Love Triangle Six Books of Torn Desire - Willow Winters Page 0,470

releases his hold on me, but our stare only intensifies, cutting and deep. “Please, Brooklyn. Give me a chance.”

Our eyes remain locked as I stand motionless, wishing I could. I want that more than anything. But how do you give someone your heart when they’re the reason it’s shattered into thousands of pieces?

“Do you remember that party the night before you left for college?” I ask, needing him to understand exactly where I’m coming from, why I need to sever the chains he’s shackled around me.

His expression softens and he nods, stepping back.

“Do you remember what happened that night?”

He nods again, swallowing hard as I slowly approach him. “You were about to take your top off in front of a group of complete pigs. I hauled you out of there before that could happen.”

“Do you remember what happened after? Once we were outside?” I’m just inches away now. His chest heaves, his breathing increasing. There’s a charge between us, raw and unstable, just like our entire relationship has been.

“I kissed you.”

“That’s right.” I stop walking, my body a breath from his. He remains completely still, staring at me. I crane my head and his mouth lowers toward mine. “You were my first kiss, Drew.” My voice trembles as I utter those words. His breath intermingles with mine, the heat of his lips warming me. “You were supposed to be my first everything—my first kiss, my first sexual experience, my first love.”

Regret swirls deep in his eyes, the unmasked pain more real than any emotion I’ve ever seen from Wes. “I fucked up. I know that. I’m sorry I missed out on those firsts. But please, Brooklyn…” His hand lands on my hip, gripping me like I’m a lifesaver, the only thing keeping him afloat. “Let me be your last.”

I meet his eyes, wanting to agree, but I can’t forget the past. I can’t give him yet another chance, only for him to abandon me. “I can’t do that.” With haste, I pull away, spinning around and darting toward my car.

“Brooklyn, please,” Drew begs, rushing after me.

“No.” I face him once more, my eyes on fire. “No, Drew. You’re toxic to me. Did you know I waited for you the next day? I sat watching the street for hours, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why you weren’t there when you promised you would be. I did my hair. I put on makeup. I stared at my closet for what seemed like an eternity trying to pick out the perfect outfit so I’d look good for you. But you never came. You broke your promise to me. And that’s just the first time. There are so many others, Drew. So many…” I pull my lip between my teeth, shaking my head at how stupid I’d been. “Then when you told me you loved me that night after Carla asked for a divorce the first time, I thought this was it, this was the start of us. Now I know—”

“If I knew—”

I hold up my hand, silencing him, needing to get this out. “Now I know it was the end of us. I’ve just been in denial for the past several years.”

I allow my words to ring in the air for a moment, our two bodies motionless, frozen in time, in space, as if nothing else exists but the truth I finally had the courage to set free. The truth that has been holding me prisoner for too long now.

“Goodbye, Drew,” I say, then whirl around and duck into my car. He hurries after me, trying to stop me, but my keys are in the ignition, cranking it in one quick motion. I peel out of the driveway without a single look back…something I should have done years ago.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

DREW

“Brooklyn!” I shout as she speeds away without so much as a glance back at me. My lungs constrict, making it nearly impossible to breathe, my vision spotty.

What do I do? What do I say? How do I even start to process this information? I stare into the distance, struggling to jump-start a memory that’s long forgotten. All I know is Brooklyn and I hooked up the night Carla asked for a divorce the first time, but I was too drunk to remember.

I don’t drink much these days, not like I did when I was playing hockey. Once Carla left and I was responsible for taking care of Alyssa and Charlotte, my priorities changed. Getting drunk with my buddies was no