The WRONG Brother (Love You Forever #1) - Alexis Winter Page 0,56
not leaving you out on purpose, you know.”
He waves his hand through the air. “Yeah, I know. I think it’s just the weirdness of that show and how I acted mixed with the growing friendship the two of you have. It makes me feel like I threw you away and he picked you up. And that isn’t what I intended to do.”
“I know, Pres. We’re friends. We’ll always be friends. You have nothing to worry about.”
There’s a long, drawn-out silence for a moment before he finally says, “My mom was talking about how she’s always thought that you and Calvin would be the perfect couple.”
“She was?” I can’t help the smile that forms.
He nods. “Yeah, and honestly, it kind of pissed me off.”
My brows draw together. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess, in a way, I’ve always considered you mine. It just irritated me that even though you were mine, everyone always saw you with him. Like I didn’t matter.”
I laugh. “That isn’t true. And no one ever said they saw me with Calvin.”
“Your dad did that day, remember?”
“No, he said I needed to find a guy like Calvin.”
He waves the bottle through the air. “Same thing.”
I sit up and turn to face him, placing my feet on the ground between our chairs. “What’s bringing all this on, Preston?”
He takes a deep breath and sits up, turning to face me. “What would you say if I told you that maybe you were right?”
“Right about what?”
“About the reason we kissed that night?”
My mouth drops open. What is he saying? “I . . . I don’t . . .” I shake my head. “Are you saying you like me?”
He runs his hands through his dark hair, eyes already bloodshot from the whiskey. “I don’t know. I think it’s more than that. I think . . . I think I might be in love with you, Piper.” Honestly is shining brightly in his eyes but he looks nervous.
I let out a nervous giggle. “I don’t think so, Preston. I think you’re just confused by seeing Calvin and me together so much. Maybe even a little jealous.”
He shakes his head. “Maybe, but lately, I look at you and see how beautiful you are and how much you’ve grown up. Maybe it’s time for me to grow up too. If I could do that, then we could be together, because then I wouldn’t ruin this.”
I stand up and take a few steps back, needing distance. “No, Preston. We could never be together. You were right. We’re friends. We’ll always be friends, but we couldn’t ever be more. I love you. I do. You’re my best friend and I’d do anything in the world for you, but I’m not in love with you. In fact, I don’t think I was in love with you when I took you on that show. I just thought I was.”
I know this now because of my feelings for Calvin. I do love Calvin. I can feel it in the way my heart quickens when he gets close. I can feel it in the way my breath catches in my throat when he kisses me—the way my body fills with tingles and need and desire and passion. He makes me feel it in a way Preston never did.
He stands up and takes a step toward me. “Are you saying that if I kissed you right now, you’d push me away?”
I lick my lips and nod. “Yes. Pres, we can’t go there. If you were thinking straight, you’d see that, just like you did before. Don’t let my friendship with Calvin confuse you into thinking you want something you don’t.”
He takes another step. “You’d push me away? Let’s find out.” Without another word, he’s directly in front of me, pulling me against his chest with his mouth on mine.
My brain doesn’t have time to process what’s happening. He’s kissing me, but I feel nothing. I’m not even kissing him back. I have to stop this. As badly as I wanted this moment before, it’s the last thing I want now. Now, I want Calvin, and no one else will ever do. Not even Preston.
I place my hand on his chest and push him back. “See? There’s nothing between us. Did you feel tingles? See fireworks? Did that kiss make your heart race, your breathing pick up?” I shake my head. “It didn’t for me. I think you should go, Preston.” Without another word, I turn and walk back into the house, locking the