us pretending we’re together?”
Kelsey nods again.
Though really, are we pretending anymore? We’re friends who’ve now become lovers. Dangerous, I’m sure. Dangerous in the fact that we can’t go back to being just friends. And while I mourn the loss of that friendship, I’m also excited to see where we go next.
Is she, though?
Doesn’t seem like it.
“Yes. I don’t know if this is a good idea.” She waves a hand in between us.
“What exactly are you referring to?” I arch a brow. What is up with everyone being so damn vague tonight?
“This.” Another hand wave. “Us.”
“Really.” I glance around, realizing no one else is near, save for the woman in the bathroom. There’s a door just behind where Kelsey is standing, with one of those standard red exit signs lit above it. “We’re not going to make a decision like this in front of the bathrooms at Tuscany, Kels. Come on.”
Grabbing hold of her hand, I lead her through the side exit door to discover we’re in a typical narrow alley in downtown Carmel. There are white lights strung above us, and potted plants and flowers strewn everywhere, along with a quaint wooden bench to the left of us.
There’s not an ugly spot in this town, I swear.
“Do we really need to have this conversation now?” she asks, still appearing wary.
“Yeah. We do.” I don’t let go of her hand. In fact, it’s like I can’t let go. Her skin is so soft, and her fingers just feel—right in mine.
Fucking stupid. This is the kind of thinking that got me into trouble before. I fell so damn hard for Jessica, and look where that got me. I can’t go making the same mistake twice.
Not that I believe Kelsey would ever cheat on me, but we’re not even in a serious enough relationship to call us seeing other people cheating.
Shit. I’m being ridiculous right now.
“Aren’t your brother and sister waiting for you? And which brother are you with?”
“Camden.”
“Oh.” Interest flits across her face, faint but there. “I really wanted to meet him.”
“You can right now.”
“Theo…” Her voice drifts and she closes her eyes for the briefest moment, shaking her head. “I’m freaking out.”
“No shit?” I keep my voice light, even though deep down, I’m freaking out too. But one of us has to pretend we’ve got it together.
“Yeah.”
I step closer, until I’m in her personal space, my chest brushing against hers. “What are you freaking out about? The fact that we had sex twice this weekend?”
She tilts her head back with a faint nod. “Don’t forget what happened in your parents’ guesthouse.”
All the memories come flooding back. How beautiful she was. How responsive. I’m not a spontaneous person. I’m not the guy who normally fucks a woman in a public place.
Yet I did with Kelsey. It’s like I couldn’t control myself. And neither could she. What does that mean?
I don’t even know. I’m not sure if I’m prepared to examine it closely yet either.
“As if I could forget.” Reaching out, I touch her cheek again, letting my fingers drift across her petal-soft skin. I’m tempted to kiss her, but she’d probably run. “Are you scared that we’ve taken our relationship to the next level?”
“I’m scared that I’ll lose your friendship forever,” she whispers, her voice shaky.
Ah, shit. My heart wobbles at her confession. I don’t want to lose her friendship either. Not at all. That’s been my biggest fear as well. “You won’t.”
She sighs. “You can’t say that so easily, Theo. Sex changes everything.”
“Sometimes for the better.”
“And sometimes for the worst.” She rests her free hand on my chest. “I like you. A lot. I consider you my friend.”
I steel myself. This feels like I’m about to get dumped.
“What happened over the weekend wasn’t friendly at all.” She curls her fingers into the button placket of my shirt, and I swear she’s trying to touch my bare chest. “I don’t have friendly thoughts about you anymore, Theo.”
I’m frowning. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I can’t stop thinking about what happened between us.” Her voice is the barest whisper. I tilt my head closer so I can hear better. “And how much I want it to happen again, despite knowing it’s probably a mistake.”
Her mistake comment is like a kick in the dick, but otherwise, I’m on board with everything she’s saying. “I can’t stop thinking about you either.”
Her entire face lights up, but then she tamps it back down. As if she doesn’t want me to know she’s excited by my revelation.