The Third Kiss (Love's Mortal Coil #1)

Chapter 1 - Jonas

The Third Kiss (Love's Mortal Coil, #1) by Kat Colmer

Copyright © 2017 by Katharina Colmer

Edited by Stephen Morgan

To David, Ethan, and Nathalia, for whom I'd fight a horde of Groth Maar-to the death.

"The loveliest trick of the Devil is to persuade you that he does not exist." -Charles Baudelaire, The Generous Gambler

Chapter One

Jonas

Six minutes of peace. That was all I had before the creaky gazebo stairs announced someone had followed me up from the house. I must have missed the rule that said a guy couldn't grab time out at his own eighteenth birthday party. The perky blonde climbed the last tread and gave me a smile designed to shrink a guy's boxers a size or two.

"I saw you head this way and thought you might want some company."

In the past? Maybe. Tonight, not so much.

"Just needed a breather." I leaned against the railing at the far end of the gazebo and slipped one of my headphone buds in my ear, hoping she'd get the message.

No such luck. She ambled over to stand in front of me, so close her breath feathered my face when she spoke. "Playing hooky from your own birthday party? Maybe I can help make it more fun."

Before I could tell her she was wasting her time, she pressed up against me. Habit lifted my hands to rest on her waist even though I didn't want any part of what she was offering. I willed them to ease some distance between us.

"Look, Shelly-"

"It's Ashley." Her lips pursed.

"Right, Ashley. I appreciate the effort, but I'm not in the right headspace tonight." Truth was, I hadn't been in the right headspace for a while now. Not since finding out a certain someone was due back in town.

My explanation fell on deaf ears. She reached for the hem of my T-shirt and snuck determined fingers underneath, raising the already warm January night temperature. "Sure I can't change your mind?"

As sure as I hadn't remembered her name. Another sign the night was heading down the crapper, because I made a point of remembering their names. Always. I figured if a girl was willing to get up close and personal, the very least I could do was remember what name to whisper while her heat-seeking hands roamed under my T-shirt.

Could be the scent she wore was causing my memory fog. Vanilla. Now, nothing wrong with vanilla. It was just since that night a year ago, my nose turned up at anything that wasn't mango. At anyone that wasn't Co-

I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. Not helpful, you asshat! I only had a week-seven short days-to convince myself things wouldn't be weird. That the one girl whose friendship I valued wasn't looking for something I couldn't give her. It had only been that one stupid time and neither of us had brought it up while she'd been away. So all good. Nothing to worry about.

Right?

Right.

"Look, Cora, I can't-"

"It's Ashley." I opened my eyes. A mix of irritation and disappointment rimmed the blue of hers. "You don't like your birthday present?"

"No, it's not that. It's just..." Ah hell. I eased away from her. "Like I said, headspace."