The kid was tough. “Thank you.”
His expression tightened. “So, answer this. Do you just want to sleep with my sister, or do you truly want to be her friend?”
“Cork, no.” Lotus appeared on his side of the vehicle, her hand on her hip, obviously displeased. “It’s not for you to ask things like that.”
He glanced at her. “Dad’s gone. It’s up to me now to look out for you.” Turning back to me again, he stared at me more determinedly than before. “Lotus is the best person you’ll ever know. She deserves a guy who will be honest with her, not one who just wants to jerk her around.”
With that declaration made, I had to admit I liked Cork. Even though he was giving me a hard time, it was because I deserved it, and his priority was her. Lotus was a priority we shared.
He slid out of the vehicle, his shoulders squared, and strode to the rear, probably to grab her board.
“Leave the boards and shit,” I said, climbing out and closing my door. “I can take everything to the apartment.”
“I don’t know.” Staring at me across the Scout, Lotus bit down on her plump bottom lip, and that was it. All it took for my cock to get hard again.
“It’s not a big deal. I gotta get my guitars to my apartment anyway.” At the beach, all my gear had been safely in sight. I wasn’t leaving it unattended here. “Tell Saber I’ll swing back to talk later.”
“All right.” She nodded, and Cork came around to stand beside her. “But can I talk to you, alone, before you leave?”
“I’ll go inside and find Saber,” Cork said, pointing his chin toward the building. “Okay?”
“Sure. That would be good,” she said, and he gave her a chin lift.
Lotus and I both remained silent, watching until Cork was safely inside.
Turning to her, I said emphatically, “Man, I like your brother.”
“Me too.” Some of the coolness left her tone.
“I know you do.” Taking her in, I wanted to get her back in my arms so badly, my muscles ached with the strain of denying that urge. I curled my fingers into my palms, pulled in a breath, and let it out. “I’m sorry I was an ass earlier and got you in a tough spot with Saber.”
“It’s okay,” she said, but she didn’t look like it was okay. She looked troubled and unsure. “It’s my fault.”
“It’s not solely your fault.” I stared deeply into her beautiful eyes, willing her to acknowledge the truth. “You know there’s more than only friendship between us.”
“There was,” she said firmly. “But not anymore.”
That wasn’t true, and her saying so pissed me off.
My eyes narrowed. “I want you, and you want me. If your brother hadn’t come along when he did, we would’ve both had what we wanted a second time.”
“You’re right.” She looked down, blowing out a breath that lifted a wisp of her hair from her sexy lips. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry Cork got into it with you, and Saber probably will too.”
She looked up, her eyes shining determinedly. “I’ll do my best to smooth things over with him. But I think it would be better from now on if we keep our distance from each other.”
Oh, hell no.
“I’m in a band with your boyfriend.” My heart pounding, I frowned down at her. “I live downstairs from you.”
“It’ll be difficult to maintain that distance, given that and the chemistry we share.” Lifting her chin, she met my gaze.
Lotus was open and honest with her emotions, an ability I lacked, even to this day. She also unabashedly took responsibility for her part in the situation between us. I was more than a little in awe of her.
“The important thing,” she said, “will be avoiding situations where we might end up alone together.”
She meant important for her to maintain her relationship with Saber. Fuck me and what I wanted. I might be shit with my emotions, but I could read between those lines.
“So, even friendship between us is out?” I asked to clarify.
“Yes.” She gave me a tight nod.
“And the offer to be there for me should I need you?” I let that hang a moment, my fingers clenching into tighter fists. “Is that offer withdrawn?”
“I’m not going to abandon you, but we can’t do another day like today. I’m sorry I’m not stronger.”
Her eyes glistened, and I felt a pain in my gut, the wound inside me that had never healed after leaving her