"Oh?" he muses, sliding his sober hand down to my ass and squeezing. "You saying you enjoyed it?"
I roll my eyes and swat his hand away, but I'm caught off guard when his lips suddenly crush mine. What. The. Fuck?
"Kode," I grumble against his lips, but my attempt to talk only allows him access to slip his tongue through my parted lips, and damn does he know how to use it.
It becomes obvious that he's been awake already, because he has brushed his teeth. And... I can't believe that's what I'm focusing on. My best friend is groping and kissing me, but I'm focused on his breath.
When he jerks my center to meet his arousal, that's when I snap out of my trance and push him back, feeling a little breathless.
"Kode, what the hell?"
He curses to himself while shaking his head. "Damn it, Rain. I'm sick of this. I've been trying since we were thirteen to get you to fucking see me the way I see you, but it's like... it's like you're incapable of viewing me as anything more than the kid I once was."
Saying I'm taken aback would be laughable. Kode has always been extra sweet to me, but... this? How do I respond to this?
"Kode, I—"
"You what, Rain? You're sorry but you don't feel that way? You can't help but think of me as just a friend?"
I swallow hard as he climbs out of bed. A few tears start to slip free, but I wipe them away as quickly as they're shed.
"Please don't do this. We're friends, Kode. Best friends. I don't want to lose—"
"I need to go," he interrupts, keeping his back to me.
I pull my knees to my chest, too scared and shocked to say another word as he stalks through the bedroom doorway. Within seconds, I hear the hard slam of the front door. I'd offer him a ride, but I'm guessing that would be refused right now.
I shouldn't have ever gone to that party. I shouldn't have ever moved back here.
"Please come get us," Maverick whines through the phone.
It's already three in the morning, and I have a doctor's appointment at eight. There's no way I'm driving two towns over to haul their asses out of jail... again.
"Call Dane or Dale," I mumble.
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I refuse to say Kode, considering no one has heard from him since he stormed out of my house almost three days ago. I can't think about that right now. Knowing I've lost my best friend is painful enough. At least now I understand Dane's side.
He didn't feel the same about me. Albeit, he handled it even worse than I did. I still understand, though. I put him in a terrible situation where no one was a winner. His calls after that letter were just awkward, because neither of us knew what to say or do.
"I think they must still be on their double-date, because neither one of them is answering. Please come, Rain."
I roll my eyes. I almost forgot it was the big Friday night dinner. Of course Fiona prefers the rich, spoiled brat over me. Whoa. Wait. Dane on a date? I thought they were just friends.
Ignoring the pang of jealously—okay, bit more than a mere pang—I focus on the two Sterlings at hand.
"Fine," I mutter. "I need to get dressed. I'll be there as fast as I can."
"Corbin, she's coming!"
"The next time the two of you feel like golfing, wait until the course is open," I grumble while wearily climbing out of bed. "And you owe me. Again."
Maverick chuckles as Corbin sings my praises from afar. "Cash in anytime, Rain. Now get your pretty little ass down here and get us out. I don't like the way this guy in the cell with us keeps checking out my pretty little ass."
I giggle loudly while grabbing some clothes, and then I hang up. At least he managed to wake me up from a terrible dream. I just hope that dream doesn't come true later on.
Maverick and Corbin were both still passed out on my couch when I left for my doctor's appointment. Coincidentally, I scheduled the appointment in the same town the two of them were arrested.