Part 2 (2/2)

Why the sudden urge to be my person? I didn't get him. Going down this route would only hurt both of us. More importantly, it would surely hurt me in the long run, which was the last thing I needed since I already had a lot to tackle.

I didn't want to come off like a b.i.t.c.h, but at the same time, it was essential for him to understand that this-our budding friends.h.i.+p and whatever else was there between us-wasn't possible.

”Why are you doing this?” There was a slight persistence to my voice, maybe even a little hurt because he knew how I felt about him. ”We both know you love her...” I trailed off as I watched his reaction play across his handsome, scruffy face.

”Lindsey...” he began saying, as if he was trying to conjure the right words to describe what he wanted to convey before he nipped the side of his lip, drawing breath through his teeth. ”Well, she's Carter's baby sister, and she's too much to handle sometimes.”

I knew as much. He valued his friends.h.i.+p with Carter too much to mess it up.

”But you're in love with her even after all of that.” It was a fact, one I told myself every day. ”Does she even know how you feel about her?”

Shaking his head, he then murmured, ”No. h.e.l.l, no.”

f.u.c.k, that was painful. It was one thing seeing him fall in love with her from a distance, but it was another monster altogether hearing him openly admit it. I wasn't sure why I didn't want to direct our conversation to something light or consider walking away from him, but instead, I stood my ground, ready for the punches to keep on rolling.

”Do you plan to tell her?”

”Never,” he vehemently said, frowning. ”Not if I can help it.”

He was in love with her, yet he wanted to suffer by not telling Lindsey. I understood that he respected Carter, but come on, he needed to grow some b.a.l.l.s and get over it. No one was worthy of him except for my dear friend, and even though it was cutting me to shreds thinking about them together, I would be content knowing two people I cared so much for were indeed happy as a couple. A part of me insisted it would be better off to leave the subject alone because, let's face it; it wasn't my business what he did or didn't do with his love life. At the same time, the other good side was persistent. If I could convince him to drop his inhibitions and dive into it, maybe I wouldn't feel so guilty any longer.

”What are you so scared about?”

”Everything.”

I shouldn't, yet I couldn't stand him looking glum. Though I was young, I knew enough that I could be selfless in wanting him to find happiness.

”Maybe you should take the risk. Maybe it'll be worth it in the end.”

An impatient sound came out of him before he gave me a pointed look, as if he was ready to challenge me.

”Maybe it won't, but I don't want to talk about that right now.”

Of course he didn't. He would rather dwell on my problems than face his. Typical male redirection.

I was about to say something sarcastic when my phone rang in the small clutch purse that was hanging off my wrist. The size was enough to carry money, phone, car keys, and mints. It was imperative during summer months.

”One sec,” I exclaimed as I dug in to fetch my phone before placing it against my ear to answer it.

All the while I was taking the call, I could feel the heat of his stare. If I had the guts, I would look him straight in the eye, raise my brow, and give him a 'take it or leave it' look. I knew my body was in the best shape, and I admit his admiring eyes didn't go unnoticed. Though I was delighted by his attention, I couldn't really revel in it without having to deal with the guilt that never ceased to always sprout whenever I strayed away from my mission of keeping it platonic between us.

”Who was that?” his brooding self immediately asked the moment I hung up the call and inserted the little device back into my tiny, golden, glittery clutch.

”Russo.”

His handsome face frowned deeper, like he couldn't fathom why one of the guys on the soccer team with him was calling me out of the blue.

”And what does Russo want with you?”

He wasn't the only male friend I had. Did he even consider that option? I mean, I knew I wasn't the hottest piece of a.s.s around, but c.r.a.p, I had a few men fawning over me. I wasn't about to point that out just yet, though. Given his dark expression, it wouldn't be a wise move on my part.

”He's wondering if I wanted to head out to Cece's party. She's having some s.h.i.+ndig with a hired club DJ or something like that.”

My response didn't seem to matter to him, because he was off to the next question, giving me a foreboding look.

”And what did you tell him?”

”I said sure.” It was a party all the same. Maybe I might even have a great time with no Brody to worry about since he would be stuck here with his own bash.

”You're not going anywhere. You're staying here.”

He was ordering me what to do now? Since when did that happen?

Peering towards him, I tried to stand my ground. ”I already told him I was going, Brody. It'd be rude not to show up.”

”You're drunk, and I don't want you near perverts like him!”

”A couple bottles of beer doesn't get anyone drunk. I'm not a lightweight, so I'm all good to drive. Besides, what's the difference between perverts and flirts, anyway? It'll go down the same route if I let it happen. So, if you have a problem with that, that's too bad, 'cause I don't see it as one.”

The fiery pizzazz and abrasive att.i.tude wasn't welcomed given the look he was giving me. In fact, that was the first time I saw him enraged. He was always happy-go-lucky with everything. This was ... different, refres.h.i.+ng even.

Pressing his lips together, he studied me with utmost intensity, not daring to even blink his eyes as he considered me fully. ”You don't see it as a potential danger to hang out with perverts? Heck, you could be drugged, raped, or even killed, yet you don't give a rat's a.s.s about that. I wonder how your parents will feel about that if I decide to give them a call.”

He didn't want to f.u.c.k me with me, not today, most especially not today.

”You wouldn't dare!” I growled in his face, heated at the threat of what he was willing to do just to get his way. ”That's breaking code!” We all made a pact that, when we partied, we figured it out ourselves before we got our parents involved. As long as it wasn't jail, bail, or the emergency room, we never-ever-bothered with parents. He knew this as much as I did.

His eyes lit up, mocking me as he gave me a cruel yet uber s.e.xy smile. ”Oh, I f.u.c.king dare, Amber Harrison.” Facing me smugly, he stepped in close, too close for comfort, before he finally uttered the words. ”So I dare you to dare me.”

He was all male, and the intoxication of his minty breath with a hint of beer and the sweet aroma of his sun-kissed skin was playing havoc with my body.

Gathering all the courage I could, I ground my teeth together before I growled in protest. From him being too hot, from his uncalled for threats to call my parents, and this weird sudden s.e.xual tension that seemed to hung between us today, I just wanted to scream.

”What's your problem, huh? If you're having a bad night, there's no need to spread that s.h.i.+t around.”

”I am having a bad night, and I did say I liked having you near.” I expected him to come at me with att.i.tude; instead, he seemed to have mellowed out, almost complacent. ”So call me selfish, but I think I need you more than Russo does.”

s.h.i.+t, why did he have to speak to me that way? If I'd had more to drink, I would have thought he was telling me he wanted me for himself. I knew better, though. I should know better. Always.

”Brody-” I began protesting, but he was quick to silence me by drawing me near to his face so that I could almost taste his breath on my tongue. Close, intoxicating proximity was too much. He was too much. I was a quivering mess because I wanted him so badly, and at the same time, I was reeling it in.

”Shh, it'll be all right.” His endless pools of dark eyes magnetized me. ”You're upset, and I want to keep a close eye on you,” he said soothingly, leaving me with dry mouth, almost panting while he continued to trap me without any effort other than speaking closely to me. ”Don't be mad at me. I just want to know you're going to be okay, preferably with you staying here at my party.”

d.a.m.n.

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