To show her respect, I put my boxer briefs on.
“Are you okay?” I kissed her shoulder.
“Mhm. You?”
“I’ve been better. Is it okay if I smother you?” I wrapped my body around hers, practically swallowing her up. We molded together perfectly. Her warm body soothed my weeping soul. I was in so much goddamn pain but couldn’t show it. I needed to keep my head clear so I could protect Aspen. I’d surely die if I lost her too.
“Sure.”
“Sure? You can say no.” Damn, I hope she didn’t. I needed her in my arms.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s fine? What the hell?” I turned her around to face me. “Listen, I know a lot of time has passed and—”
“Yes, and we both moved on. Don’t you think it’s too late for us?”
Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. “Fuck, Asp. Do you have to be so brutally direct?” I flopped onto my back, staring at the ceiling.
“I don’t mean to be. But… Well…”
“Well, what?” I bit back. If she wanted to crush me the day I found out she didn’t dump me and my sister died, telling me it was too late for us was just the way to do it.
She scooted to the edge of the bed and sat with her back to me. What the hell did I know? Maybe itwastoo late. Too many years of having hateful, ugly thoughts about each other. Too much goddamn pain.
I guessed I’d been a fool believing we were meant for each other, even when we were apart.
“Libby,” she whispered.
It felt like an elephant sat on my chest. Of course. She’d seen me with Libby. Fuck, I forgot about that.
“I won’t be the other woman, Zach. Yes, feelings I buried a long time ago are still here. But until you decide what and who you want, I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from touching and kissing me.”
Holy hell, she was resolute.
What the fuck? She thought I waswithLibby, didn’t she? Fuck no. Not like that.
Who did I want? There was nothing to think about.
I got on my knees behind her and wrapped my arms around her chest. I kissed her neck, inhaling her sweetness.
She sighed, shaking her head. “You still don’t listen very well, do you?”
I snorted, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Snow, it’s always been you I wanted. That’ll never change.”
“That’s all well and good, but what about Libby?”
“Libby is a club girl and my friend.”
She stiffened. “A club girl? Like one of the kittens?”
“Yup. In fact, she’s the head kitten. The one in charge of the rest.”
“Is that why she hangs out with the old ladies?”
“No. Libby hangs out with them because she’s a good person, and they like her.”
“Oh.” She peered over her shoulder with an adorable confused look.