AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You left with him, didn’t you?” He tilts his head to the side, clenching his jaw. And his eyes… scream with pure jealousy. “I’m not a fool, Ava. Just be honest with me. For once.” That sounds so harsh I hardly swallow a huge lump forming in my throat. “I deserve at least that, don’t I?”
“Yes, you’re right.” I sigh, regret washing over me. “I didn’t plan it… It was… an impulse.”
“Fuck, Ava!” He hisses through his teeth, rubbing his temples. “Why do you follow him like that? Can’t you see that’s what he wants? He’s having a good time playing you like this.”
“Playing me?” I scorn. After the time I spent with Damien on the boat it’s hard to believe he’s just playing me. Besides, I know Oliver might be trying to slander his cousin because he’s unequivocally jealous, yet I can’t help but give him the benefit of the doubt.What if it is all just a game to Damien?
“You know what?” Oliver inhales deeply, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Never mind. I don’t want to talk about him.” He takes a few steps closer to me and gently squeezes my arm. “I care about you, Ava. I just… I don’t want you to fall for my cousin’s traps.”
“Why would he play me, Oliver? Is there something I should know? About him? Or perhaps about both of you?” My eyes narrow, warning Oliver of my seriousness.
He looks abashed for a second, before he whispers, smiling softly, “Nothing. There is nothing, Ava.” He clears his throat before continuing, “I told you. I care about you, and I wouldn’t want to see you get your heart broken. And believe me or not, that’s what he does. He destroys everything around him.”
He gives me a flirtatious smile before leaning in to plant a sweet kiss on the tip of my nose. “So? How are you today, princess?”What a smooth escape from the topic.
“Well, fine,” I play along. My feelings are all over the place and I’m too confused to reason. I feel lost. They both seem to care about me and compete for me. But which one is real? Are they both? Or is Oliver right, and his cousin sees me only as a trophy he wants to add to his collection?
Oliver inhales deeply, leaning his forehead on mine, “Now that I have you in my arms, it’s perfect.” He whispers, looking deeply into my eyes. For a moment, it feels so good. Being in his arms, inhaling his scent feels right, refreshing. But then, just for a fracture of a second, I peek to the side and notice Damien watching us from afar. That fracture of a second, the glimpse of his face, eyes filled with jealousy, or even disappointment, clings to my heart like a heavy stone. And it doesn’t feel good anymore. It feels like I’m betraying the man I spent half of the night with. The man who opened up to me, showed me his vulnerability. The man with whom I was real.
“What is it, Ava?” Oliver must notice the grimace on my face as he grabs my chin with his fingers and tilts my head slightly back, switching my attention back to him. “Were you even listening?”
“I’m sorry…,” I hesitate, fleetingly looking to the place where Damien was before to see he’s not there anymore. I feel a wave of regret flashing through my body as I put a fake smile on, dragging my eyes back to Oliver’s. “I spaced out.”
“It’s okay,” he whispers, stroking my cheek with his thumb, and I… I can’t get Damien’s picture out of my head. The way he looked at me made my stomach clench.Damnit!
“Oliver… about last night,” I feel the urge to break out of this loop of lust and lies. I want to be honest with him. I want to tell him I’m confused as hell. That even though I’m attracted to Oliver too, or so I’m trying to believe, and that no matter how hard I try, I can’t forget the scent of his cousin. Whenever I close my eyes, I see him. I crave him. I burn for him.Damien.
“Shhh. It doesn’t matter.”It doesn’t matter?“Let’s just forget about it. I could never be angry with you, princess. I understand that you’re trying to… discover your true needs. And if that’s what it takes to be with you, then so be it, because I know that in the end, you’ll choose me. You’ll notice I am the right man for you, Ava.” Oliver steals a tender kiss from my lips, and I can’t help but cringe. I’m not even sure if it’s because I’ve read way too many dark romance novels, and this ‘knight in shining armor’ attitude doesn’t sit right with me, or if it’s because of Damien, whose face incessantly glimmers before my eyes.
“You’re such a dreamy man, aren’t you?”Fuck me!I scream internally at my own silliness. Why the hell did I say that? Why can’t I just be honest with him and admit it’s his cousin I’m into? That’s when it hits me… I’m freaking scared to admit my own feelings, even to myself. And Oliver, for some reason, feels like a safe haven.But is it what I want?
“So, listen,” his voice snaps me out of my thoughts once again. “There’s a party this Friday, and I’d like you to go with me. As my date.” He smiles in the most charming way I’ve ever seen, ruining my determination to be honest with him, Damien, and myself.
“Well, I don’t know. My dad–”
“Hey, I don’t take no as an answer.” He says firmly before he smiles. “Leave your dad up to me.” He winks, his eyes gleaming with content. I have to give him that. Oliver knows how to deal with my father.
The school bell rings, and everyone around us rushes to the classrooms.
“We should go,” I give Ollie a polite smile, squeezing the books I’ve just taken from my locker in my hands. I want to move forward, but Oliver takes a grip on my arm.
“Hey, before we go…,” he hesitates, staring into my eyes like hypnotized.
“Hm?” I say softly, tilting my head to the back to show him he has my full attention.
He slides his hand at the back of my neck, slowly leaning down to stop just an inch before our lips touch. He rests his other hand on my cheek, caressing it delicately with his fingertips.
“I want to kiss you, Ava.” He whispers, brushing his lips across mine, and I hardly swallow. Why do I suddenly feel so attracted to him? It’s like my body and mind are playing tricks on me. My lips part involuntarily, and shivers run up and down my spine.
“Kiss me…,” I say so quietly I’m not sure he can catch it, but the very moment he closes the tiny gap parting our lips with a tender kiss, causing my belly to tickle. I move my hand up to the back of his neck and tangle my finger in his hair, pulling his head closer, deepening the kiss. I let myself lose in his warm lips, dropping the books to the ground. Oliver’s lips form into a smile before he slowly pulls back, leaving me wanting more.What the hell is wrong with me?I open my eyes to meet his.
“I like you, Ava.”
“I like you too, Ollie.” And it’s not a lie. I guess I’m just not sure of my feelings. The only thing I’m sure of is that this love triangle will bring me more trouble than I could ever handle.
