Free Inflame (Explosive) by Tessa Teevan

Charlie, all ranging from “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” to “Don’t listen to that advice,” to “How big is his cock?” The latter made me laugh out loud, and before I knew it, my phone was being pulled out of my hands.
    I jumped up, trying to grab it away from him, but he was too tall. It wasn’t until he read the messages that he handed it back to me. He stood there, crossing his arms, watching me.
    “Well? What are you going to tell her?” I hesitated, and he grinned at me. “I can grab a ruler if you want.”
    Shutting off my phone, I pushed his shoulder, telling him to fuck off. He just laughed as we made our way back to his room. We both settled on the bed, and I set the alarm on my phone so I could get out of there at a reasonable hour. Fluffing my pillow, I cuddled up underneath the covers and wondered what the hell I was doing. Kale turned towards me and gave me that heart-stopping smile that was already starting to be a panty dampener. Well, if I were wearing any.
    “I’m glad I met you, Lucy Dawson,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing to say after we’d spend the night in various sexual positions.
    Surprisingly, I felt the same way. Knowing that he was only going to be around for the summer and that he was in the same boat relationship-wise that I was made me think that this could be the best summer yet. In fact, a summer fling never sounded better.
    “And I’m more than grateful that you creepily wandered into my elementary school classroom.”
    He laughed and leaned in, placing a kiss on my nose. “I like you, Lucy. And I’d like to spend more time with you. Like I told you, I’m heading to Afghanistan in the fall, and like you, I’m not looking for anything. What do you say we see where this friendship goes?”
    I gasp in mock horror. “Kale Montgomery, are you suggesting that we become friends with benefits? You know that only works in the movies, right?” I teased, wanting nothing more than to agree with a very enthusiastic yes, but I held myself back.
    “Well, I didn’t put it that way, but if that’s what you want, Lucy, then I’m game. But can I be the Justin Timberlake kind of friend? I’m more partial to him than Ashton Kutcher.”
    The moment he said the words, I busted out laughing.
    “What? My sisters have been in love with JT since I was in middle school. My fondness for him has grown ever since. It’s fucking true that he brought sexy back.”
    “Okay, okay, Kale. A summer not needing my vibrator sounds perfect. You can be my JT as long as I can be your Mila. I do kind of have a girl crush on her.”
    A slow grin spread over his face, and I knew that he agreed.
    “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
     
    W E’VE BEEN practically inseparable since then. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking getting into a long-term friends-with-benefits situation. Justin and Mila’s story has a happily ever after. Kale and I pretended that part of the movie didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong. It hasn’t been all about sex. Once the school year was over and I was no longer Lily’s teacher, I often accompanied them to the park, the aquarium, and the movies, even though Kale despised sitting in a dark theater with kids. Something about their talking incessantly drove him nuts, but for Lily, he didn’t mind. He was so tender and loving with her, and he treated her as if she were his own. It didn’t make sense with his whole playboy persona. It was like he was born to be a dad, and until he could become one, Lily was the next best thing. It’s one of the things I love about Kale—seeing all the different sides to him.
    Charlie kept trying to hook me up with Drew’s friends, but I always begged off, pretending to have other things to do. I think she suspected that I had a guy on the side. She’d bugged me about my night spent with Kale, but I waved her off, not giving her any details, and apparently she bought my indifference. She never again asked about