“You’re lying.” The tremors in her hands start to fade as her silver eyes begin to frost over. “You have a tell.”
“Fine. I have some work events there.”
“For the bar? Oh, the audiobook stuff.” She jolts in place. “You said you were stuck in Rocosa before.”
“I, uh?—”
“You want to leave. For where? LA? To be a hotshot celebrity?” Her question has a little more bite than I care for.
“I haven’t actually decided anything yet.”
“But it is a possibility. And you kissed me... knowing that you might not stay in Rocosa? Were you not going to tell me? Let me get attached first? What was your master plan here, Tristen?”
I spread my arms out and laugh like a madman. “I have no plan. Can’t you tell? All I know is that I like you. And I think you like me too, but you’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
“I have nothing to admit.” She lifts her chin up a notch.
“Now who is lying?”
She pushes past me, knocking into my shoulder as she storms into the bedroom.
I wait for her to scream something else, but the bedroom light clicks off. After a few minutes, my frustration morphs into determination. Maybe Reese has a point. How can I make any decisions if I don’t know what I want? Crawling into my bunk, I pull out my phone and start reading over Vivian’s excerpt.
Chapter Eleven
REESE
Staring at the roof vent above me, I lie in the darkness feigning sleep. The motorhome creaks as Tristen paces. His frustrated grumbles and sighs only add to my guilt.
Because he is right... I do like him. I wish I didn’t, but I do.
It’s difficult to wrap my brain around the truth, especially since I’ve spent so much time avoiding the attraction between us. But every time he touches me, I lose all sense of reason. Like a magnet, I keep coming back to him.
I like you.His confession pulses in my mind, refusing to be ignored.
My fingers rub the tiny spot on my neck as I remember the fiery touch from his lips. A sudden rush of adrenaline courses through me, a desire for something I shouldn’t want.
Tristen is Des’s best friend. I’m not supposed to have feelings for him—or him for me. The man who’s been a staple in our lives for years. Someone who’s always watched over me, even after I pushed him away. To the point he threw himself into the middle of chaos to save my life, receiving bruises in my stead. He deserves better than me. Like when certainchemicals mix, there are aspects of my life that combust on contact.
What if I ruin everything like I always do?
I like you.My heart rate spikes as I remember his words again.
But how do I trust myself when I have a terrible history of always wanting what I shouldn’t? My poor choices nearly killed me last time. Tristen might not see how this will end, but I do. I know myself. I’m moody and rash, with a stubborn streak that could make a grown man cry. He’ll tire of me in days, a week max. I’d be walking on eggshells not knowing when I’m one epic screwup away from him leaving me. And the aftermath of his departure would carve a crater-sized hole in my chest.
I’m not sure if I could survive another detox.
Bundling my trembling fingers under my chin, I fight through my anxiety. My craving from before may have lessened but it never truly disappears. It hovers over my shoulder like a demon I’m so weary of wrestling. The convincing promises whisper in my ear.
One drink can calm my nerves.
One drink can ease the tension between Tristen and me.
One drink can make all these cravings finally disappear.
But another voice rings inside of me, true and clear.
One drink could ruin everything.
