Page 114 of Crushed By Love

“Once we’re out on the water and alone, you let me make love to you on that deck.”

“Make love, you say?” I tease. “I thought you only had sex.”

He shakes his head, his hair tumbling into his eyes. “With you there’s definitely a lot of both happening.”

I grin, imagining being out there in the ocean on this boat, rolling waves giving us the perfect tempo to move as he covers my body with his. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Forty-Nine

Iarrive home that night well after dark. Ethan took me all around the island, showing me how to sail, and then as the sun set, he laid me out on the deck and took me again. Or rather, he gave, because I swear his mouth traveled to every square inch of my body and when we finally came together, this time at a slower pace, the explosion was just as powerful as any before it.

I think I’ll always remember the way our eyes stayed locked together while he rocked inside of me, mouth worshiping mine between soft confessions of love and pleading apologies for everything that has happened between us. He’d promised me that one way or another, we were going to be together.

God help me, but I believe him.

I love him and I trust that he loves me back. I know we’re going to figure this out one way or another. But for now, I want to keep our relationship a secret from most people, at least until we have a solid plan. But I still want to tell Sybil about us. Not just want to, I need to. She’s been nothing but wonderful to me and I owe her the truth.

Ethan doesn’t love the idea, but he understands why I can’t lie to her. She’s become my best friend and she’s like a sister to me. That, and she was engaged to Ethan, so she deserves to know what’s going on between us.

After a hot shower and a bit of procrastination, I find her on her bedroom patio watching a TV show from her phone. “Where did you run off to?” She frowns up at me. “I’ve been blowing up your phone.”

It’s true. I have two missed calls and three texts from her, but I’d sent her a quick text back earlier that I was fine and would fill her in when I got home.

There’s no backing out now.

“I met someone.”

She jumps out of her seat, strays of red hair flying out of her messy bun. “What? You horny bitch!” she squeals. “Tell me everything right now.”

I laugh but inside I’m a nervous wreck. I’m not good at confrontation because I’ve never been close enough to anyone long enough to learn how to do it right. There’s a way to have hard conversations without destroying a relationship and I make a mental note to ask Dr. Cory for tips at our next therapy session. If Sybil was someone I didn’t love then this conversation wouldn’t be so bad, but I do love her and I want her to keep me around. I already know she’s going to judge me for what’s about to come out of my mouth. Maybe that’s not fair, but I just have this sinking feeling that things are about to change for the worse.

“Let’s go inside.”

Her eyes round. “Oh, is this serious?”

“You could say that.”

Her room is decorated similar to mine but in shades of pale pink and white instead of blue. It makes sense, she’s the pink to my blue. We sit criss-crossed on her bed and I play with the hem of my pajama shorts, way too nervous to not be fidgety.

“Out with it, woman! I’ve known you for almost two years and have never seen you like this. It doesn’t matter who it is, you could be in love with the pool boy for all I care. I’m just happy to see you happy.”

“Even though it’s not Perry Hargrove that I was out with?”

“Are you kidding? Perry can kiss my ass,” she snorts. “And my dad can get over it. He doesn’t get to set you up, this isn’t the olden days. We’re sex-positive, modern women.”

But does she really believe everything she’s saying? Because if she did, then she’d be okay with me dating a King.

“So I met this guy a few years ago but we just recently reconnected. Turns out we’ve both been holding out for each other.” A smile creeps on my face. “And we’re in love.”

“Who is it?” Her voice is calmer now, more collected. More guarded.

“Just please understand that I never intended for this to happen.”

“Who?” Her face is draining of color and it’s my fault. She must already suspect what I’m about to confirm.

I swallow hard and force his name from my lips. “It’s Ethan.” The silence is an endless chasm between us. I expect her to say something, but she doesn’t. “Please let me explain.”

“Go ahead.” Her voice is stony. Cold.

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