Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“That’s kind of bossy,” I say tartly, but he just grins back at me.
“You two have fun and don’t get into any trouble,” Dane says as he turns for the door. He stops for a moment, turning back to point a warning finger at Andrew. “And no cuddling with my girl.”
Another wave of dizziness hits me as the words are light and teasing, but they’re also pointed. He’s laying down a boundary that any true physical intimacy between Andrew and me is done for good.
This is fine as Andrew and I are not cuddlers. We most certainly don’t do PJ parties. While we have the bond to share emotional stuff with each other, we’ve never been overly affectionate outside of hugs when needed.
“Noted, dude,” Andrew says with a snappy salute.
When Dane leaves, Andrew turns to me with eyebrows raised and awe in his voice. “What have you done to him?”
I shake my head from the mystery of it all. “I have no clue, but God, I love it. I never could have imagined he had this in him.”
“I saw this coming,” Andrew says sagely. “Saw it clearly for the first time in Paris… that first night we were there.”
My face turns beet red because since Andrew’s exited the relationship, there’s been no talk or reference to our intimate times together. He doesn’t notice or he doesn’t care, but lays it out straight to me. “When we were both inside you at the same time… he was only feeling you and you were only feeling him.”
“No,” I say quickly as that makes me feel terrible, like we’d purposely excluded Andrew.
“Avril,” he chastises me with a pointed look. “Let’s not be afraid of those times. They were beautiful to me, but they are over and in the past. I’m grateful I had those times with you two, but I’m not looking back other than maybe with some fondness because I’ve watched my two best friends start to fall in love with me having a front-row seat.”
The force of his words knocks the breath out of me, and I can feel tears filling my eyes.
“No crying,” Andrew says sternly.
I wipe at my eyes and laugh with a quavering voice. “I can’t help it. These past few months have been surreal. So much emotion and feeling. The risks we took, and thank God we came out stronger for it. Do you realize how lucky the three of us are that we did something like that, and came out not only with our friendship intact, but probably bonded tighter than ever?”
“We’re lucky,” Andrew murmurs. “This could have turned really bad. But it didn’t, and it makes me happy to see you so happy.”
My smile turns brighter. “I really am. I just never in a million years pictured me with Dane. I still have a hard time believing how things have progressed.”
“He’s crazy about you. That little demonstration he just put on proves it because that was so anti-Dane.”
“I know.”
We grow quiet a moment, and then Andrew ventures forth with a question that scares the hell out of me. “Do you love him?”
The smile slides from my face, and my heart pounds so hard I press my knuckles into the center of my chest. “How could I not? I mean, I love and care for him so deeply as a friend that it was nothing but a tiny fall for me to love him the rest of the way.”
Andrew’s expression softens and his eyes shine with happiness for me. “It’s kind of obvious. I’m glad.”
I’m glad he’s glad. I’m not sure if I am, because I have no clue how Dane feels about me. It’s terrifying to love someone—and I mean love him in all ways, not just as a friend—without knowing if he feels it back.
With knowing that Dane has attachment issues.
My eyes drift off to look out the window. It’s gray and drizzly, and it seems like an ominous portent. This may be as good as it gets with him. Dane may never want marriage or children. While we’ve grown so close over the past two months, we’ve never talked about that. He’s certainly never broached the subject, and I’m too terrified to ask.
Too scared to hear him tell me, “I can’t go that far with you, Av. While I care for you a great deal, I just don’t have more in me.”
“It will be okay,” Andrew says, and my eyes snap to his. His voice is so confident sounding, I take immediate heart. “I feel good about this with you and Dane. I think he has what it takes to go the distance with you. You’re the only woman he’d ever take that chance with, Avril.”
God, I hope he’s right, because I’m so invested in him right now. It would destroy me if I can’t have it all with him.