Merit (Treasure State Wildcats Book 4)
Merit: Chapter 7

Stevie’s cheeks were flushed from the cold, her eyes glued to the firepit in her parents’ backyard. There was an empty bottle of wine on the ground beside her chair, and she swirled the last of the cabernet in her glass as she stared at the flames.

I hadn’t seen her drunk since high school when I’d shown up at a kegger in the mountains and she’d already been there, three sheets to the wind.

She’d been happy that night, dancing and laughing with her friends as she’d ignored me completely. Not that I’d paid her much attention either. I’d been too busy getting drunk with my friends, then passing out in the back seat of my truck.

Tonight’s drunk Stevie was not a happy, laughing Stevie.

In the hours since graduation, her smile had gotten smaller and smaller until it had disappeared completely. She looked like she was about to cry.

“There’s room to expand for the garden center,” Declan said. He’d angled his chair toward mine over the last hour, almost turning his back on Stevie so he could face me at his side. “That little place, Hollis’s Greenhouse, closed down after last season. They only did potted annuals and perennials. Quick season too, open a few months. But a lot of locals shopped their center. It’s too late to add much this season but definitely something to consider in the future.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, finishing the last swallow of my water.

Declan had been talking to me about Adair Landscape for what felt like eons. He talked like I’d not only accepted his job offer, but worked there already. Every minute was excruciating with Stevie listening in. And that sunken, sad look on Stevie’s face told me that this was the first she was hearing about a garden center expansion.

Why wasn’t he facing her instead?

The night air was cold, even with the fire. Stevie had taken off her cap and gown once we’d gotten here for the party. Her dress was pretty but her arms were mostly bare and so were her legs. Every few minutes she shivered.

Was she afraid that if she went inside where it was warm, I’d go back on our deal? That I’d take Declan’s offer?

“I’m getting a little chilly,” I said, pushing up out of my chair. “Think I’ll head inside.”

“Me too.” Stevie grabbed the empty bottle and stood. Then she turned for the lawn, tossing out the rest of her wine as I fell in step behind her for the door.

“I’ll take care of the fire,” Declan said. “Meet you guys inside.”

Stevie kept marching to the sliding door, stepping inside where Elle and Mabel were visiting.

Mom had fallen asleep on the couch after dinner, so Dad had taken her home. Elle was exactly where she’d been for hours, sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, sipping her own glass of cabernet as she talked to my sister. From the sounds of the TV in the living room, Bodhi was watching ESPN.

The kitchen was decorated with crepe paper and shiny streamers. There was a bouquet of clear balloons, each filled with confetti, on the dining room table. The arched opening to the dining room was strung with a banner that read CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE!

The barbeque leftovers were all stowed in the fridge. The cupcakes had been inhaled. Now that the wine was gone, it was time to go home.

“Hey.” Elle greeted us with a wide smile. “Is it getting cold out there?”

“Yeah.” Stevie nodded. “I’m going to head home.”

“What?” Elle frowned and slid off her stool. “I thought you’d spend the night.”

“I think I want to sleep in my own bed.”

“Oh, all right.” Elle pouted and pulled her daughter into her arms. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks for everything, Mom.” Stevie hugged her back, then collected her purse from the kitchen counter. “Tell Dad I said good night.”

Yep, she was mad. Stevie hugged everyone goodbye. Always. Well, everyone except me.

“I’d better get Bodhi home too,” Mabel said, sliding off her own stool. “Want a ride, Stevie?”

“That’s okay. I’ll call an Uber.”

“I’ll drive you home,” I said.

Stevie scrunched up her nose.

It was a reaction I’d seen a hundred, a thousand, times. And a reaction that was perfectly fine when we were enemies.

Except she was, technically, my girlfriend. We were going to need to work on that.

“Thanks, Elle.” I gave her a quick hug, then put my hand on Stevie’s lower back. “Ready?”

She stiffened, then realized her mother and my sister were watching, so she nodded and let me escort her to the door.

Bodhi came running out after us, jogging to the driveway. “See ya.”

“Good night, kids.” Elle waved from the doorway, then slipped inside as we started for my truck.

“You two are doing a horrible job of faking this,” Mabel said.

“Who said it was fake?” I asked.

Stevie dropped her gaze to the concrete beneath her shoes.

“I get why you’re ‘dating.’ ” Mabel added the air quotes. “Just don’t do anything that will hurt each other, okay? Or anyone else. I think everyone is going to pretend right along with you for Mom’s sake. And I think everyone likes the novelty of you two getting along, so they’re willing to go along with this for a while. But be careful that it doesn’t become a lie so big it breaks hearts. Especially Mom’s.”

