“Thinking about what?” I ask.
“You and me. We were good together.”
I snort out a laugh. “No, we weren’t. We weren’t even together. We had casual sex and outside that, you acted like I didn’t exist.”
“I’m sorry about that. It was wrong of me, but I was young and newly out. I was excited to finally be myself, you know? I didn’t want to settle down with one person. But, now that I think about it, you were the one I had the most fun with. We could have been something great.”
He steps into the bathroom, coming closer to me, giving me a boyish grin. “We’re older now, time has passed and we’re both single,” he murmurs seductively. “Why not see where this can go? I know I could be good for you, Cooper. Just give me the chance.”
I turn to glare at him, to tell him to fuck off, but my heart stops when I see Blake standing behind Luke, his eyes wide, lips parted.
“Blake,” I whisper.
He turns around and runs for it.
“Fuck!” I curse.
“Wait!” Luke steps in front of me.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I snarl. “We were nothing. There’s only one person in this world I want, and it’s not you.” I shove past him, heart pounding in my chest, dread filling my stomach. I look around for Blake in a panic, but he’s not up here anymore.
I run for the stairs, taking them two at a time. “Damn it,” I curse when I look around for him, but can’t see him through the sea of people.
“Cooper!” Tabitha shouts my name. My eyes snap over to hers. “He went out the front door!”
Nodding, I race to the door and out onto the front step. Eyes scanning the yard, I find him headed toward the road.
“Shit.” I take off toward him. “Blake!”
He doesn’t stop.
“Blake. Stop! Wait up.” Lungs burning, I finally catch up to him. “Blake.” Grabbing his shoulders, I spin him around. He looks up at me with his big blue eyes filled with tears and I’m fucking gutted. “Blake,” I sigh his name. “Don’t cry.”
I try to wipe away the tears, but he jerks his head back.
“It’s not what it looked like,” I urge him. “Me and Luke, we’re nothing. Haven’t been for years.”
“But you have a past.” His voice breaks. “Why not be with him? He’s asking for something more.”
“Because he’s not the one I want to be with, Blake. He means nothing to me.”
His eyes flick between mine, lower lip trembling. He’s shaking, clearly upset and maybe confused.
I’ve been giving him the space and time he needs, trying to be the best friend I can be for him. But seeing this hurt in his eyes, him thinking I’d want to be with anyone else but him, is destroying me.
“Who is the one you want?” His voice quivers, like he’s afraid to ask the question.
Maybe this is stupid of me. Maybe I might be fucking this all up by making the first move if he’s not ready, but I’d rather take the risk and ask for forgiveness, than let him think for another moment he isn’t my entire world.
Instead of using words, I step forward, closing the space between us.
His breath hitches, eyes darting between mine. I cup his face in my hands, making him whimper a soft sound that goes right to my dick.
And then I kiss him. I press my lips to his and pour every bit of my feelings into it. He’s stiff at first and for a moment, I think I fucked up. But then he’s wrapping his arms around my neck, parting his lips and inviting me in.
Every cell in my body electrifies; my head spins, my heart races so hard and fast that I think I might have a heart attack. His lips feel so warm and soft against mine.
I don’t want to overwhelm him, this is his first kiss, but I can’t hold back anymore.
