“But you are better.Somuch better.” The words burst from my mouth. “You’re generous, and brave, and funny and…Look, I know you think we rib on each other like old friends, or brother and sister, but I think there’s so much more there?—”
“Stop.”
The pained sound of the word has everything inside me doing backflips.
In all the years I’ve known him, Ryder has only ever let his emotions get the better of him twice: a week ago during our picnic, and tonight. Right now.
Three times, actually, if you count our time in the ER together.
And all three times, he’s been with me.
Holy shit.
He opens his eyes, and they move to me, glittering in the darkness.
Yep. Those eyes are swimming with emotion. I see it. Ifeelit.
My heart starts working again, taking off at a thousand frantic beats per minute.
The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a knife.
“I amnotyour brother.” Ryder’s Adam’s apple bobs on a swallow. “And yeah, Billie, there is so much more between us. You drive mebatshitcrazy. The way you move and how your eyes light up when you laugh and”—he runs a hand down his face—“Christ, that fucking shirt.”
I can’t move. “What about my shirt?”
“You know what that shirt does to a man. That’s why you wore it.”
My body goes up in flames. Iamthe bonfire now. I can almost feel the smoke rising off my skin.
Is Ryder actually admitting that he’s into me? Thathewas the one who lied?
Holy fuckingshit, is he actually going to let something happen between us? Because he’s talking about my shirt, which means he’s thinking about my tits.
He might as well be touching them for the way my nipples immediately pebble. I’m wearing my flimsiest bra and a tissue-thin crop top, which means Ryder can see everything.
But he also talked about my smile and my laugh and?—
His eyes flick to my chest. His mouth flattens to a tight line. But his eyes?—
The emotion in them is suddenly edged withhunger.
I have been dying to reach for this man for years now. As long as I can remember. He’s giving me an opening, one I never in a million years thought I’d get. He’s right about one thing: I know better than to let this chance slip through my fingers.
“What if I did wear it on purpose?” My voice sounds strange. Breathy, quiet. “What if I wore it for you?”
His expression is stark now. Strained. “You happy now? Saying out loud how you’re putting me through hell?”
“Hell?” A let out a bark of disbelieving laughter. “You have no idea the hell I’ve been through wanting you the way I have. But then you tell me you just want to be friends even though you’re alwayshere?—”
“Because you asked me to be!Youtextedme, remember?” he explodes. “You’re the one who’s always showing up on my doorstep.”
“You’re the one who showed up just now without any prompting at all on my part! And you knew I was gonna be out at the Rattler tonight, didn’t you? That’s why you were out too, right?Right?”
His throat bobs again. “I’m not gonna lie to you, Billie.”
I scoff. “So do you wanna bejust friends,Ry? Or do you wanna be more than that? Because I’m real fuckin’ confused, buddy.”
He puts his hands on his hips. That muscle in his jaw jumps again. After a beat, he rounds the truck and opens the passenger side door. “I told you not to call me that. Now get in the truck. That’s why I came: to make sure you got home safe.”
