Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“We just want to see you happy,” Kennedy says.
“I know. This is— Fuck me, I don’t know what this is, but I need time. We need time.”
“That kiss.” Maverick nods his approval. “I give you a ten, brother.”
“Don’t.” I rub my hands over my face. “I’ve heard what you all have to say, and I just kissed my best friend, like she was mine, and she’s not, but I think I might want her to be, and I’m confused, and just… don’t.”
“We’re going to stay quiet for now. We know you need to work this out, but if we feel like we need to intervene, we will. Just like you would with us. We love you, brother,” Orrin says.
I nod. “Understood. This weekend, can we just… not? Let’s just let it be for the rest of the time we’re here, and don’t make her feel uncomfortable about the kiss.”
A chorus of “Done” and “You got it” surrounds me.
“Thank you,” I tell them. I think I’ve bought us some time without the meddling of my family. Now I just need to figure out where we go from here. Alyssa and I should probably talk, but I think I’m going to take Deacon’s advice. I’m going to take it slow, feel her out, and see what happens.
I just hope at the end of this that she’s still my best friend, and if I’m lucky, I’ll also get to call her mine.
CHAPTER
TEN
Alyssa
I’m slumped against the wall outside our bedroom, trying to catch my breath and wrap my head around what just happened. We were pretending to be Deacon and Ramsey, and then— Well, things took a turn.
My lips are still tingling.
I can still taste him.
Closing my eyes, I let the moment flow through my mind. The way Sterling looked at me, the huskiness of his voice. His grip on my waist. The way his eyes heated just before he slanted his lips over mine. I can still feel his hand holding the back of my neck, angling me to just the right position.
Over the years, I often thought about kissing him and the logistics of making that happen. He’s a foot taller than me, hence the reason behind our nicknames. I wasn’t sure we would be able to pull it off with those twelve inches of difference, but it was… dare I say perfect?
“Alyssa?” I open my eyes to find Palmer standing next to me. “Are you all right?”
“Yep. Good. Fine.” I stand to my full height.
“He really laid one on you, huh?” She grins.
“It was all for show.” I say the words, but I’m not sure if they’re true. Yes, it started out for show, but something about that kiss seemed like it was more.
“When a man kisses you like that, when you have to rush off to catch your breath, that’s not for show.”
“He’s my best friend,” I whisper. I’m still reeling from our kiss and the what-ifs that have been bouncing around in my head since we got here.
“Guess what?” she asks.
“What?” I’m eager for her to give me some words of wisdom here.
“Brooks is my best friend too.” She winks and takes a step back. “Oh, I have something planned that you’re not going to want to miss. I’ll stall but get your wits about you and meet us back outside. And can you do me a favor? When you get back out there, and we’re all sitting, ask me if I’m nervous about this one's delivery.” She grins, placing her hands on her belly, then turns and walks away. You can’t even tell she’s pregnant except for the slight waddle in her gait. She’s all baby belly.
I watch until I can no longer see her before closing my eyes once again. My insides feel like I’m being twisted in a blender. I don’t want things to change between us, but at the same time, the thought of being with Sterling is…. The idea of us truly together lights a fire in my soul.
I feel a rough hand against my cheek, and I don’t have to open my eyes to know it’s him. However, I do it anyway. I need to see him. See how he’s feeling.
“Hey.” His voice is gruff. “You okay?”
I nod. “Are you?”
“Yeah.” He gives me a slow, sexy smile. “Come here, Tink.” He drops his hand and opens his arms wide.
I don’t hesitate to step into his embrace. My heart is instantly calm, and my breathing is regulated. Sterling is my comfort, my constant in life. He hugs me close, his arms not leaving any space between us.
We stand enfolded in one another, neither ready to let go. I don’t ever want him to let go. It’s at this moment that I realize that all those old feelings that teenage me thought were fleeting were anything but. They’re back with a vengeance, and I don’t know how to handle them.