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As far as he was concerned, that life started today.
From the corner of his eye he could see the gift wrapped box he’d placed on the passenger seat. It had taken him all night to prepare it – he’d had to call Daniel three times to make sure he had it completely right. It was almost midnight by the time he’d realized he had no Christmas gift wrap, and had to dash to the convenience store in the next town along to pay the extortionate price for a single sheet.
But it was worth it, because she was worth it.
He was aching to see her. Even though she was angry with him, she still managed to touch him like nobody else could. And her anger was deserved after what he’d done. He’d make it up to her for as long as it took.
If it took forever? Well, he was a patient man.
He pulled his car into an empty spot next to the little cottage facing the beach and climbed out, closing his eyes against the grains of sand lifted by the wind. He took a deep breath in, enough to fill up his lungs and push out his chest, then walked to the back door and wrapped his knuckles against the wood.
“Breck?” Lucas’s brows dipped as he saw his friend standing on the porch. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. Are you feeling any better?”
Breck had forgotten all about his excuse for missing the wedding. He’d forgotten about almost everything except Caitlin Russell. “I’m good.” He nodded firmly. “And congratulations. I’m sorry I missed your wedding.”
Lucas gave him an easy smile. “No harm no foul. It’s better than throwing up over the bridesmaids, right?” He inclined his head into the living room. “You want to come in? Ember’s just cooking some breakfast.”
Breck shook his head. “No, I don’t want to impose. I just needed to talk to you about something.”
“You do?” Two tiny lines formed on Lucas’s brow. “What is it?” He paused then continued, “Oh man, it’s Christmas. Is it something to do with your mom? I’m sorry. I know it’s been a while but you never really get over something like that.”
There was a look of sympathy in Lucas’s eyes that cut Breck to the core. He’d lied to his friend, done things behind his back that no friend should do. And yet he couldn’t bring himself to regret any of it – not a single touch, a single whisper, a single kiss. Every moment with Caitie was worth it.
“I didn’t leave your wedding because I was sick,” Breck said, his voice low. “I left because I was an asshole.”
“You were?” Lucas’s voice was full of confusion. “How?”
Where to begin? Breck frowned, trying to work out how to tell his best friend about his feelings for Caitie. But somewhere in the middle of his brainstorm, he found his lips moving without even thinking it through.
“I’ve been sleeping with your sister.”
Wham!
Lucas’s fist barely glanced Breck’s cheek before it hit the hard wood of the door, but it was enough to make him lose his balance and fall to the left. Breck reached out to try and stop his fall, but his head hit the doorjamb, the edge of it slamming into the corner of his eye before he could brace himself against the impact.
“Shit!” Lucas jumped back, cupping his fist in his hand. “Damn that hurts.”
Breck steadied himself, his left eye throbbing with pain. “Sure does.” He lifted his hand to his cheek and touched himself gingerly, wincing at the tenderness of his skin.
“What the heck is going on?” Ember asked, walking into the living room with a spatula in her hand. “Lucas, did you just hit Breck?”
Breck took a deep breath and tried to open his left eye, but he could already feel it swelling. “It wasn’t his fault, I just told him I’ve been sleeping with Caitie. But what I should have said is that I’m in love with her. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t in love with her.” He pressed his lips together and looked Lucas straight in the eye. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice soft, “that I didn’t tell you before. I should have. And I know you want better for her than a loser like me, but I love her, man. And I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
Ember had reached the doorway. She lifted Lucas’s hand up and sighed as she inspected the rawness of his knuckles. “I can’t believe you hit your best friend.”
“I can’t believe he’s been sleeping with my sister.”
Breck winced. He could barely believe it himself.
Ember turned her head to look at Breck. “Did you force her to sleep with you?”
He winced. “Hell no.”
“And you said you love her?”
He nodded. “Love doesn’t seem like enough of a word. I adore her. I worship the ground she walks on. And then I broke her heart the night before your wedding.”
“Can I hit him again?” Lucas muttered.
