“About seeing your love last night,” Griz asks. I glare at him.
“Where’syourlove?” I ask him. The bastard grins.
“At home.”
“And you’re out here?”
“Good point,” he says.
“Have a good night,” Wyatt says, and I wave at both of them as they turn and ride back toward their own houses.
I turn and head toward mine. I’m just walking up the front porch steps when my phone rings. I glance at the screen and smile when I see that it’s Clara.
“Hey, sis. How’s it going?” I ask as I head inside.
“Pretty good.”
“Are you still at the office?”
“Yeah, but I’m leaving now.”
I roll my eyes when I see that it’s close to seven already, and she’s just now heading home.
“I have good news, though!” she says excitedly, and I smile.
Maybe she’s finally going to quit that job.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah! Do you want to guess?”
“Um,” I start, but she cuts me off.
“I found you a date for that wedding tomorrow!”
“Oh,” I say, my stomach sinking. “Who?”
I don’t date. How could I, when the woman of my dreams was so close and yet so far? My heart has been hers since before I can remember, and giving it to anyone else is unthinkable. I’ve mostly come to terms with the fact that I’ll die a lonely, miserable bastard, pinning after his sister’s best friend.
“Oakley!” my sister blurts out.
I blink a few times, then pull my phone away from my ear, staring at the screen.Did I just imagine that? Have I succumbed to the delusion so much that I’m having auditory hallucinations?
“Kai?” Clara prompts. “Are you upset? I thought you and Oakley were friends. I know she’s been away at college for a few years, but it will be good for you guys to catch up, right?”
“Of course,” I choke out, clearing my throat. I want to be so much more than Oakley’sfriend, but I’ll take whatever pieces of her I can get. “That’s great. Thanks,” I say, trying to regain my composure.
My mind fills with images of dancing with Oakley under the stars. I can just picture the galaxy reflected in her ethereal eyes as she blinks up at me. She’d sway closer and closer, and I’d smooth my hand up her spine, cupping the back of her neck and leaning down to brush my lips against hers…
But, no. Wasn’t I just saying how I’ve accepted the bachelor life?
My mind is spinning, my desires clashing with the promise I made to my sister. Can I really keep my hands to myself if we’re alone? My control where she’s concerned is already dangerously frayed.
Maybe it’s a sign. Maybe this is the universe’s way of saying I should go for it. It’s been years, and I know that I’m not going to find anyone else for me. Or maybe I’m just doing mental gymnastics to try and justify my forbidden lust.
“I told her to be at your place by two,” Clara continues. I nod, trying to pay attention to her words. All I can think about is tomorrow night.
I’m going to be alone with Oakley for the first time in four years. I haven’t seen her since she left for college, and I feel like an addict. I need another hit, yet I know one will never be enough. I need to see her everyday.