“I know, fuck.”
“Why?” My lips tremble as I whisper.
“It felt right.”
“It wasn’t right, Zane. It was wrong.Verywrong.” I’m shaking my head, but my mouth waters for more.
A moment of guilt flashes across his face. “Because of Nathan?”
“Because ofme.” My voice cracks as my pulse races.
“Good, because I don’t give a fuck about Nathan.”
“You never have, so that’s nothing new. But—”
“It’s cheating. I know. And while I don’t care about him, I care aboutyou. I just couldn’t stop myself. And that douchebag doesn’t deserve you.”
I bark out a laugh before covering my mouth with my hand. Zane smiles sheepishly, giving my waist a squeeze. I hadn’t noticed he was still holding me, but now that I have, my skin ison fire. “Either way. It doesn’t work like that. It’s still cheating.”At least it would be, if we were together.
“I know. But youdidleave him and message me.”
“I what?”How the hell does he know that?
“You left him at the hotel and messaged me. You can’t blame me for taking advantage.” He’s keeping things light but I internally deflate, a slow breath passing through my lips.
“It’s complicated.”
“Hasn’t it always been complicated between us, since that very first moment on the beach? We’ve always worked it out.”
His tone lacks its usual cockiness and I stare at him for a beat, letting his words roll around my head. I think about our moment on the beach and the last time we kissed, but rather than the happy memories he’s seeking, my stomach sinks. Yeah…We always worked it out.“Until we didn’t.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Zane
AGE 17
Blair squirms as I hold her in the shallows, my concerned gaze locked on her cheek while I gently stroke her palm. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Is there blood?” she asks, the panic in her voice rising.
“Nope. No blood. But it is going to bruise.”
“That’s fine.” With her free hand, she lightly pats the graze below her eye, making no move to break free from my grasp. “I’m good.”
Her eyes meet mine, and her pulse races under the pad of my thumb, my traitorous heart pounding.
“Do you want to go home?” I ask as she shivers in my arms.
She just crashed off her surfboard and was under the water for longer than anyone should be. I can’t imagine she’s ready to head back out there. But this is Blair, so who knows. She can be stubborn at times.
Her brows furrow as I stare at her, and something about it sends a warmth right through me.
“Do you?” she counters, making me grin as her adorable expression morphs with confusion. “God, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
“Maybe you hit your head?”
“I didn’t. Just my face. But God, I’m so embarrassed.” Her cheeks heat and I find myself following the pink hue down to her chest until her breasts heave, snapping me out of it.
