that.
I wanted it so badly, I could spit blood. Why didn’t I have someone who worried about whether I was cold, hungry, or tired?
Oh, that would be because I was a complete dumb-ass, hung up on a guy who couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me.
Yeah, I was the one who just had to choose the hard route in life.
The usual crowd of close friends had shown up for Declan’s party. Even Pierce. There was no way he could bow out from this get-together and not appear to be a total douchebag for it.
Out of kindness to Declan, I was keeping a careful distance from him. There were roving groups of partygoers in almost every room on the first floor, and I tried to make sure I didn’t occupy the same room as Pierce. It wasn’t too hard. Declan had a large house and Parker had completed several murals on the walls, giving guests ample opportunity to peruse as they wandered about with their drinks and tiny plates of canapés.