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“I know you told her about us, I could tell by the way she looked at me when you two came back from the bathroom.”
“Us. There is no us. Why do you keep saying it like there’s something going on here?”
“Because there is.” His voice booms through the truck. “Why are you trying to act like there’s not? I can see it in your eyes, Bree. I can tell by the way your body reacts to my touch. You’re just as into me as I am to you.”
“What happened to not messing up what we have here—our friendship? Why are you coming at me about this now?”
“Because I realized something very important tonight being out with Tess and Sebastian.”
“And what’s that?”
“I don’t just want to be your friend, Bree. Fuck, I don’t think I ever have. You’ve always been more, meant more. Sitting at the table with them tonight, I realized I want what they have and I want it with you.”
“You do hear yourself, right?” My voice shakes as I try to wrap my head around this. “This is me, Ant. Courtney’s best friend, you know—your ex-girlfriend.”
“I’m well aware of who you are and who she is. I haven’t forgotten our situation. But I’m also sick of letting something that happened five years ago keep me from the one thing I want more than anything in this world.”
“Me?” I question like this couldn’t make any less sense even though he’s saying everything I’ve been dreaming of hearing him say for weeks.
“You.” His voice softens as he reaches over to unclasp my seatbelt, pulling me toward him the moment I’m free of the restraint. “I want you, Bree.” He cups my cheek, the pad of his thumb grazing along my lower lip. “I want this. Us.”
“I do too,” I finally admit, unable to get another word out before his lips are on mine, pulling from me everything I’m so hesitant to give.
His kiss sparks something inside me, something I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before. A deep growing need that has nothing to do with our physical contact and everything to do with the connection we share. A connection I feel like I’ve been trying to find since I was just a child—when I was confused and alone, desperate for someone else to understand my pain, to understand me.
So instead of pulling away like I know I should, I push deeper into the kiss; unable to deprive myself of the one thing I’ve wanted for so long.
I kiss him hard, without reservation. I let my body guide me into what I know my heart wants. Anthony Treadway…
It doesn’t matter that he loved Courtney first. It doesn’t matter that this will probably ruin everything. All that matters is this—the way his lips move against mine, the way his touch makes me feel things on a level I’ve never felt before; the way his whispered words make me want to open up my heart with reckless abandon and just let him in.
By the time we break apart from the kiss, we’re both breathless, panting like we can’t seem to pull in enough air. Ant drops his forehead to mine, his eyes appearing darker than normal in the dim cab of the truck.
It takes me a few beats to finally find my words again. The last thing I want to do is ruin the moment, but I need to put it all out there; make sure he understands where I stand.
“I meant what I said, that I want this too. But I can’t do this with you yet, not until Courtney knows the truth. I won’t betray her any more than I already have.”
“You haven’t betrayed her,” he objects, but I quickly cut him off.
“I have. By letting whatever is happening between us happen, I am. I don’t expect you to fully understand.” I pull back slightly so I can take in his reaction. “And I can’t explain it to you either, not now. But Courtney and Tess are my family. They pulled me out of some really horrific situations and, honestly, are probably the only reason I ever had the courage to leave Rockfield when I did. I love Courtney. I owe her the truth before I let this go too far.”
“Okay.” He sits back, letting out a slow breath.
“Please try to understand where I’m coming from.”
“I do,” he reassures me, his eyes soft. “You’re loyal, and you love fiercely. It’s one of my favorite things about you. Courtney is lucky to have someone like you in her life.”
“I’m not so sure about that anymore.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because here I am, with her ex-boyfriend, feeling a way I shouldn’t feel; wanting to kiss him again even though I know how wrong it is.”
“It’s not wrong, Bree. Nothing about this is wrong.” He gestures between the two of us. “In fact, I’m not sure anything has ever felt quite so right.”
“I’m scared.” I can’t believe the words leave my mouth. The second they do I wish I could pull them back in and tuck them away.
“I already promised I would never hurt you, I meant that.” He once again cups my face, pulling my gaze up to meet his.
