“I had to have something in my hands to stop myself from grabbing you.”
My cheeks start hurting from the lengthiest and widest smile of my life.
Reed has wanted me for years.Me. It doesn’t seem possible, yet here I am.
At some point, my hands make it around his shoulders. They’re strong and wide, making me feel safe. “I should confess something too.”
“Oh, please do.”
“When Kenzie and I had plans, I intentionally came over early when I knew she wouldn’t be ready. Just so I had a chance to talk to you.”
He releases my waist with one hand to gingerly tuck my hair behind one ear. “I loved our talks.”
“Me too.”
His throat tenses, and his brows draw in tight. In a tone cushioned by a feather pillow, he says, “The only time I ever felt like I belonged in this house was when you were here.”
I’m melting into a puddle.
His confession triggers something inside me. A familiarity I haven’t been able to put into words. The way he phrased it rings so very true for me as well.
I’ve never felt more like myself than when I’m with him. A rightness that resonates in my bones.
Because of this man.
He’s so far out of my league, though. How could he feel the same about me?
Once more, my insecurities fly out of my mouth. “This is a joke, right? I mean, look at us. It doesn’t?—”
“If you don’t want me, that’s one thing.” He pauses there, waiting for my reaction.
“I do. Duh.”
“Good. Then I’ll be happy to lay to rest any doubts you have about how we fit together. Let me show you.”
I nibble my lower lip. “What about Kenzie?”
“What about her? She told you to leave, didn’t she?”
“Yeah. But she’s my best friend.”
“And?”
Kenzie figured out I had a crush on Reed a few years ago. She didn’t forbid me from being with him, but I got the feeling she wouldn’t approve. Although I have no proof of that. Perhaps my doubts are because they don’t get along, and I’d feel like I had to choose between them.
Given the current circumstances, it’s not a good time to talk to Kenzie about this to get her permission. That would go over horribly.
I never gave much thought to how I’d handle this, since the odds of this moment happening were astronomical. Now that it’s become a reality, I’m torn.
I’m alsoextremelyhorny for Reed. And that’s getting top billing in my mind.
He must sense my uncertainty, so he softly adds, “Lila, if you’re worried about how Kenzie will react, that’s valid. She’d probably hate it because she hates me. And this wouldn’t be a one-time thing. You’re special. I want more than one night, so we’ll need to deal with her objections at some point. If we leave together now, I need you to be sure. I don’t want to ruin your friendship with her.” With some of his confidence waning, he starts to pull out of my hold. “I’d understand if you chose her over me. I’m used to that.”
No, no, no.
I tighten my grip on his shoulder, unwilling to let him go. “It isn’t that.
“What’s holding you back?”
