Page 29 of Losing Ansley

"You kissed me?" I ask incredulously. He stares at me, his eyes widening at realizing what he just did. "I knew it! You only did that because you're jealous I'm here with someone else." His eyes harden, but I ignore it as I run my hands through my hair.

"Ansley…" He begins to say, but I swipe my hand in the air, cutting him off, and try to push him away so I can get away.

"Lincoln, I told you I'm sick of these games. I'm going back to be with my date, brother, and friends. You are going to sit next to Dylan." I hiss at him. "And you are going to fucking leave me alone! Now move!" He doesn't budge. Instead, he puts one hand above my head, caging me in.

"When will you get it through that thick head of yours that I want you? Yes, I'm jealous. I don't want you with anyone else, and I sure as fuck don't want to see you with anyone else. I'm not playing games with you. I'm laying it all out on the line here and now. I'm telling your brother this weekend how I feel about you. I'll go back in there and sit next to him. I'll let you sit next to your Zack Morris look alike, but if he so much as lays a pinky on you, I will lose my shit. Understand?" He snaps. And I stare at him in shock. He cocks an eyebrow, and I nod.

He gives me one last hard kiss, then takes a step back with a warning look. He turns and walks back toward our seat, leaving me there staring after him, wondering what the hell just happened.

BY THE ENDof the Braves game, I am a bundle of nerves. Zack and I are not going to vibe. He's about as fun as watching paint dry. I give him a non answer when he asks if we can meet again soon. All the while trying to figure out if Lincoln meant what he said.

The next day Caroline, Liv and I do a day of exploring the city. We go to the aquarium, ride the Ferris wheel, do some shopping and go out to eat. When we sit down at the restaurant, we're all exhausted.

"Bass, is okay hanging out with Lincoln and Dylan today?" I ask Caroline as we wait for our drinks to arrive. She shrugs as she sips on her water.

"I told him it was going to be a girls-only day today before we came, and he said he was okay with it. I think he wanted to come because of the Braves game. He loves baseball." She replies, and I smirk.

"He also wanted to come because of you." Liv admonishes her. She chuckles and nods her head.

"You're probably right." She admits. Liv turns to me and arches an eyebrow.

"What happened with you and Lincoln yesterday?" She asks, and I gape at her. How does she know? I haven't told her or Caroline what happened yesterday, mainly because I'm still trying to process it. I play with my earring and glance away.

"What do you mean?" I reply. She tilts her head.

"He told me he was telling Dylan this weekend how he felt about you and making you two official." With every word out of her mouth, my eyes widen. I'm surprised they haven't popped out of my head when she's done speaking.

"He said what?!?" I screech. People turn and stare, making me realize where we're at. "He said what?" I whisper, and she shrugs.

"That's what I thought he was doing when you two left. But then he came back looking pissed as hell and sat next to Dylan, and you came back avoiding him at all costs." I gape at her, thinking back to yesterday. Was he telling the truth?

I tell them everything that happened—the kiss and what he said.

"Wow!" Caroline says. "If Sebastian were to ever say that to me…." She trails off, and I throw a piece of bread at her. She chuckles. Liv raises an eyebrow at me.

"We told you he cares about you. He was such a grump after you turned in your two weeks' notice, but since you've been gone, he has not been pleasant." Liv says.

"He has been learning everyone's names and greeting people in the mornings lately." She states, and I narrow my eyes.

"Really?" I ask, and they both nod. I used to tell him he needed to be nicer to his employees, or he would begin having a lot of turnovers. Our drinks arrive, and a few minutes later, our food comes, so we all dig in. I began to analyze what happened yesterday. Did Lincoln mean it?

"I guess I need to talk to him," I tell them. "I've been so scared of getting hurt…." I stop, and they both give me sympathetic looks.

"Give him a chance, Ans." Caroline encourages me, and I nod they're right. He seemed genuine yesterday. I hope he doesn't break my heart.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LINCOLN

I SITon Dylan's balcony drinking a beer with him and Bass. Dylan is telling us about the show he's filming. I'm happy for him. This is something he's always wanted to do, but he didn't pursue it because his parents wanted him to go to school for business.

Initially, he and I were going to go into business together, but after his parents died, he decided to pursue this. He's had a few acting jobs here and there to help pay the bills, but his inheritance helped him stay afloat.

If only he knew the hell Ansley had been through the past eight years, he would have done more to help her. But I kept her secrets. I lean forward and put my elbows on my knees, listening to him, but he stops and glances at me.

"What's going on with you? You're being quiet." He asks. I sigh and lean back, running my hand through my hair. I share a look with Bass, and he gives me an encouraging nod. I inhale, trying to gain some courage.

"I have feelings for Ansley," I admit. He stares at me for several seconds before he stands from his chair and walks to the railing. He turns and faces me, leaning against it. He looks between Bass and me before settling on me.

---