I didn’t think I had to worry about it. I was sure I never would. It’d been nearly three years and he still affected me as much as he had the first time he’d kissed me. Hell, probably even more so. With each passing day, I fell more in love with Jeremy, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.

“You know you’re not the first to make that joke, right?”

“Perhaps not, but I’m the only one who can execute that move for you. Now, what do you say we go inside and take a look at that wand?”

Another giggle bubbled up, and I swooned in his arms. “Oh, handsome, you sure know how to seduce a girl,” I whispered, batting my eyelashes at him. “I have a DVD player just waiting for your disc to Slytherin.”

He grinned down at me then took my hand. “Lead the way, pretty lady.”

And I did just that. But, once we’d walked into the kitchen from the garage, I stopped in my tracks. Jeremy ran into my back, and I tilted my head to look up at him.

“Do you hear that?” I whispered.

We both grew deathly silent—I hadn’t been hearing things. Hushed tones were coming from the living room. So I glanced around the kitchen and saw Lexi’s keys sitting next to a familiar brown wallet and an even-more-familiar Navarre Raiders baseball hat.

“Jace,” I mouthed, and Jeremy grinned and did a fist pump.

I held a finger to my lips and started to tiptoe to the swinging doors that separated the kitchen and the living room.

I almost giggled when I peeked through the crack and saw Lexi sitting on the couch, a plastic knife held to her chest. Ah, yes. Apparently, I had missed the memo that it was The Princess Bride night. It was something she made Jace do often—watch the movie, not hold a knife to her precious lady parts. She was staring at Jace expectantly, and he was staring back, trying too hard not to let his eyes fall down to get a peek of her cleavage. I mentally starting cheering him on.

Take a peek! Take a peek!

My brain waves didn't penetrate though, because he just shook his head at her. He kept his gaze up, not looking down at the girls Lexi had on display.

“Say it, Jace!” Lexi implored, and I silently chanted along with her. Yeah, Jace. Say it!

“No way. You’re the weirdo who always wants to act it out. Can’t we just watch?”

She walked over to the couch, plastic tool in hand, and stood right in front of him. She quirked one eyebrow up, ready to pounce. You go girl.

“If you don’t say it, then I’m afraid there’s going to be a boob amputation and it’s not going to be pretty.”

Smooth, Lexi. Real smooth.

“A boob amputation? Now, that would just be a crime against humanity. We can’t have that,” he replied, and I agreed wholeheartedly.

Come on. Take a peek, Jace.

Before she could react, he sat up and grabbed her wrist. Then yanked the knife from her grasp and held it behind his back. Damn, he’d turned the tables, and Lexi looked at him with both exasperation and intrigue, as if contemplating what she should do next.

“There. Now, there will be no cutting of any kind,” he replied with a stupid, smug smile on his face.

But then she caught him off guard when she launched herself at him. I watched with voyeuristic fascination as he lost his footing and fell back against the couch. She wasted no time straddling his lap while trying—and failing—to get the knife from him. It was obvious he wasn’t budging, and her huffing was a sign she was getting increasingly annoyed. She glared at him contemplatively before she pulled out the big guns by taking one out of Jeremy's playbook and thrusting her fingers into Jace's side, tickling him mercilessly. It wasn’t long before she was able to twist the knife out of his hand. Once she was successful, she moved to get off him. She didn't even have time to see him coming.

Jace picked her up, flipped her down on the couch, and proceeded to give her a taste of her own medicine. I wished I'd had popcorn, because those two were entertaining as hell.

“Mercy! Please, stop! I’m going to pee my pants if you don’t stop!” she pleaded.

“You want me to stop?” His tone was growly and sexy, and not gonna lie, if I hadn’t had Jeremy, I might’ve been jealous of my little sis.

“Yes!”

He complied, but he didn't move off her. Instead, he was still gazing down into her eyes. Her breathing was labored as she gazed right back, and the little cheering section inside me was roaring. I felt like Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, watching from the shadows, singing “Kiss the Girl” in my head, hoping that, this time, my mental pushing would work.

It was the perfect setting. This was it. This was what Lexi had been waiting for. Finally, Lexi and Jace were going to have their moment, and all would be right in the world.

Until Jeremy became impatient.

“What’s happening?” Jeremy hissed in my ear. “I can’t see anything.”

I was too transfixed on what was about to happen. Jace’s head dipped low, and I swear, his lips were aiming for her. It was finally happening.

And then Jeremy nudged me, which pushed me into the door and caused it to open.

Jace sat up immediately.

It was official. Jeremy and I were moment-ruiners.

“Oh, hey, guys! We didn’t know anyone was here,” I said, hoping they didn’t catch on to the fact that we’d been watching the whole time. I grabbed Jeremy’s hand and guided him through the living room, not looking at either one of them. “We’re just going to watch a movie in my room. Pretend like we aren’t here.”

“Smooth,” Jeremy whispered.

I held my breath until we got to my room and shut the door.

He pushed me onto the bed and lay down next to me. “Real smooth, baby,” he said, chuckling.

“Me?! You’re the one who forced me into the room! They were about to kiss. I know it!”

Jeremy groaned and dipped his head. “Fuck. I’m a cock block.”

I squirmed until my back was to him. Then I grabbed the remote off my nightstand and clicked the TV on. “Yep, and since you’ve blocked Jace, you’ve blocked yourself. Good going.”

“But… But…” he stammered, pulling the movie out of his back pocket. “But I brought Harry Potter.”

“Okay, that’ll earn you a few points, but no promises.”

It was an empty threat, because my eyes were closed and Jeremy’s tongue was in my mouth before the opening credits had even finished.

And I never did find out what happened that night with Jace and Lexi. That’s the thing about those two. For the longest time, they were a mystery, and I had no idea how much Jeremy’s cock block would change the course of their history.

An hour later, when it became clear we weren’t watching the movie, I tapped Jeremy on the shoulder. He lifted up, breathless from our kissing.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing,” I whispered. “But we’re obviously not spending the night with Harry Potter. Why don’t we take this down to the beach… You know, so prying ears don’t hear anything,” I hinted.

If we stayed in my bed any longer, pants were going to come off. The last thing I wanted was Lexi and Jace walking in on us. Plus, this way, they could be alone, too.

“Okay,” he readily agreed, hopping up from the bed all too soon. Then he went to my closet and pulled a blanket out.

Leave it to Jeremy to be prepared.

I slowly opened my door and yelled down the hall, “Jeremy, get a blanket for the beach!”

When his forehead wrinkled in confusion and held up the blanket that was already in his arms, I mouthed, “Just in case they’re doing something.”

I was hoping it wasn’t wishful thinking, but when we walked down the hall, Lexi was alone, curled up in the living room, watching the movie Valentine. I shuddered at the reminder of the night they made me watch the horror flick.