‘Disagree.Strongly.’
‘Do you remember that time we ordered half orange juice, half Coke for Zayden?’
She grins. ‘And I poured half a packet of pepper in it.’
‘He projectile spat across the table, and I saw it land on that woman’s head.’ I laugh, half grimacing, feeling mildly sorry for the poor woman, but also finding it hilarious to remember Zayden’s cheeks reddening as he spluttered and coughed, causing everyone else at the restaurant to send us dirty looks.
‘Got him good that time. What about when he filled your potato with wasabi, and you scooped it all onto that big spoon you used to always eat with and ate it all in one go.’ She’s practically wheezing as she says that last part. Her high-pitched cackle echoes around the patio, and then her infamous snort follows.
I scowl. ‘That was so awful, I can’t even think about it without gagging.’
‘I’ll never forget the look on your face.’
I give her the middle finger, and she snickers. Our laughter dies down, and I push off the wall, laying on my back in the water, floating for a moment, staring up at the cloudless sky.
‘Can we laugh yet?’ I murmur.
‘Hmm?’
‘Can we laugh yet?’
‘About what?’
‘About the wholelet’s-just-be-friendsconversation we had the last time we were alone in this pool.’
I can practically hear her eyes rolling, and I smirk, turning my head to stare into that pretty face. I feel a pulse of desire clap through me when her gaze darts to my mouth, then back to my eyes. I move towards her, drinking in those long lashes, rosy cheeks and soft red lips. She backs up against the side of the pool, and I stare down at her, placing my arms either side of her, feeling the coolness of her skin.
‘Are you sure this isn’t just physical, Mase?’ she whispers, eyes searching mine. ‘I know you think I’m ridiculous for asking, but you had me, and then you left. You took my virginity, and my heart, and tossed it aside like it was nothing but a box you had to tick off your list.’
My eyes flutter closed, and my heart splinters into a thousand tiny pieces, floating around my chest. I lean forward, pressing my forehead to her temple, inhaling the pure scent of Anya. ‘I am so fucking sorry.’
‘I know,’ she whispers, and I feel the weight of her words like an embrace. ‘I forgive you. We were young and stupid. I know it was only two years ago, but I feel like we’ve both grown a lot since then.’
‘I agree. It still doesn’t change the fact that what I did to you was disgusting and hurtful. You were my best friend, and I fucking ripped out your heart and turned my back on you.’
‘I. Forgive. You.’
‘How can you?’ I ask.
‘Because you’re proving to me over and over again that you’re sorry and this time will be different. I believe you. You’restillmy best friend, despite the distance, and the past.’
‘Do you still love me, like I love you?’
‘More,’ she whispers.
‘Impossible.’
She shakes her head. ‘I’ve always loved you more.’
Inching closer to her, my gaze lands heavily on hers. ‘Impossible.’
I comb my fingers through her hair, and she tilts her head back, staring up at me, a slightly dazed expression on her face. ‘How will we do this?’ she asks. ‘With Zayden?’
‘If he knows we’re all in with this, he’ll support us. In the past, he’s made it clear you deserve better than me. And you do. I’m just the selfish bastard who loves you anyway.’
‘I deserve you, as you deserve me,’ she says. ‘Me and you. Always.’
‘Always.’
