Naughty or Nice - Alexis Winter Page 0,41
the bed. It’s only now that I notice that Felicity has shut her bedroom curtains. I guess we’ll follow the same rules as when we were kids. When she opens them, I’ll go over.
“Well, as you probably remember, tonight is my family’s big Christmas party, and I’m completely dateless. So, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind filling in. I completely understand if you already have plans and trust me, this is not me pushing you for an answer you’re not ready to give yet. I just thought that maybe, if you didn’t have any plans, you wouldn’t mind going. I remember how well you and my father got along.” She offers up her best smile.
I take a deep breath, not knowing what to say. I’d love to get out of the house for the night, but I was hoping that Felicity would occupy my time, not Gillian. And if I do this little favor for Gillian, Felicity might take it as something it’s not. But if Felicity wants nothing to do with me, I might not want to burn this bridge with Gillian either. What do I do?
“Gillian,” I start, but then stop, thinking again. Even if Felicity wants nothing to do with me, there’s no way I can go back to just living a normal life with Gillian anyway. Not after Felicity. She’s going to take some time to get over. “I know you’re not wanting an answer right now, but I have one for you.”
She nods me on, brows high and smile in place.
“I don’t want to get back together with you. You see, the girl I’ve been seeing, the owner of the bra you found, it’s Felicity.”
“Felicity?” she asks, frowning. “Your childhood best friend that I had nothing to worry about because she was more of a little sister to you than a friend? That Felicity?”
I nod. “That’s the one.”
“How? How did this happen?”
I shrug. “I think my whole life has been leading to this,” I say truthfully. “Felicity and I are best friends. But once we grew up a little, we started seeing one another differently. She was no longer just some little girl who followed me around. She was a beautiful girl who was getting attention from all of my friends. I found her undeniably sexy back then, but I wouldn’t let it go anywhere because of our three-year age difference. Then when I went to college and she turned eighteen, things got more complicated when we kissed. Again, I stopped it because we were friends and I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, and she accepted that. Then we went our separate ways. I went to college; she finished high school. By the time I was out of college, she was starting. This is the first time in our lives since we were kids that we’re around one another again. I came here, hoping that our feelings had changed, but time doesn’t stop anything. I want her and she wanted me, so we agreed to hook up. Then things got more complicated. I told her I loved her.”
Her face falls slack now, taking in my words. “And what did she have to say to that?”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter what she said. It’s just the fact that I said it to another woman. That changes everything with us.” I motion between the two of us. “You honestly don’t want to be with me if I’m in love with another woman, do you?”
She shrugs. “I mean, is it over?”
I just look at her, not able to believe her.
“I’m just saying that feelings linger and sometimes fade away.”
I shake my head. “This isn’t fading, Gillian. Not any time soon. Probably never. I mean, it’s lasted me this long, right?”
She nods once and takes a deep breath before standing. “Okay, then. Carson, I wish you the best of luck.”
I smile. “Thank you. And I hope you find what you’re looking for out there.”
She pulls me in for a hug and then turns to leave without another word.
I move back over to my window and look across the small section of yard at hers. The curtains are still closed. A long breath leaves my lips. I wonder how long she can hold out. Girl can hold a grudge.
Thirteen
Felicity
I’m sitting on the couch, staring at my phone when my mom sits down in the recliner next to me. “What’s your plans for the night?” she asks, picking up the remote and turning the TV on.
I shrug.