“All right. So we pretend friends for two weeks, just in case anyone wants to do some digging.” I raise my eyebrows in shock at how easy he’s being. “Don’t be so surprised. I waited five years; I can make it two weeks with you as a secret fuck buddy.”
I giggle. “Fuck buddy, huh? Maybe I just want to be a ‘buddy’ until you sign.”
Grey darts a hand out and begins to tickle me as I scream with laughter, twisting in his lap until he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him breathless, his eyes on mine searching. “I told you, nothing stands between us. So tell me what you’re really thinking because Caroline and my future isn’t it. What’s really going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
My teeth find my lip, my eyes dropping as I finally admit the only real worry I have.
“Liam.”
“It’s a nonissue, Donovan. You chose.”
His words come out too fast, more like a defense rather than a factual statement.
My head shakes as I lift it. “No. I told you I would never lose either of you. I wasn’t being dramatic or wishy-washy. I won’t give him up. He’s my best friend. And you shouldn’t ask me to.”
Grey’s whole body tenses underneath me, as he easily lifts me off him and kicks his legs off the bed, throwing on a pair of sweats before walking toward the window. I knew it. We’re done. He’s not going to give.
I watch him stalk to the window, silent, placing his palms above his head against the glass to look down, before he speaks words that make my heart hurt.
“You’re asking me to share you with someone who I know loves you.”
I wrap the blanket around me, staring at the fabric. “I know, but he doesn’t love me the way you do.”
He spins to looks at me, the hurt shining behind those dark eyes. “I don’t want someone around who knows you as well as I do. He knows when you’re sad or scared. He makes you laugh. He’ll steal moments that belong to me. I want all of you.”
I reach for a shirt that’s on the floor, leaning off the bed, sitting up to slip it on, before I stand and walk to where he’s waiting.
“Grey, you have all of me. You know parts of me that no one else will ever know. You see me. He can’t steal what he doesn’t even know exists.”
His hand reaches for the feather in my hair as his brow furrows while he listens to me speak. “You don’t get it. You’ve never shared me with Liam. You shared Liam with me. He’s my best friend, and he’s your brother, Grey. Our future has him in it. Don’t ask me to choose.”
He exhales heavily, running his hand through his hair, as he tries to walk past me, but I don’t let him, wrapping my arms around him. “Please,” I breathe desperately, digging in my heels and forcing him still. Tears well in my eyes. “Can’t you try?”
His hand comes to rest over my arms, a soft kiss landing on top of my head as he whispers into my hair, “And if I can’t. Would you choose him?”
My lips press into his chest before I look up and rest my chin on him. “You. It would always be you.”
But I would hate myself and you forever.
He looks down at me intensely and so filled with love that I almost shudder. His hands cradle my cheeks as he lowers his face closer.
“I’ll never ask again. I’ll make it right.”
His lips meet mine, and I melt into him, running my hands up his back and savoring the softness of his skin. Goose bumps bloom under my fingertips as we kiss softly, falling into each other more and more, until his hands are roaming my body, slipping under my shirt as I wrap my arms around his neck.
He picks me up with one strong muscled arm around my waist, never breaking our kiss. We stay welded as he carries me back to the bed, stopping at the edge of the mattress and locking eyes with me.
“We’re skipping school today. Because I get to keep you to myself for one more day.”
“Deal.”
Grey
MORE EYES THAN USUAL WERE on me this morning as I walked into Hillcrest. Two things were obvious: almost everyone suspects I burned the tree down, and all the same people think I did it because Donovan is dating Liam. It’s eerie how stories can be somewhat accurate and yet brushed away because they’re unbelievable.
One smile from me, and the rumors began to die down.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I know it’s her, only because I’m watching her walk, head bowed, typing on her cell phone as she makes her way inside. The way she licks her lips tells me she’s texting me. My phones buzzes again, and I smirk.
People shoot quick glances at her, parting as she walks, probably wondering what kind of drama will happen today. Seeing as how I made a fucking spectacle out of us on Monday, I don’t blame them. But one of the things I love most about Donovan is that the opinions of others don’t matter. Her head is held high, a secret smile hidden on her lips over whatever she just wrote, uncaring of anyone who is staring at her.
I sneak around some people, hiding so she doesn’t see me, and step back inside an alcove that’s adjacent to an empty classroom. The space is shadowed, keeping me a surprise. Twisting the handle, I open the door and leave it ajar as I wait. As she walks by, I nab her blazer, jerking her into me and making her squeal as I pull her inside the empty room, shutting the door behind us.
“Grey,” she laughs, eyes bright. “What are you doing? I thought we agreed to be incognito.”
“Fuck that. Who cares? Kiss me.”
I tug her toward me as she swats my hands until we’re so close I can feel the heat rising through her body.
“I like it when you’re feisty, Cherry.”
Our lips skim, almost touching, as our chins lift until she pushes back against my chest. “No. Anyone could catch us.”
I growl, giving her a sneer as she winks at me. “Be good and I’ll let you do more than kiss me later.” My hands reach out for her as she steps away, back toward the door, laughing at me, but my bottom lip pushes forward in a small pout.
“Come on, Cherry.”
She gives a giggle, throwing me a small wave. “Nice try. Bye, Grey.”
She turns to walk out of the class as the bell rings, pausing in the doorway as I call out.
“Hey.” Her long blonde ponytail swishes over her shoulder as she looks back at me. “I love you.”
She smiles wide and grabs the handle. “I love you, too.”
The door shuts behind her, and I look down at my semi, shaking my head. Fuck. I just have to make it through the school day and practice, then I’m free to fuck her brains out. I adjust myself and wait a few minutes, pulling out my phone to check the messages she sent me.
Cherry: My house tonight?
Cherry: I thought since you say I remind you of cherries, I could decide what you taste like.
It’s going to be a long day. I pull the door open, checking the hall before walking out into the emptiness toward class. I know she’s already seated, waiting for me. Since it’s our only class together, it’s my favorite. The minute I think it, a little bit of my happiness sours. If she’s in class, then so is Liam. This will be the first test as to whether I can really do this. Let him be in her life, the way he’s always been. I told her I wouldn’t make her choose, and I won’t, but that doesn’t mean this shit will be easy. Especially since I haven’t spoken to him since Monday. Now it’s Wednesday, and all my texts and messages have gone unanswered.