“I love that. I’m close to mine, too. I think family is important,” she says softly, looking up into my eyes.
“I agree with you, it is. I also have three sisters who harass me every other day with questions about my players.” I laugh. “But I love them.”
“Three? Wow. Only boy, huh? Are they all older than you?”
God, I love talking with her like this. I feel like I’m discovering a new side to her I didn’t know, and it only makes me more addicted to her. “They are, and they enjoy reminding me.” I smile.
“I can imagine.” She grins back at me, and for a moment, all we do is stare at one another, lost in each other’s eyes. But thenshe looks back at the door and fishes out her keys with a sigh. “I should go. Thank you for driving me home, Shane.”
“It was all my pleasure.” I release her hand and fight every instinct to kiss her. Instead, I wrap my arms around her shoulders, one hand coming into her hair as I pull her to me. Her hands go around my waist a few seconds later, cheek resting on my chest.
“Goodnight, Angel.” I kiss the crown of her head, inhaling deeply as her scent travels through me. She smells sweet, like fresh peaches. I don’t even like peaches, but I started buying them after meeting Aubrey because they reminded me of her.
“Goodnight, Shane,” she whispers against me.
I pull my arms back, cupping her cheeks and tilting her face up toward mine. Her eyes widen as her lips part, even her pupils dilate slightly. I force myself to stay in control as I lean in and press my lips to her forehead instead of where I desperately want to.
I close my eyes, hating the feeling in my gut telling me that I’m being an idiot, and pull away after a few seconds, letting go of her completely as I take a step back.
I can see the confusion in her eyes as she watches me, and I pray that she understands why I didn’t kiss her. She gives me a small smile and turns her back to me, unlocking the door and heading inside. I watch as she goes over to the elevator, presses the button, and waits, only looking back once the doors open. Then she steps in, the doors shut, and she’s gone.
AUBREY
~ Two Weeks Later ~
I’ve seen Shane five times since he kissed me, and yet he hasn’t tried to do it again. I don’t understand why. I know I said it was one kiss and wouldn’t happen again, but I was hoping it would.
When he showed up at my work the second time, I really thought he was going to do it again, but then he kissed my forehead instead, the same way my father does, and it confused me more than anything. I’ve been trying not to think about it, not to make it into a big deal, but I can’t keep my mind from spiraling with questions.
Why won’t he kiss me again? Did I do something wrong? Was I… was I bad at it?... Did he only do it because I told him I had never been kissed? But if that’s the case, why does he keep coming back?I don’t understand any of it.
I don’t want to think about it anymore, because every time I do, it makes a lump form in my throat, and a knot tightens in my belly, and then all I want to do is cry because I feel like I messed everything up. That’s why I’ve decided to pay a visit to my best friend this morning before work. She knows how guys work, she’ll know what this all means, and she won’t make up any excuses to make me feel better.
I punch in the code Ronnie gave me to their property, and once the gate opens, I drive through them and down the longdriveway, parking near the entrance door. They officially moved into their new house a few days ago, and I’m excited to see the place.
My eyes go wide when the majestic structure before me comes into view.Damn,Ronnie wasn’t kidding about this place being a mansion.I mean, Silas and Clay’s houses are huge, even my brother’s is gigantic. But it’s not like this one.
Once I’m at the door, I’m too in my head to knock or ring like a normal person would and instead use the second code she gave me for the front door, walking directly into their home without announcing myself. I know her and Noah are home, I just have to find them in this ginormous maze. I wander around, calling out a “Hello?” every minute. Finally, I hear noises that seem to be coming from the kitchen and head toward there.
“Hey, sorry I didn’t ring the doorbell. I was just—AHHH!” I quickly cover my eyes and turn around. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry!”
“Brey!” Veronica gasps. I hear what sounds like her jumping off the kitchen island as they both laugh.
“This isn’t funny! Why would you guys do that there!?”
Out of all the things I could have pictured walking in on, finding a naked Noah lying down on the kitchen island and Veronica in only thigh-high stockings bouncing on top of him was the very last one on my list.God, why do I always find myself in these situations?
“Hey! Noah is finally sex-restriction free. We’ve been making up for the lost time, don’t blame us for having sex in ourownhouse. You’re the one who just walked in; you should have known better,” Ronnie says from behind me as they shuffle around. “You can turn around now, we’re decent.”
I lower my hand and turn back to them, only to whip it back up. “No, you’re not!” I’m blushing like crazy to the point that I can feel my ears burning.
“Oh, come on, Brey. I’m wearing a shirt, and Noah has his boxers on. There’s no nudity.” I shake my head, not agreeing with her.
She sighs heavily. “Babe, can you go get dressed? She won’t take her hand down until you have more clothes on. We’ll finish up later.”
I hear them kissing, and that tightness forms in my belly again, then the sound of his retreating footsteps. “Is he gone?”
“Yes, you can remove your hand.”
