Levitate by Kaylee Ryan Page B

elephant in the room. Trying to avoid the chemistry that sparks between us. I will admit to that, but I want more. I know from my body’s reaction to him that even one time with Maxton and I would be destroyed when he walks away.

I DOWNED THE entire bottle of water, trying to cool my shit down. I had to stay back in my room for a few minutes to talk my dick down. Fuck, the sight of her leaning back on her elbows, her legs around my hips. I want nothing more than to sink inside her and stay there… for days.
    I noticed when I came in that she was on Facebook. I take the stool beside her and pull out my phone. I tap on the search button and search for her name. Immediately, I see her picture pop up.
    Kensington James.
    I click the button to send her a friend request. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her phone vibrate on the counter with a notification, I assume. I watch as she picks it up and slides her finger across the screen. A small smile plays on her lips. My phone dings with a notification. Looking down, I see “Kensington James has accepted your friend request.”
    I lean over and bump my shoulder against hers. No words are said as we sit and play with our phones. The silence is comfortable. I scroll through her friends list and see Nicole. I send her a request as well. Brighton is head over heels for her, and maybe if I get to know her better, I can find out what it’s going to take to crack my new friend Kensington.
    After I’ve exhausted my daily dose of Facebook, I close out the app and slide my phone back in my pocket. “Why don’t we go start a fire? It’s hard to tell what they’re doing in there,” I suggest.
    “Sounds good. I love bonfires,” she says, standing. Her eyes glance back at the hallway. “She really likes him,” she states as she turns to head outside. I grab a blanket from the back of the couch, as well as my sweatshirt, which she folded and placed on the table by the patio door.
    Once we are outside, I make my way down to the patio and throw a few logs on the fire before lighting a match. The blaze starts a slow burn. I take the lounger next to Kensington and hand her the sweatshirt. She happily slides back into it and burrows her arms in front of her. Once she seems to be settled, I stand and shake out the blanket. I drape it over her legs and tuck it around her. I don’t want her getting cold.
    Once I have her covered and wrapped in a cocoon, I sit back on the lounger and watch as the flame starts to grow. “He really likes her too, just so you know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him the way he is with her.”
    “How long have you guys been friends?”
    “Since kindergarten. We met on the first day and we’ve been inseparable ever since. How about you and Nicole?”
    Her face lights up at the mention of her best friend. “Our freshman year at college. I was in a rough place and Nicole… she saved me.”
    I wait for her to elaborate, but she doesn’t. I want to know more about her. What had her in a bad place and what did she mean by Nicole saved her? I have a million questions running through my mind.
    “Bright and I have been through some shit together, that’s for sure,” I offer that little tidbit, hoping she’ll elaborate. She doesn’t. “So Bright said you are both seniors this year?” I inquire. I want to keep her talking.
    “Yeah. I’m kind of sad about it, if you want to know the truth. I don’t know where life is going to take us. I hate the thought of losing touch with her.”
    “Sounds to me like the two of you are tight. It’s hard to break that bond,” I tell her.
    “So you own Cooper’s? I’ve been there a few times, but I’ve never seen you.”
    “Yeah.” I hesitate to tell her more. I decide to go with it and skip over the details. “My dad passed away a few years ago. He and my mom were divorced and he left the business and this place to me.” I point toward the house.
    “This place is amazing. Honestly, when I first walked in, I