“Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to come across like the ungrateful rookie or like I’m too immature to handle the move.”

“I promise.” I squeeze his wrist, but I’m suddenly all too aware of the fact that I’m touching him. His skin is warm under my fingertips. I can feel his strength and the power of his big hands. How many times have I imagined those hands on me?

I jerk away, but he grabs my hand before I can get far.

“It’s your turn,” he says, threading his fingers through mine. What is he doing? “Why do you think you’re shamefully inexperienced, Shayleigh? Your friends aren’t pressuring you to have sex, are they?”

Sex. Oh my God. He thought I meant sex. Now my dumb secret feels even more mortifying, but he’s still holding my hand, and even as embarrassment warms my cheeks, I don’t want him to let go. “No one’s pressuring me.”

The back door clangs closed as Carter pushes into the kitchen. Easton jumps back and drops my hand.

“What are you two talking about in here?” my brother asks. He crosses the kitchen between us and opens the fridge. “Don’t you know the party’s outside?”

Easton’s throat bobs and he tucks his hands in his pockets. “We’re just catching up.”

Carter pulls out another beer and uses the opener on the wall to pull off the cap. “Well, I hope you’re finished, because people are starting to wonder if you already moved to L.A. or something.”

“Relax, Carter,” I tell him. “The night is young.”

He frowns as he looks back and forth between me and Easton. “I don’t like you two being alone in here together.”

I snort and for the millionth time in my life wonder what it would be like to not have five overly protective brothers. “Why not?”

Carter stares at Easton for a long beat. Easton gives a subtle shake of his head and Carter sighs. “Because you’re my little sister, and this punk breaks hearts in his sleep.”

“My heart is fine.” Liar, liar. Does Carter know how I feel about Easton? I’ve never told anyone. “We’re just talking.”

Carter taps Easton’s arm with the neck of his beer. “You. Outside. We’re celebrating your news, after all. And anyway, that redhead Tri-Delt showed up and is looking for you.”

Easton heads toward the back with my brother. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” He opens the door and turns back to wink at me before heading toward the lakeside bonfire with my brother.

I guess Easton doesn’t want to know my secret after all. I dodged a bullet.

So why do I feel so disappointed?

Easton

“You have to fucking stop.” Carter stomps away from the house and toward the bonfire blazing on the beach.

“Stop what?”