“I guess we never really hung out,” she says, smiling softly. “We just always found each other.”
“At games.”
“In class.”
“Walking across campus.”
“Random coffee lines.”
“Exactly.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “I figured football guys had football people.”
“And I figured producer girls had … I don’t know … theater people or something.”
She smiles knowingly. “So, we’re both idiots.”
“I think that’s the first thing we’ve agreed on all night.”
Her eyes hold mine for a beat longer than they should, and the rest of the party fades into background noise.
Neither of us looks away.
“Well, I’m glad you came tonight. If not, I’d have forever wondered if Evangeline Carrington and I were as good of friends as I thought.” I take a swig of my beer. “You know, some people say men and women can’t be friends. Personally, I think that’s bullshit.”
She blinks and then scrunches her brow. “Oh, right.” She looks down at the label on her water bottle, peeling at the corner with her thumb. “Because they say one person is always hiding a crush.” Her eyes lift back to mine. “But … that’s not us?”
The inflection at the end of that line comes up like she’s asking a question.
My pulse kicks hard against my ribs.
This is it.
One honest sentence changes everything.
This is where I can take my shot with Evangeline. I can’t say,Well, actually, Eva, I’ve been harboring a sick crush on you for a long time, and seeing you naked under me would be putting every fantasy of mine to shame.So, I play it safe.
“I have plenty of girls in my life who are just friends, and I definitely don’t want to hook up with them.”
She exhales quietly. I’m not sure if it’s in relief or disappointment.
She lifts an eyebrow. Then she drops her gaze to the floor for a second before looking at me. “Actually, friend, I’m glad you came in here. I want to ask you something.”
“Go for it.”
She sets her bottle down and braces her hands against the edge of the counter. She looks me dead in the eye. “Is there any reason why I shouldn’t go out with your brother?”
Yes, my brain screams.Because I want you. Because he doesn’t know you the way I do.
But the words glue themselves to the roof of my mouth.
Ace is my twin. My built-in best friend. We don’t fight over girls—and never have. Ace hasn’t done anything wrong. He has no idea I have a thing for her. I’ve kept it entirely to myself, waiting for the perfect time, like a pussy. And now my brother has stepped into the space I wanted. He’s asked her out; otherwise, why would she ask me? So, if I tell her yes, if I make my claim now, I’ll be throwing a wrench into my brother’s plan for a girl I have no right to.
I can’t do that to him. I love him too much.
So, I force my face to stay blank and let out a hollow laugh that feels like I’m swallowing glass. “Ace? Nah. He’s a good guy. An idiot sometimes, but his heart is gold.”
Eva searches my face, her eyes scanning mine, like she’s looking for a crack or a sign from me, telling her to say no to him. But I hold her gaze, praying she can’t see the lie in my eyes.
