Under the Lights by Abbi Glines Page A

deserve. Life is short. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow—as cliché as it sounds, it’s very true. I know.” I paused before I said more. I didn’t want to tell him the hard truths that proved I was right.
    He moved so quickly I didn’t have time to register what was happening until the warmth of his lips covered mine and his hand slipped into my hair. Then I was fully aware.
    Curiosity won the very mini brief conflict in my head. Brady was a friend, and I wasn’t anyone that someone could have a relationship with. I was damaged beyond repair. But I wanted to taste this. To give the little girl who had thought she loved Brady Higgens a glimpse at what it was like to be touched by him. Then the little girl could move on from that and live her life. My fantasy complete.
    His lips were soft but firm as they moved over mine. His fingers tangled in my hair like they wanted to be there.As if they had thought of this moment, and now they would relish it.
    I sank into him, craving his warmth and the feel of his skin on mine. Inhaling his scent. The cologne he wore was subtle but attractive. I was sure many girls had clung to him just to get near it. It wasn’t until his tongue slipped past my lips and into the heat of my mouth that I understood the repercussions of what I was allowing.
    Brady was here with another girl. He was my friend and could only ever be my friend because I could never be anything more to anyone. I had demons that haunted me and would my entire life. I had a family I wanted to win forgiveness from, and Nonna had said Brady was off limits. She was all I had left, and I couldn’t lose her, too.
    Placing both hands on his hard chest, I felt the ache of loss before I pushed away from him. My lips were instantly chilled by the evening air, and I wanted to touch them to hold the warmth there. But I didn’t. This was all the fantasy I could get from Brady Higgens.
    I stood up, and without a backward glance, I ran.

Where’s Willa?
CHAPTER 17
    GUNNER
    Willa was not here. I’d been gone back to the woods with Serena for about thirty minutes.
    Now I was back, however, I couldn’t find Willa. Dammit.
    â€œShe left with Brady. Went into the woods,” Asa said, walking up to me. He sounded as annoyed as I felt.
    I started to ask which direction when I spotted Brady coming out of the woods. Alone.
    Not waiting for more information from Asa, I went to meet Brady before he got back into Ivy’s view and she sidled up to him again.
    He held a bottle of water in his right hand, so at least he hadn’t been drinking with her. Didn’t help the fact hewas back and she wasn’t. He’d better not have left her in the woods.
    â€œWhere’s Willa?” I asked with an angry bite in my voice.
    Brady turned his eyes to me, and I could see concern there. That calmed my anger down real fast and replaced it with my own worry.
    â€œShe okay? Where is she?” I repeated, my voice verging on frantic.
    He shrugged and looked back to the woods. “She left. I tried to follow her but lost her. I was hoping she was back here.”
    He lost her? What the fuck!
    â€œHow the hell did you lose her? Was she fucking running?”
    Brady didn’t respond, and my anger was back. Had she been running? From him? I stepped up until I was in his face. “What did you do?” I demanded as my hands balled into fists at my side.
    â€œWe had a conversation. She disagreed with me. Then she took off.”
    He was lying. His stupid ass made a move on her. I could see it all over his face. “Liar. You fucking kissed her or tried to.”
    He didn’t respond, and I knew I’d guessed right.
    â€œWhere’veyoubeen?” Ivy ran her words all together, slurring, and now clinging to Brady’s arm to hold her up.
    I didn’t have time for her shit either. “Which way did she run?” I demanded.
    He looked back at the woods.