Play With Me (Playing for Keeps, #2)

by Becka Mack

Do I think you’re a lot more like your brother than you let on, and you’re scared to let someone in because love can hurt?” A broad grin. “Absolutely.”

“Did. He. Hurt. You?”

You’ve got me. I like you.”

I’m really proud to be your friend, Jennie.”

“Thanks, Garrett.”

“I hate to break it to you, sunshine, but you’re always hungry, growly, and emotional. But, hey.” I take her damp face in my hands. “You’re my hungry, growly, emotional bear.” I kiss her lips. “Come on. I need help with something. And I promise to feed you.”

“I don’t want you being insecure about this. Yes, I meet lots of girls, but there’s no one else I’d rather do this with. I like you, Jennie. You’re fun and you make me laugh. I like to boss you around in the bedroom and you like to boss me around the rest of the time. We’re compatible, and the chemistry is explosive, which is why I think this works so well. On top of that, you’re quickly climbing your way to the top of my best friend list.”

“They hurt a little less when I’m with you,” she whispers. “Thank you for being my friend, Garrett. I think I really needed you.”

“But I think you are my family,”

“The guys, Cara, Ollie … they’re the family I found here, the one I chose, and I think

you’re part of it, too, now. I want you to be, at least. You feel li...

His laugh is my favorite sound, his smile my favorite sight.

“I feel bad for all the people who will never get to experience a Beckett Family Christmas.”

I soak it all in, because the truth is, I feel a little bit more me when I’m with this man. He sees past all the bravado, sees both the bold and the quiet, the gentle that simmers below the fierce, and instead of turning away, he takes my hand and walks with me.

“I don’t make friends all that easily. I have a hard time trusting people. I’ve learned to be okay with keeping my circle small, but you … you’ve made everything better.” Her sleepy blue eyes stare up at me, shining with vulnerability. “I think you’re my best friend.” She drops her gaze to my chest, cheeks radiating with heat. “It would really hurt me to lose you.”

“I’m no one’s sunshine.” “Fuck, I love when you’re wrong.” My mouth covers hers, coaxing it open, and her tongue meets mine for a slow, sweeping kiss. “You’re my sunshine.”

“You weren’t made to fit in, Jennie. You stand out way too much to hide in the shadows.”

My heart hasn’t ever beat so hard for another person.

Garrett’s my solid and my steady. He’s the constant in my life, the smile always waiting for me, the friendship that never wanes, the connection that grows stronger each day. He’s the warm arms that hug me, the fingers that drift down my back, the quiet voice that eases my worries at the end of the day and promises to be my safe place to land.

“You don’t need to be better. You’re already the best person I know.”

“I hope you’re proud of yourself, but if you’re not, know that I am. I’ve watched you take step after step, learning to trust me and open up to me even though everything inside you probably begs you not to.” His eyes rake over me, like they’re cataloging every passing emotion. “I’m sorry somebody was so careless with your heart. Thank you for trusting me with this.”

I stroke a hand down her braid. “Jennie?” “Mmm?” “You’re my favorite secret.” She graces me with a detonating grin before pulling my face down to hers. “And you’re mine.”

“You’re my best friend, Jennie, but I don’t want to be just friends anymore. I don’t want some of the benefits, I want all of them. I want all of you.”

My eyes prickle with tears of relief. I’ve never felt more me than I do with him, and I can’t explain how freeing it feels to not have to hide. After all this time, all this heartache, I’ve finally found my person, my place in this world. Every shroud of pain falls away until it’s nothing more than a sliver that’s shaped who I am, brought me to this point where I wouldn’t change a thing.

“You are worthy of every single thing you desire, Jennie. Don’t you ever, ever give up your dream, whatever that dream may be.”

Because in the middle of my storm, the center of all my chaos, Garrett waits with open arms, ready to shatter me with a love so unconditional, one I didn’t know existed before him.

You can grow on your own, and you can stand on your own. But the most important piece is knowing that you don’t have to.”

“Every bit of you fits every piece of me, and that’s how I know. We bring out the parts of each other we’ve spent so much of our lives being too scared to show. You’re my best friend, and we found everything we needed when we found each other. Falling in love with you is like checking the very last thing off my bucket list.”

I shine a whole lot brighter with that man igniting my sky.