Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

slowly upward until they metwith his intense gaze. With her legs once again feeling like they might giveout on her, she struggled to gather her wits. But she cleared her throat and managedto sound a little more in control. “Just let me grab my phone.”

Having thought ahead, Vannah had moved the things she needed toher phone wallet so she wouldn’t have to lug a purse around the beach. Shegrabbed it with her free hand because Byron walked into her dorm with her,never once letting go of her other hand.

“You alone tonight?” Byron glanced around her quiet dorm room.

“Uh, yeah. For now,” she said fairly certain her still mortified roomiewould not be poking her head out of her room while he was there. “Xochitl willbe home later.”

She left it at that, not wanting to elaborate further knowingfull well how bad she was at keeping lies straight. It’s why she avoided lyingat all costs but in this case it felt harmless.

“I packed a few snacks to bring with us.”

She grabbed the bag with the food, but he took it from her. “Igot it.”

They walked out hand in hand as Byron glanced around taking in thedorms. “These are really dorms? They’re bigger than any I’ve ever been in.”

Pressing her lips together because she knew for a fact, healready had a certain impression of her. She had a feeling what he was thinkingnow as well. The truth. That the little princess was staying in the biggestdorms near the campus—on daddy’s dime.

“Yeah, my parents are what you would say . . . a little on the overprotectiveside.”

Before he could comment, she decided she’d just be honest. It’snot like just because her family was well off, she’d ever felt entitled. In fact,it was just the opposite. There’d been countless times over the years that shehad to insist her parents didn’t overdo the fawning.

“If they’d had it their way, I’d be in a gated community livingin a ridiculously expensive apartment or condo even.”

He chuckled nodding his head as they continued to walk. “I get itthough. I have nieces and I can totally see my brother—”

“Vannah Banana . . .”

They slowed as Michael, Vannah’s upstairs neighbor walked up thestairs of the walkway toward them into the dorms. His smile waned, as his eyesnoticeably glanced down at her and Byron’s hand holding. It was subtle, but anotherthing Vannah didn’t miss was the slight squeeze of her hand from Byron.

“Hey, Michael.”

“I was gonna come by later tonight, but I guess you won’t behome.” He glanced at Byron but quickly looked back at Vannah. “Night out on thetown?”

“Grunion run. Haven’t been in years.”

“That’s better than me. I’ve never been at all. You’ll have totell me all about it. Enjoy.”

Since he didn’t stop, they kept moving as well. For a momentthere was an awkward silence until Vannah remembered what Byron had been sayingbefore they ran into Michael.

“You were saying about your nieces and your brother?”

He glanced back in Michael’s direction then turned back to Vannahlooking very serious suddenly.

Eleven

Playing it Safe

Byron

Don’t do it. Just let it go. It’s none of yourbusiness. So, you’ve exchanged a few earth-shattering kisses. She doesn’t owe youshit. You’re not going there tonight. It’d been the internal discourseByron had been preaching to himself ever since he gave into kissing Vannah andhad felt the instant overwhelming entitlement. It’s why he’d called her backand made plans to see her so soon. Despite his head reminding him that she’dbeen more than upfront and honest with him about not doing the boyfriend thing,there was no way he was buying it now. Maybe she hadn’t before today.But her feelings still couldn’t be the same. Not after what he felt and knewshe must be feeling each time he’d kissed her.

There was no understanding it and Byron certainly wouldn’t beable to explain it if anyone were to ask him to. But there was something abouttheir connection. In hindsight there’d been something about it from the momenttheir eyes first met. Hell, there’d been something about what he felt from themoment he first heard her laughter—even before he’d laid eyes onher. Yes, the innocence behind those big brown eyes and that sweet laugh remindedhim of Lizzette. But he’d since decided there was more too it. Especially afterhe’d gotten a taste of that mouth, he’d known even beforehand that he’d neverget enough of.

Still, he’d made a pledge when he decided to ask her out tonight thatno matter what, he wouldn’t push for anything or say anything stupid like hehad that first night.

“All three of my brother’s kids . . .” He squeezed her handshaking off his thoughts, determined not to be an idiot and blow this. “Meanthe world to me but my nieces own my heart. They’re our little princesses andthere’s nothing my brother or I wouldn’t do for them.” She smiled, hereyes going all bright—and beautiful. “So, I totally get where your parentsare coming from. If either of our girls decide to go away for college someday,we’ll for sure be all over trying to make sure they’re as safe as possible.”

“Yeah, it was tough for them,” she said as they reached his car, andhe opened the door for her.

He walked around the car once he’d closed the door for her, glad he’dbeen able to steer the conversation onto something completely unrelated to her friendMichael, who’d openly admitted to having planned on coming over and hanging outwith her tonight.

When Byron got into the driver side she went on about her family.She told him about how out of her three other siblings she was the first toleave the nest. Byron was just making a mental note about her family’s dynamicsas they drove onto the street—a sister and two brothers. Since she was thefirst to leave the nest, he immediately assumed that meant she was the oldest.He was about to ask her about it, just to confirm when her phone rang.

“Sorry, I gotta take this.” Byron nodded bracing himself as hecontinued to drive. “Gordo, what’s up?”

Gripping the steering wheel a little tighter, Byron pretended notto eavesdrop. Which was