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He takes his time answering me, draining his glass first. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you instead of just talking to you about… things.”
“What things?” Like I don’t know what things. But my heart is in my throat and I have no idea what he’s about to say next, only that if he tells me we can’t be friends anymore that it’s going to tear my heart open in a way nothing else ever has.
I should probably work out why that is, but it’ll have to wait.
“You know what things.” Drew’s tone is quiet, serious.
I have to swallow hard before I can get the words out.
“You mean because I’m attracted to you,” I say. The words come out clear, even if my voice is shaking. “We’ve talked about this before. It’s not an issue. It doesn’t have to be an issue. I can—”
“Bailey.”
I’m mortified to feel my eyes welling up with tears, but I can’t let him speak, because if he’s thinking of ending ten years of friendship, I’m going to delay it as long as I can.
“If you need space, I’ll give you space. It doesn’t have—”
“Bailey, stop.”
“To mean we can’t be friends.” By the time I finish the sentence, the tears have spilled over. I swipe at them, trying to make the evidence disappear before he can see, but Drew’s already crossing the room. He’s in my space and there’s not even the smallest hope he doesn’t see.
“Bailey,” he says gently.
“I know it’s messed up, but I swear—”
This time he doesn’t speak, just stops my lips with his.
The kiss is brutally sweet, for all he barely touches me. It’s enough to stop me babbling. Who am I kidding? It’s enough to stop me breathing.
“There are no circumstances under which we will not be friends,” says Drew firmly. “Do you understand? There is nothing you could do that would make me leave you.”
“But—”
“Nothing.” Drew cups my face in his hard, callused hand, his thumb resting on my bottom lip. “Do you understand? Nod if yes.”
I nod, but I can’t keep my lips from twitching.
He sighs. “What?”
“What if I become a serial killer?”
“Do you have plans to start killing people?” Drew asks with obvious patience. His thumb is still on my mouth, making thinking difficult.
“Not at the moment,” I say faintly.
“You let me know if that changes,” says Drew. He drops his hands to my hips, guiding me backward until the wall stops us.
“We should probably talk about this,” he murmurs, leaning close, rubbing his nose gently across my cheek. I’m about to agree with him—because obviously this is crazy and we’ll ruin our friendship and if he doesn’t kiss me again soon I’m going to scream—when Drew drops his mouth to my neck and nips. My entire body lights up like a billboard at night and I gasp.
“You like that?” I can feel his grin against my shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Good,” he says. “I’ve wanted to do that forever.”
“What—” My voice cracks. I clear my throat and try again. “What else have you wanted to do?”
Drew hums. The vibrations send shivers down my back, making me tremble.