“I’m not going to do anything to hurt Mom, Mabel.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Mom asked us to make up. That’s what we’re doing. It’s a handful of dates on Saturday nights. That’s not a lie.”

Stevie only gave my sister a shrug.

“Whatever.” Mabel held up her hands. “I’m sure the first time Bodhi dares you to kiss each other it will all fizzle anyway.”

Stevie scrunched up her nose again.

“Would you stop fucking doing that?”

“Doing what?” she snapped.

I flicked the tip of her nose. “That.”

She jabbed a finger into my ribs. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

I bared my teeth.

Stevie sneered.

“I don’t know why I’m even worried,” Mabel said. “I give this one more date, maybe two, before it implodes.”

I wanted to argue. But she was probably right.

“Okay, I’m leaving.” Mabel pulled Stevie into a hug.

Stevie hugged my sister back with the first genuine smile I’d seen in over an hour. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have missed it. Congrats.” Mabel let her go, then turned to me. “See ya, loser.”

“Later, nerd.” I gave her a sideways hug, then as she went to her car, I went to the truck.

Stevie and I climbed inside without a word, and that silence continued as I drove across town. She leaned against the door and stared out her window like she wanted to be as far away as possible.

“I never told your dad I’d take that job,” I said. “I realize how it sounded when he was talking about the garden center and⁠—”

“I know that wasn’t you. It’s fine, Maverick.”

“Is it?”

She shrugged and curled closer to the door.

The drive through town was quiet, the streets lonely, even for a Saturday. Downtown was probably a ruckus with graduates celebrating at the bars. Or maybe people had found house parties to attend, like douchebag James.

The night was cloudless, the stars glittering above like their own version of celebration sparkles. Like the town of Mission itself was out to celebrate Stevie Adair.

“Congratulations,” I said.

“You told me that earlier.”

“I still mean it.”

She pushed off the door and heaved a sigh that seemed to deflate her entire body. “Do you think Bodhi will dare us to kiss?”

That’s what she was worried about? “Probably.”

It was definitely something I would have done at that age.

“Is it really that appalling? Or are you afraid you’ll like it?” I waggled my eyebrows.

“Eww.”

I huffed a laugh, gaze shifting back to the darkened road. “You’re hell on my ego.”

“Someone has to keep it in check.”

And she’d been that someone since we were kids. Before and after our falling out, Stevie was always the person who’d tell me to be nice or share or shut up. She was the voice in the back of my head, the conscience impossible to tune out, no matter how hard I tried.

“Did you have fun today?” I asked.

“Sure.”

If “sure” meant “no.”

Maybe she should have taken James up on his offer for that margarita. Nah. That guy was a fucking moron, and though poor James hadn’t quite taken the hint, Stevie wasn’t interested.

He was too smarmy. Too much of a snob. Not her type.

What was her type? Maybe another athlete? Maybe a guy who loved the outdoors too? Or was she out there dating assholes like James?

She hadn’t dated in high school. And in college, she’d never brought a boyfriend to a family function. Maybe that was because they were all like James.

Because we’d all hate a James.

Unless she’d had plenty of boyfriends and I just hadn’t met them. Mom would ask her about dates. Maybe Stevie had brought a guy to her house, to meet her parents, and I’d simply missed it.

Who? I squirmed in my seat as a strange feeling crept beneath my skin. A feeling I couldn’t quite name, but I sure as fuck didn’t like. My grip tightened on the wheel, and my hands only loosened when I pulled into her driveway.

The lights were all off inside.

“Where are your roommates?” I asked.

“Probably out celebrating.”

“Downtown? Want me to take you somewhere?”

“No.” She unbuckled her seat belt and hopped out, slamming the door closed without a goodbye.

We didn’t need a goodbye. I’d brought her home and was free to leave.

Instead, I put the truck in park and killed the engine.

“Damn it.” I jumped out and hurried after her, jogging to the stoop. “Stevie, wait.”

Her shoulders sagged as she slowed and turned. “What do you want, Maverick?”

Not a clue. I guess . . . I didn’t want her night to end like this. I didn’t want her sad on what was supposed to be a special night.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“For what?”

Everything. For being a shithead when we were ten. For never relenting on the quippy comments and comebacks. For needling her for over ten years.

“For this fake dating thing.”

“Does that mean you want to call it off?”

“No.” I shook my head.

She sighed. “Then I guess I’ll see you Saturday.”

“Yeah. Guess so.”

Stevie turned, moving to the door. But she was still sad.

“We’ve kissed before,” I blurted.

She hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she’d continue on inside. But then she spun around and met me at the edge of the stoop.

It was a single concrete stair that meant when she stared at me, we were eye level.

“We kissed when we were toddlers,” she said. “That hardly counts.”

“I’m just saying, would it really be so shocking?”

She scrunched up her nose, again, and damn if it didn’t make me want to scream and laugh, both at the same time.

“Maybe you’re afraid you’ll like it.”

She scoffed. “Trust me, I won’t.”

“I bet you would.”

“I won’t.”

I inched closer, the toes of my shoes hitting the stair as I held her stunning hazel eyes. “Will too.”

“Will not.” She jutted out her chin.

“Will too.”

“Will. Not.” She poked a finger into my chest with each word.

We sounded like kids. Like squabbling teenagers? My pulse spiked. A thrill shot through my veins. What did it mean that I loved to argue with this woman so fucking much?

“Are you scared to kiss me?” It was a dare.

And Stevie rarely backed down from a challenge.

“No.” She jutted out her chin. “Just irked at the prospect.”

Nervous. Not irked. Nervous. That’s what she really meant. She was nervous about if—when—it would happen.

She’d stress it. Overanalyze my movements. She’d start to wonder if I’d go back on the deal if she refused to kiss me. That, or she’d make me pick a date and she’d put a countdown in her phone, and until that day arrived, she’d fret over this entire arrangement.

“It’s just a kiss,” I said. “Not like it means anything.”

Stevie hummed, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

Let the fretting commence.

Damn it, she’d drive me up a fucking wall if she was already spiraling around this. So rather than let her work herself into a mess, I took her face in my hands.

And crushed my mouth to hers.

Stevie’s eyes blew wide as she froze, staring at me as I pressed in deeper, holding my lips to hers.

What the fuck was I doing? For a split second, I almost let her go. I almost called this entire façade off and vowed to avoid her for the next six to twelve months. Except her lips were warm and soft. And damn it, she had a great mouth. I couldn’t pull myself away, not yet. Instead, I had the overwhelming urge to lick the seam of her mouth.

Her breath hitched, her mouth parting, and before I could stop it, my tongue moved without my permission, sliding past her full lower lip.

The moment the tip of my tongue touched the tip of hers, a current zinged through my bones. A lightning bolt that shot through every vein at that first taste of her mouth.

Fuck. Delicious. Sweet. The hint of wine lingered on her lips.

I groaned, and before I could tear myself away, I sank into the kiss, my eyelids heavy as they drifted closed. I delved into her mouth, tangling my tongue with hers and earning another gasp.

But she didn’t push me away. A mewl came from her throat and then she melted. Stevie, my former childhood friend turned archnemesis, fucking melted.

She didn’t reach for me. She didn’t shift closer. She just let me hold her face, meeting every flicker of my tongue with one of her own until our mouths were fused together.

Oh fuck, it was good. I slanted my mouth over hers, needing more and more and more. My arms itched to haul her into my chest, to trap her against my body, except I was afraid the moment I let go of that delicate line of her jaw, this would end.

So I kissed her, exploring the different corners of her mouth, my lips moving over hers.

A sound echoed from down the street, and it barely registered past the blood rushing in my ears. But it was enough to startle Stevie.

She jerked, our eyes opening in tandem. We stared at each other, our mouths still touching, until she leaned back an inch, ending what might have been the best kiss I’d had in, well . . . ever?

I didn’t let her face go. We just stared at each other. Breaths ragged. Hearts pounding. Minds visibly whirling.

What. The. Fuck.

Stevie had the same three words written all over her beautiful face.

The sound I’d heard a moment ago came again. A car door slamming from one of the neighbors. Laughter echoed through the night.

This time, when Stevie backed away, it was enough that I had to let go.

“I told Leah McAllister that you kissed Heather Olson,” she blurted, then slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.

Huh. All I’d had to do to get Stevie to finally, fucking finally, admit the truth was kiss her too. I’d suspected as much for years. Strange how I’d thought it would make me mad. Instead, I didn’t really care.

“Okay.”

She dropped her hand, eyebrows coming together. “That’s it?”

I shrugged. “Guess so.”

It bothered me more that she’d use it to reinforce the invisible brick wall between us. That my mouth was still wet from hers and she was already pushing me away.

She backed away, one step, then two. Then the next door slamming was hers.

I stared at it for a long moment, trying to clear the fog. I ran a hand over my mouth, my lips tingling.

It was just a kiss. A kiss didn’t mean a damn thing. I’d kissed hundreds of girls before. It was just a silly kiss.

Right?

“Huh.” Maybe we’d both have something to fret over for the next week.