Kiss Me Not

I’m trying to picture him, way back when.

But how can I?

All I see now is the Army Ranger he’s become.

Intoxicating smile. Sculpted arms. To-die-for eight-pack. And enough medals on his uniform to set off airport security from a mile away.

He doesn’t resemble the kid who shared my tree house with me, along with every perfect memory of my childhood.

He protected me—long before he protected our country.

And he knows it all. Every hope and dream in my heart. Every vulnerability I hide from everyone but him. Every secret…

Except one.

One tiny lie that I’m discovering I want desperately to be the truth. Because he’s not the only one who’s changed since we were ten.

But I can’t risk a friendship that’s lasted eighteen years—even when his lips are so close that I’m wondering if he’ll finally kiss me…

…or kiss me not.