“Cole, you know as well as I do that I need to be alert all hours of the day.”
He studied her for a moment. The weight of the world rested on his friend’s shoulders, and he always tried to do what he could to help. Kelly did too. But he didn’t like seeing her feel responsible for her eight-year-old sister all the time, especially when she wasn’t her legal guardian.
He dipped his head and captured her lips with his. He didn’t know what prompted it. Suddenly the urge to kiss her came over him, something he’d never entertained before because they had been best friends since they were kids. There was an invisible line he never dared cross.
But kissing her now, he realized he had always wanted it. Something about it felt right. He and Ava knew each other so well, there was no way this could be wrong.
Cole half expected her to pull away and slap him, but to his surprise, she kissed him back. His fingers tangled in her hair, and they walked backward until they stumbled into the nearest of their bedrooms—her bedroom.
They fell onto her bed, and he pinned her hands above her head, kissing her like his life depended on it. Something about her was intoxicating. It was as if he needed to kiss her to survive.
When her hands shimmied up his shirt, it was like a glass of cold water had been tossed on him. He jumped back and looked around.
What the fuck are you doing? This is Ava. Your best friend. Your sister’s best friend. And you’ve both been drinking. Not smart, Cole.
He scrubbed his hand down his face as Ava looked at him in confusion.
“We can’t, Ava.”
A look of pain flashed across her face before immediately clearing. “Okay.”
“We’ve been drinking and?—”
“Cole, you don’t need to explain. I know.”
He tilted his head and looked at her. She wouldn’t meet his eyes as she pulled her knees up to her chest.
“Ava—”
“Cole, just go. You’re right. It was a mistake.”
“Ava—”
“Go. Please.”
He nodded his head, and against his better judgment, he left her room.
She needs space. It’ll be better in the morning.
