Interference (St. Michaels Duet, #1)

by Harlow Cole

Orgasms didn’t fit into my current lifestyle. Even the no-strings variety. The shiny purple vibrator Joey gave me last Christmas sat stuck in a box in my nightstand—a sad relic of my neglected vagina.

To teenage girls, there’s nothing hotter than a boy with hard muscles, a brooding smirk, and an overdeveloped sense of nonchalance.

My dick needed a twelve-step recovery program.

“I’m a shithead. I keep screwing up with you. I just . . .” I propped myself up, so I could look into her eyes. “Sometimes I feel like . . . like I only really breathe when I’m with you.”

“You’ll always be my girl. I’m gonna make fucking sure of it.”

I love him. Not in a friendly, familial, sisterly way. Not in the sweet schoolgirl-crush way either. I was in love with him. The sweaty-palms, fast-heartbeat, can’t-live-without-you-in-my-life variety. The my entire future includes you and I can’t lose you or I’ll be totally screwed kind.

I was an interference he couldn’t afford. One obstacle standing in the way.

I immediately wished I’d stayed home with pajamas and a new book.

me

“I’m scared,” I whispered, motioning to the door. “I’m afraid we’re going to step out there, and I’ll lose you all over again.” Gentle hands framed my face. “I’m done letting anything on the other side of that door keep me away from you.”

“You’ve had all my firsts. My whole life. I want you to have this one, too.”

“I can’t believe you’re finally mine.” “Always have been,” I replied groggily.

Let them be happy now. Why do you think this asshole has been walking around with that dipshit grin on his face for once? He’s finally found something that makes him get out of his own freaking head.”

“I wanna give her the moon and the stars and my last name. I want to have a son who has her green eyes and get old and fat and senile, sitting by her side. When I picture my future, she’s always with me.”

“Yeah, I am. Or I was.” I swallowed hard. “But, like you told me once, sometimes, we protect people best by letting them go. I wasn’t strong enough to do it then, but it’s what I have to do now.”

“Ashley, I think I . . .” He paused and blew out a breath. “Brayden was right. About having you in his life. Don’t doubt that. I was wrong.”