Next To You: A Friends To Lovers Romance (The Next Series Book 2)

made her laugh.’
I breathe in slowly as my eyes close, remembering when my pa

made her laugh.’
I breathe in slowly as my eyes close, remembering when my par

“What? No… Lane, that is upsetting. When upsetting things happen, people cry.”

“For starters, I really dislike when people kill bugs outside. That’s their space, ya know?”

Oh my god. Even his pet peeves are precious.

“Hey!” a dude behind us scoffs. “There’s a line.”

Matt puts his arm around me and turns over his shoulder with a smile I’ve yet to see from him. It’s friendly but… not? No teeth; puffed out chest. I’m kinda into it.

“She’s with me.” Oh, I’m definitely into it.

I’m well aware of the many reasons Matt and I wouldn’t work, but I’m also a raging flirt. I’ll flirt with a lamppost if it flickers the right way.

“To a new year, new chances, new lessons and… new friends.”

All my heart is yours, sir. It belongs to you, and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever.”

All my heart is yours, sir. It belongs to you, and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever.”

Well, not entirely but Lane… I have eight siblings. I know how to wait my turn. If it’s time you need, I can give it to you. If it’s space you need, it’ll hurt, but you can have that too. I can wait.”

“I don’t want you to wait, Matt. Waiting feels like pressure. To fix myself. To be better.”