The Quit List

by Katie Bailey

That guy has such nerve for ever stringing her along. Keeping her a secret when she deserves to be put on a pedestal.

I don’t remember the last time I felt this peaceful and content.

“I don’t really want this night to end,”

“I wish the music in the club hadn’t stopped when it did.” Me too.

Because like it or not, I have

feelings that are most definitely romantic for Holly. That much is crystal clear to me. What’s not clear to me is what she feels—or doesn’t.

Definitely has no idea that, when I woke up the next morning in the cold, hungover light of day, I wanted to kiss him even more. Still do.

“I think that, up until now,

you’ve only ever dated boys. And that right now, you’re wondering what it would feel like to actually be kissed by a man.”

“You think you’re more of a man than everyone who came before you?” “Yes.”

“I do. And more than that, I don’t think anyone’s ever kissed you properly before.”

“I’m just saying, Holly. If I ever were to kiss you….”

“I’d make damn sure I did it properly.”

“So, kiss me.”

In a few short weeks of knowing her, Holly Greene has become the first person I think about when I wake up in the morning, the laughter that keeps me going through my day, and the person I crave when I go to bed at night alone.

“You want to find a man who kisses you like he’s going to move heaven and earth for you. Bring down the sun, moon and stars. You deserve to be kissed like that, and you shouldn't settle for less.”

“Have you ever kissed anyone like that?”

“No,” I admit.

“And you think it would be like that for us?”

“Damn right it would,”

That if I kissed her, I’d be all in. I’d be unable to kiss her as just her so-called “dating coach,” an experiment, a practice run. “Like I said, I’d do it properly.”

He’s everything I thought I didn’t want and everything I’m desperate for, all at once. My longing for him has become physical, almost primal, a need coiled deep in my belly so tightly that it’s making me crazy. Never have I ever wanted someone so badly.

“Screw it.”

Then, his mouth is on mine. His kiss is hot and forceful and so damn intense that my legs shake like they’re struggling to hold me up. Jax must sense this because his hand slides around to my

lower back, pulling my body flush against his as he kisses me more deeply.

Forget getting

him out of my system, all I want now is to do this forever. Never, ever come up for air. Because he was right.

He’s ruining me for everyone else. And I’m happily letting him.

Anything to get him to look at me again with that smoldering gray stare and refer to me as his.

“You never wanted company?” “No,” he says as his eyes fix on mine. “I didn’t know if I’d be into it.” My breath hitches. “And?” “And what?” “Are you into it?” “Oh, believe me, I’m into it.”

“I think I want another lesson,” I manage to choke out. “And who do you want that lesson from?” “You,” I practically whimper. “Good girl,” he says with a smile, and then, his lips meet mine.

I walk with a sense of peace and gratitude as we hike the last mile. What an amazing experience, and what a perfect person to share it with. I feel privileged that Jax let me into this part of his world.

“What is this?”

“What the⁠—?” “I wanted to be prepared in case you hated hiking and were in crisis mode.” This freaking man, I tell you. “How in the hecking heck did you get a McDonald’s milkshake up here?!” He grins. “Let’s just say it required some forward thinking, a Yeti, and a lot of ice.”

It’s undeniable that I’m falling for Holly. Hard and fast. No point in fighting it—it’s happening with a force I could never resist. Would never want to resist.

Because kissing her (which I can confirm, we’ve been doing plenty of over the past few days) is unlike kissing anyone else. In fact, I don’t know how I’ll ever desire to kiss anyone else.

I have to smile back at her, because tonight, I’m clearly the lucky one. I’m going to

get to hold her all night, just as I’ve wanted to do for a long time now. And if there was ever a silver lining to coming across two lost idiots in the woods, this is it.

Holly just smiles. “You make me comfortable.”

“Sweet dreams, Holly,” I say softly. “How could I have anything but sweet dreams when I’m with you?”

“How do you always know exactly what to do?” I ask thickly. His lips tip up at the corners. “I don’t. But I’ll always do everything in my power to take care of you and keep you safe.”

Because, when it comes to Holly, I no longer want to be the temporary distraction. I can’t bear even the hint of a thought of another man with Holly. Another man holding her, kissing her, touching her… It makes me want to lose my damned mind. I want to be the real deal for her. Everything else comes second.

Our kisses have ranged from hot and fiery to slow and steamy, all of them equally spark-and-firework filled, but this one is new. This one is achingly tender.

He caresses my face, strokes my hair, moves his lips against mine over and over, like he’s communicating something he can’t put into words. Like he truly cherishes me, like he never wants to let me go.

This feels lik...

“I spent all this time helping you tackle your quit list, but it turns out, I can’t quit you, Holly. And what’s more, I don’t think I want to. I know I don’t want to. I want to be here for you, through everything.”

“I want to be here for you, too. If you’ll let me.”

Someone to complement you, not complete you.

“You love her, don’t you?” “What?” I say again, like an idiot. “Holly. You love her.” I blink.

“I think everything you’re scared of in terms of ‘failing’ with the baby and me, you feel tenfold when it comes to Holly because you’re head over heels in love with her.”