Burn Into Me (Into Me Series Book Two)

Chapter Twenty Four - Happy

It's finally snowing.

Penny, Riley, Jackson, and I all sit in the living room, Switch controllers in our hands. Our Thanksgiving meals have been digesting for some time now. I mean, it's technically Black Friday, but Penny and I had to work yesterday, so we celebrated today.

"JACKSON ALEXANDER! DO NOT THROW THAT BLUE SHELL!!!" I shout angrily, finally getting to first place when he releases it, laughing manically. "You mother fucker!" I rage.

I focus on the TV screen. My little kart with Dry Bones drifts across my section of the screen as we near the finish line. Suddenly, the blue shell swirls around me and knocks the shit out of poor Dry Bones. I curse under my breath as Bowser flies past me, securing the first place finish. Jackson cheers excitedly, pumping his fist a few times as he starts his rendition of "We Are The Champions" by Queen.

Dry Bones is still recovering as Yoshi flies past, Riley cheering as he secures second place. I'm finally able to start driving again as Princess Daisy flies past me, securing the third place spot for Penny. I finally pass the finish line in fourth, shooting Jackson a dirty look.

"You couldn't let me win one fucking race?" I grunt. "I literally have been in fourth place or lower for every single race tonight and I finally almost win one and you blue shell me."
"Sorry, mon ange, I take my Mario Kart very seriously," he shrugs, smiling widely.
"Divorce. I want a divorce," I deadpan.
"Shut the fuck up, you brat. No, you don't," Jackson laughs. He grabs the bottom of my chin and tilts my head so he can kiss me, pulling at my bottom lip with his teeth. I clamp my legs together as he leans into my ear, "I'll make up for it later, I promise."

I can feel my blush working its way up my neck to my cheeks as Penny's laughter pulls my attention to the loveseat vertical to our place on the sectional. Riley said something that has Penny laughing hysterically, grabbing at her stomach. Riley smiles widely at her as he watches her laugh. They sit shoulder to shoulder under a blanket together and I want so badly to walk over there, grab Riley's arm, and put it around her. But I've been told I can "meddle too much" and that I should "just let it happen like it should and not interfere." Which, yeah, I get that, but it's been a week and neither of them has made a fucking move yet. I mean, you can feel the attraction between them if you're in the same room.

The only people who don't know that Riley loves Penny and that Penny loves Riley are, ironically, Riley and Penny. I just wanna shove their faces together so they can both start healing. Both of them have been in extremely toxic and abusive relationships (Jason for Penny, Brianna for Riley). I think that's the thing that's holding them both back. I think that neither of them wants to get hurt like that again. Which, again, fair, but this shit is like watching two skittish deers in headlights trying not to spook each other.

Penny's laughter slowly stops as she continues to stare deep into Riley's eyes. Riley's hands fiddle nervously in his lap and I can tell he wants to grab her and kiss her.

Oh my god, kid. Just do it!

I open my mouth to say just that when Jackson's hand clamps over it and his breath hits my ear, "Don't. Let it be, mon ange. He'll make a move when he's ready."
I huff angrily as I settle back into the couch in Jackson's arms, shoving his hand off of my face. "Fine."
He leans close into my ear again as he pulls me into him, shivers running down my neck from the sensation of his breath on my skin. "Good girl," he husks. My eyes widen as I squirm in his arms, heat pooling in my abdomen. "Such a good fucking girl."
"Fuck, Jackson..." I groan almost silently.
"What, baby girl?" he purrs.
"I want you," I admit breathlessly.
"All in good time, princess, all in good time," he murmurs, pulling my earlobe into his mouth and lightly nibbling on it.