“He sees me as a threat but also knows that if he were to act like a tool, he would alienate you. So he did the next best thing. He was nice to me. Made it clear that you were his first. Every time he said ‘our girl,’ what he really meant was ‘my girl.’ He was practically peeing on you, girl.”
I shake my head. “You really think so?”
“I do.”
I sigh. “Why are relationships so complicated?”
“When you care, there are too many layers to sort through. You both want each other but don’t want to lose one another. It’s a vicious cycle, and until one of you is brave enough to break it, you will be stuck in limbo.” He shrugs, leading me toward the bar.
“What makes you so sure?” I ask, chewing my bottom lip.
He orders us each a drink before turning toward me. “I’m an outside observer. I can see things that you can’t because you are too close and have feelings involved. It is obvious to anyone with eyes that he has a thing for you. Just like the moment you heard his voice, your entire body changed. Your reaction showed me why you broke it off with me. You are head over heels in love with him. You need to decide if you want to risk it all for that love or if you are willing to let it go and move on. Or are you going to stay stagnant? That’s a choice too.”
He’s right. We have been stagnant for a decade. Always flirting with the edge of something more. A little flirting here and there, but always brushing it away as innocent because if it wasn’t, it would change everything.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“That’s okay,” he tells me, handing me a glass of water. “Being scared is natural.”
“Water?” I ask, curious about his choice.
He smirks. “I have a feeling tonight is going to change some things. You’ll want to be sober for every moment.”
I suck in a breath, my chest feeling heavy. “I hope you are right about this.”
He nods. “I am. Let’s go spend ridiculous money on the silent auction. What do you think?”
MAX
She has been on his arm all night. It has killed me to watch her smile and laugh with him, but I’ve kept myself from going over and interrupting. I have engaged in meaningless conversationwith many business associates that I have had over the years to keep myself from going to her.
My skin is crawling. I want to scream.
I don’t dare, though. I refuse to put any more attention on myself.
Social gatherings have always been the bane of my existence. Even as a child, I never liked coming to these things.
Before Iris, I would suffer through these with a grimace on my face. Then she came into my life, and she took some of the burden off.
I see now that I have been using her as a crutch. As a way to make my life better, but what am I really contributing to hers?
I want to show her I care. That I appreciate her.
I watch as they continue to talk and laugh across the room. I want to ask her to dance, but I don’t want him to taint it. I need to get her alone.
Another twenty minutes pass before I see my chance. I watch as Clint walks away from her, his phone to his ear.
She is standing alone. She won’t be for long, though. Not if I don’t make my move.
“Excuse me,” I tell the group of gentlemen I was listening to chat.
None of them acknowledge me as I slip away. Making my way through the room, I come to her side.
I let my hand fall to her lower back, startling her as she turns to face me. She is so close, I swear I can see the different pigments of blue in her eyes.
How have I pushed my feelings away for so long? Looking at her now, I feel like I have been starved for her for over a decade.
“Will you dance with me?” I whisper to her.
