He looks at me like this when we’re at a party, and he’s checking in to make sure I’m doing okay.
A warm, soft feeling circles through my chest.
Blake’s been amazing. Beyond amazing.
I think back to this morning, when I told him the truth about what happened between me and my ex…The lies he spread about me after our breakup.
I think about the pained look on his face. How angry and protective he got.
How he said he’d kill Logan for hurting me.
That warm feeling spreads, flickering hotter.
I’ve never heard Blake’s voice like that before. So low and lethal.
I try not to think about how much I liked it.
Instead, I think about how he dropped everything and treated me to tacos at my favorite taco stand, then brought me here to the diner for milkshakes.
He’s been the most supportive friend I could ask for.
A pang of guilt lands square in my chest. “Are you sure you’re not mad?” I say to him.
His brow furrows in confusion. “Why would I be mad at you?”
“Because I didn’t tell you what Logan did.”
“Of course I’m not mad. I understand why you didn’t. You were going through a lot. You needed time to process everything.”
I nod. That’s exactly what I needed. Time to process and to be near my best friend again.
“You’re not obligated to tell me things, Briar.” He taps his tongue on his upper lip. “But thank you for telling me about what happened. I know it must have been hard.”
“It was. But I feel better now that you know.”
He reaches across the table and grabs my hand. I smile at the way his giant palm swallows up my hand.
Even though I’m disappointed that my attempt at flirting with Blake was derailed by my confession about my virginity andmy breakup, I’m grateful that our friendship is intact. He’s my rock. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
“I feel really stupid for believing that Logan was such a good guy.”
“You shouldn’t. Some guys are like that. They put on a convincing front. And then, one day, they pull the mask away, and you see their true colors. And it’s not pretty.”
“That was definitely the case with Logan.”
He gives my hand a soft squeeze before pulling away and stacking our empty dishes on the table for the server.
“Logan said he was going to make sure my first time was special. He said he was going to get a hotel room and order my favorite flowers. I actually believed him.” A knot forms in my stomach. “Obviously, he lied. He never planned to do that.”
I look up at Blake. Anger flashes in his gaze. “Piece of shit,” he mutters softly. “He should have gone out of his way to make you feel safe and cherished, but instead…”
He trails off and shakes his head. He glances off to the side, glaring out the nearby window.
“Have you ever been with a girl for her first time?” I ask.
He looks at me. The anger in his gaze is gone. His brow raised, like he’s surprised I asked him. “Yeah. Once in high school and once in college.”
“What did you do for them?” I can’t help my curiosity. Blake is a sweet guy, so of course he’d be sweet if the girl he was dating never had sex before.
