Following Me by Linde, K.A. (best books to read in your 20s .txt) 📗

head to toe.  Who knew I was actually the matchmaker?” Hadleysaid exaggeratedly.

“Go back to watching your sillyshow!  I have to get out of here,” Devon said.

“Wait, wait!” Hadley cried asDevon tried to ease out of the living room.  “Have you made it to the bedroom?”

“Hadley!”

“Alright, alright.  Go have fun! I would have already told you though!” she called as Devon rushed out of theapartment.

Devon could hear Hadley’slaughter, sweet and melodic, as she pulled the door closed.  At least, Hadleywas laughing again.

Devon walked down the hallway andtook the elevator to the bottom floor.  It was early, so Devon started walkingtoward the L station on her way to Brennan’s place.  When she pulled out herphone to text Brennan, she found it was already ringing.  She hadn’t noticed itwas set on silent.

“Hey!” Devon said.  She was gladto hear from her brother.  It had been a while since they had talked.

“Hey, Dev.  Can I just tell youhow much I hate you right now?”

Devon laughed and shook herhead.  “Why is that?”

“Because you’re in St. Louis, andI’m in New York City with Mom and Dad.  How exactly did you get out of this?”he asked.

“I didn’t take the bait like youdid!”

“This is supposed to be for yourbirthday!”

“No,” Devon said, “we both knowit’s for Mom.”

“Yeah, speaking of, she wanted meto call and guilt-trip you for not being here.  I mean, she wanted me to tellyou how much she misses you and wished you could be here,” Dustin drawled.  Hehad never given up his Southern accent.

“Well, tell her that I’m so sorryeven though I’m not, and good luck at the award ceremony, even though shedoesn’t need it,” she said.

“Word for word, Dev.  Word forword.”

Devon laughed.  “Ass.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

“No, really, tell Mom and Dadgood luck and that I miss them.  I have to go,” she said, wanting to get offthe phone before she reached the train station.

Devon couldn’t believe that shehad actually gotten this far without anyone growing suspicious.

“SO, WHERE ARE we going?” Devonasked, walking up the stairs to the L station.

“You’ll see when we get there,”Brennan said.

He took her hand and held it inhis as they walked.  He looked comfortable today, not wearing his workclothes.  She liked him like this—in khaki shorts, a blue T-shirt with alighter button-up over it, and his ever-present Wayfarers.

“Am I going to like it?”

“Would I take you somewhere youwouldn’t like?” Brennan asked.

Devon smiled and let him takecharge.  She wasn’t a big fan of surprises, but this one felt different.  Itwas exhilarating.  They hopped on the train and sat next to each other.  Shecould get used to this.

“I think Hadley’s gettingbetter,” she told him.

“That’s good to hear.”

“I told her I was going out withyou, and she turned into a total girl,” Devon said, rolling her eyes.

Brennan smirked.  “I’m sure I canguess what she’s thinking.”

Devon looked down at theirhands.  “Probably.  She’s entirely predictable.”

He leaned forward and kissed herlips.  Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed him in.  This had beenhappening all week, and every time he pulled back, it made her want more.  Hiskisses were intoxicating, leaving a heady haze over her mind when he touchedher lips.

She pushed herself toward him,trying to close the distance between their bodies.  She snaked her hands up andgripped his collar between her fingers.  As their tongues met, Devon groanedsoftly.  Her body was on fire.  She couldn’t get enough of him.

Brennan’s hand trailed along theexposed skin on the small of her back, and she shivered.  He chuckled, pullingback to look at her.

“I like when you get all riledup,” he said huskily, pressing and lacing their hands together.

“You do it so easily,” she said,her voice betraying her desire.

“And in public no less.”

Devon flushed all over, glancingaround at the people near them.  She was sure some of them had noticed, but shehadn’t even thought about it.  She had never been big on public displays ofaffection either…but this was Brennan.

“And there’s that blush,” he saidwith a laugh.  “Damn, do I love that.”

She ducked her head and smackedhis shoulder playfully.  “Shush!”

“This is our stop.”  He draggedher to her feet and kissed her full on the mouth again.

She wobbled against him, her mindgoing blank.

When he released her, he chuckledagain and pulled her along.  “Come on, you.”

They walked through the streetsuntil they reached a park in front of the Navy Pier.  She had been up heretwice before.  The first time was with Garrett during her first week in thecity.  The second time, she had wanted some time to relax.  She had brought herjournal and sat by the pier, writing lyrics until she thought her brain wouldexplode.  Then, big fat water droplets had begun falling all over the pages,and the waves had started crashing higher.  She had ducked out of there as soonas she could get away.  She hadn’t been back since.

“Navy Pier?”  She wondered ifthis was the surprise.

Then, she looked closer.  It was packedwith people.  Children were everywhere, attached to their parents or runningaround like mad.  Boats filled the harbor, stretching out as far as she couldsee.  Big heavy sails held taut on enormous sailboats.  The lighthouse stoodout in the distance like a beacon against the cloudless horizon.

“Why is it so busy?” she asked.

Brennan’s smile was contagious,and she found herself standing on her tiptoes to kiss him again.  He laughedand picked her up, swinging her around in a circle.  Devon giggled, burying herface into his shoulder.

“I think I’m going to love beingwith you everywhere I go,” he whispered into her hair.

“Me, too,” she confirmed.

After setting her gently back onher feet, he kissed her forehead, her nose, both cheeks, her chin, and finally,he planted a firm kiss on her mouth.  She tried to keep the kiss going, but hepulled back.

“There are too many people here. We should just go back,” Devon said, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“You don’t even know what you’rein for,” he said with a chuckle.

Brennan walked her away from NavyPier, leading her off to the right toward the park holding her hand once more. His hand was big and warm.  She had petite hands, and his