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“Ant.”
“Answer the question, Bree. Yes or no. Take everything and everyone else out of the equation. Right now, it’s just us. Just you and me. Do you want to be with me?” He takes another step until he’s standing directly in front of me, his hands coming out to cup my face.
“You know I do.” It’s barely a whisper on my lips.
“Then be with me,” he pleads, bending his knees so that we are standing eye level.
“You make it sound so simple,” I croak out, barely keeping my shit together.
“It is that simple.”
“For you maybe.”
“Fine, then I’ll tell her,” he says, not the least bit surprised when I push his hands away from my face and take a full step back.
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would, and I will.”
“You can’t insert yourself into our friendship like that. It’s not your place,” I bite, voice shaking.
“But it’s about me, so it is my place. Courtney deserves the truth, you said so yourself. So I’ll tell her if you can’t.” His voice is soft, but the threat is real; I can see it in his eyes.
“There’s nothing to tell her because this isn’t going to happen.” I find strength from somewhere down deep and stand my ground.
“So just like that,” he laughs bitterly. “You don’t even give me a chance before you’re slamming the door in my face.”
“You know why I can’t,” I plead.
“No, I know why you won’t, and it has nothing to do with Courtney.”
“Ant.” I barely get the words out before he’s spinning on his heel and exiting the bedroom, leaving me standing alone wondering what the hell just happened.
I hear the bathroom door open seconds later, and I quickly move to close my door. I can’t face Court right now. My emotions are so all over the place, coupled with the threat that Ant might very well tell Court the truth, and I feel like I’m seconds away from melting down right here on the spot.
It takes me several moments to collect myself enough that I feel comfortable exiting my bedroom. I step into the living room to find Court and Ant lounging on the couch talking over top of Jackson, who’s sitting between them still watching television.
My first thought is this is how it should be. Ant and Court, they’ve always made sense. He and I have never made sense. I’m not good for him. Hell, I’m not good for anyone. But God if I don’t want to be.
Both sets of eyes go to me the minute I step fully into the room, and if my stomach wasn’t already a mess of nerves, it would be when Ant’s gaze narrows in on my face.
“Okay, well I’m gonna run out for a bit,” he announces after a long moment, pushing off of the couch.
“Where you headed?” I try to sound as casual as possible, but I’m not really sure how successful I am.
“I have a few errands to run, some shopping to do.” He shrugs. “You need anything while I’m out?” he asks as he slides on his shoes.
“No, I’m good.”
“Hey, Ant, before you go,” Courtney interjects, sliding forward to the edge of the couch. “Would you maybe want to have dinner with me tonight,” she asks.
My eyes dart between the two of them, my stomach twisting so tightly I feel paralyzed by the pain.
“Yeah, I’d like that. I should be back by five.” He smiles at Court before turning to Jack. “See you later, buddy.” He waves at Jackson who looks up for only a second before his attention goes back to the show.
Ant smiles to himself, barely even looking my way before he opens the door and quickly exits the apartment.
