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“I know you make him happy. I’ve seen the way he stares at you like he can’t see anything else.”
The flutter turned into an entire field of butterflies. “There’s more to a relationship than endorphins.”
He raised a brow. “Oh yeah. Please tell me more about relationships, Miss I Don’t Date. How about this? Look me in my face and tell me you aren’t in love with him.”
I tried to look him in his face and chickened out. “This is stupid.”
“I knew it,” he said softly. “You’re in love with him. I know it’s scary for you—it’s scary for everyone—but you have to talk to him, trust him.”
“I do trust him.”
“Then why are you keeping him a secret?”
I dropped my head back. “Stephen, I’m one semester away from graduating. You know my dad wouldn’t hesitate to cut me off. What am I supposed to do? Beg Gavin to take care of me?”
Stephen’s hands flew up. “Yes. Life gets hard, and you take care of each other. If daddy dearest does cut you off, ask for help. I have money. Your football friends have money. Hell, two of them play in the NFL now. I’ll bet they could float you enough to get you through one semester of college.”
“I refuse to be a burden to anyone.”
He sighed, deep and dramatic. “You. Are. Not. A. Burden. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. And loving someone doesn’t have to be hard. Take Gavin to the fundraiser. Tell your dad the truth. You love your hockey hottie, and you won’t be dating anyone else. I know it’s what you want to do, or you wouldn’t have called me.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I sniffled. I hated the idea of the fundraiser. Hated the dress my parents had picked out. Hated the sit still look pretty etiquette they’d expect. Hated that I couldn’t show off my sexy, talented, wildly kind boyfriend to the people who were supposed to love me the most.
I hated Brendan would never get to meet him.
If Gavin were there, I wouldn’t hate it. We could secretly mock the stuffy attendees and eat too many fancy hors d'oeuvres and maybe I’d drag him into a back room so he could steal my panties again. He’d make the fundraiser fun. And under it all, I wanted him to hold me and whisper ‘Princess’ in my ear and never let go.
Fuck. Stephen was right. I needed to talk to Gavin.
He nodded when I met his eyes. “Good girl.”
I let out a wet laugh. “Please don’t ever say that to me again.”
“Not my fault Gavin’s dick has melted your brain.” He pursed his lips in thought. “Honestly, I’m not at all surprised. His friend Reece could melt my?—”
“Stop,” I begged. “Please stop. I have to live with Reece. I don’t want to know what he’s doing with his dick.”
“There she is. Go forth and grab happiness by the balls.”
I wiped away the wetness under my eyes. “Do good in the world.”
He grinned. “And don’t take shit from anyone. Not even your parents—and especially not yourself.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too, sweet cheeks.” He hung up, and I realized I needed to move or I was going to be late.
I tucked my phone away and headed home. It was so easy to tell Stephen I loved him. He’d been a constant from the day we’d met, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Why didn’t my feelings for him trigger my need to immediately push him away?
Why were my feelings for Gavin so much scarier?
I loved Stephen, like I loved Mac, but what I felt for Gavin was different. If I lost Stephen, it wouldn’t destroy me. Hell, I’d walked away from Mac on purpose. I was physically incapable of walking away from Gavin. He owned me, heart and soul. How was I supposed to protect myself when I had no armor left?
I expected to find all four guys waiting for me in the living room, but when I slammed into the house, I only saw Gavin studying on the couch. He lifted his gaze, and my heart contracted.
“Hey, Princess.” He grinned, and the usual greeting hit me sideways. My emotions were all over the place, and I blamed Stephen for making me think about my feelings instead of pushing them to the back of my mind.
My steps stuttered, and he stood with a questioning tilt to his head. I’d intended to rush upstairs and change, but suddenly, I needed to feel his arms around me. My bag hit the ground at my feet, and I was airborne. Gavin caught me as if I launched myself at him every time I entered the room. My legs locked around his waist, my arms around his neck, and his hand tangled in my hair.
