My eyes linger on her back as she disappears through the sliding doors.
‘She’s doing okay,’ Zayden observes, eyes remaining on the door. ‘Her life literally got turned upside down. The two people who were by her side when we couldn’t be betrayed her in the worst way possible. But she kept going. She’s okay.’ He turns to face me, a proud smile on his face. ‘Our girl is strong. Isn’t she?’
Our girl.
‘Your sister is the strongest, most beautiful girl I know.’
The words are out before I can stop them. A beat of silence stretches between us, and Zayden nods.
‘She’s lucky to have you.’
‘Me?’ I question, surprised.
‘You’d do anything for her, and it’s not often you can say that about someone. She feels safe around you, and that’s something I don’t take lightly, my friend. I appreciate you.’
I blink at my best friend, in shock for a moment, unsure how to process everything he just said to me. He isn’t someone to speak like this, especially to me, about Anya, and I am utterly speechless. It warms my heart to hear his words and makes me feel as if maybe he would accept us being together.
I think my trouble with anger in the past was the main reason Zayden never wanted his sister involved with me. Other than disrupting our trio’s dynamic, he was worried trauma from my dad would somehow emerge, but I’ve worked hard on myself and I don’t ever want to be like him.
Zayden groans as he stands, stretching his arms over his head.
‘I love her, you know,’ I say quietly, and I barely dare to breathe as he turns to face me, sliding his sunglasses into his damp messy hair.
‘I know,’ he replies, clapping a hand on my shoulder. ‘Like a sister. I love you for that.’
I tense, watching Zayden walk away, my heart sinking to my stomach.
27
ANYA
Three Years Earlier
MY HEAD IS LIGHTas I move about the room, swaying my hips, throwing my hair over my shoulder. Mason’s gaze hasn’t left my body since he walked through the front door, and electricity is sizzling underneath my skin.
Most of the crowd has gravitated out the back, hanging around the pool. Beer pong and other drinking games are set up out there, leaving the living room as the designated dance floor.
Scanning the room, I search for Mason. He and Chelsea broke up, and I know it was because of me.
‘Watch out.’ His voice is right in my ear, his hot breath blowing my hair across my eyes. Goosebumps erupt over my body, and I shiver at his proximity. ‘Little Blush isn’t so little anymore.’
Because this tension between us has been driving me wild, I press my ass back into him, slowly grinding. He groans, hands tightening on my waist. We have been tiptoeing this line for far too long now, and I’m sick of not giving in to the aching need between us.
His words ring inside my head. Words he whispered to me one night when we were in the shadows of the house, pretending to be asleep.If you still want me when you’re eighteen, I’m yours. It’s me and you. Always.
‘You’re right about that, Mase,’ I murmur.
I twist around in his arms, and he takes a step back, eyes darting about, looking to see if the coast is clear. He’s totally checked out recently, due to the break-up, but I also know he’s been avoiding me. Because he can’t deny this anymore.
I want him. I always have. And he wants me, too.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he takes a further step back, but I inch closer.
‘What did you get me for my birthday?’ I whisper, so close that our breath mingles as one. His smell overwhelms me. The warm, familiar scent that has always been Mason.
His gaze lifts briefly from my mouth to my eyes before his hand finds mine and drags me into the hallway. A few people glance in our direction, but mostly they don’t even notice us.
Gently, he pushes me into my room, kicking the door shut behind him. My breath hitches as he slams his palms against the wall, caging me in, a wild smirk on his face.
