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“I’m trying to. That’s what I want to talk to Echo about. But I can’t fucking find her so I can ask her to listen.”
Sebastian nods slowly, then reaches for his phone. He shoots off a text, and gets one back quickly. “Go back to the hotel.”
“And do what? Echo isn’t there.”
“Wait. When she shows up, if she’s willing to talk, shelve your pride. Treat tonight like it’s your first—and last—chance to convince her to choose you. Take it from the guy who buried the woman he loved without ever telling her how he felt. Maybe the truth would have ruined everything. And maybe it wouldn’t have changed anything. I’ll never know. What I did learn? Regret is bitter, and it lasts forever.”
* * * *
By eight o’clock that night, it’s a wonder I haven’t worn holes in the hotel room’s dark, utilitarian carpet with my pacing. Finally, I hear the click of the latch. The door slowly opens.
Echo steps in. She looks wary.
She’s been crying.
My knees nearly go out from under me. I did this to her, and I feel fucking horrible. What if she can’t forgive me? “Shortcake…I’m so sorry.”
She shakes her head, then looks past me, taking in the rest of the room with a confused furrow of her brows. Since I’ve been consumed by dread that she isn’t coming back, I’d half forgotten about the rose petals scattered across the pristine white comforter on our bed and the champagne chilling next to the nightstand.
“What’s this?” She sounds shocked and…something else. Horrified?
“My attempt to seduce you.” I cross the room to her, but stop short. I want to touch Echo, but I need to find out where her head is. “I guess Xavian told you I had no intention of making love to you.”
She nods, arms wrapped around herself as if she needs a hug and doesn’t trust me to give it to her. “He did.”
Goddamn it, I wish he would have let me confess my own screw-ups, but I understand why he didn’t. “I’m sorry for lying to you. You wanted to lose your virginity with someone who would make it good for you, and I took that decision away. It wasn’t fair.”
“So why did you?”
“When Xavian first let it slip that he intended to take you to bed, I told myself I couldn’t let you because you would regret it. He’s a man whore. He doesn’t love you…” I blow out a breath. “And I thought I could save you.”
That only seems to make Echo unhappier since tears mist her big eyes. “My decision must have seemed impulsive to you. I know you meant well, and I appreciate you trying to help me, but—”
“I was an idiot. And an asshole. The truth is, I didn’t want Xavian touching you.”
“But you weren’t willing to, either.” She scans the romantic scene I staged and cringes. “Until tonight, I guess. But I don’t want your pity, especially not this kind.”
“What? No! That’s not—”
“You don’t have to try and make me feel better. You’ve made your point. We’re friends. Just friends. And what I wanted went way beyond that.”
“Hang on.” I approach slowly and hold out my hand, hoping like fuck she’ll take it. “Echo, I just didn’t—”
“Want me. I know. And I’m the one who’s sorry, string bean.” She shies away with a sniffle. “I haven’t been a very good friend.”
What the hell is she talking about? “No, you’ve always been the most loyal, caring, kind, positive—”
“I’ve been lying to you about my feelings since I was a freshman in high school. That’s how long I’ve been in love with you.”
Shock drops the bottom out of my stomach. Is she serious? “You’ve felt this way for eight years?”
She nods, her expression desolate as more tears fall. “I was fourteen when I first realized it. I felt so lucky that the cutest sophomore boy was my best friend. I remember putting on my prettiest dress the first Thursday in December, when tickets to the Winter Formal finally went up for sale. I saw you buy a pair during lunch. Then you walked up to me, looking so excited. My stomach flipped and my heart pounded. I was sure you were going to ask me. But you invited Kaitlyn instead.”
I barely remember that girl…except that we made out after the dance, and I got my hands on her tits.
“You took Allie to Spring Fling. You asked Jasmine to the End-of-School bash. And you spent all summer having sex with Dakota.” She’s sobbing now.
Shit. I’ve hurt her so much. I want to touch and comfort her, but I have no right. I feel like a heel for never noticing her feelings.
“Shortcake, I had no idea…” I reach for Echo.
She shrugs me off. “Because I didn’t want you to. But it hurt to hear you talk about other girls all the time, especially what you did with them.”
