Page 12 of Bought For Us

“You're handsome. Kind. A good friend.” Her words are hardly whispers now. “Wanna know a secret?” she asks, eyes closed as she starts to drift off back to sleep.

“Always,” I whisper as I brush some of her hair out of her face. She’s so damn beautiful.

“I’m in love with you.” She manages to get out before she's out likea light.

I stand there, blinking at her as her words sink in. A part of me always knew Kimmy had a crush on me. I see the way she looks at me, the way she acts when other girls flirt with me.

I’ve made myself believe it was her just being an overprotective best friend to make it easier to ignore my own feelings. But hearing her say it out loud, even if it’s a drunk confession she won't remember tomorrow, makes things real. A little too real.

My heart is at war with my mind as I run my fingers along her soft cheek. “Wanna know a secret.” I find myself whispering to her sleeping form before leaning in to kiss her forehead. “I love you too.”

I hate leaving here, I hate being away from her. I want to pull back the covers and climb in with her, to pull her into my arms and hold her, kiss her. Fuck her.

Knowing I can’t do any of that, I leave her room and quietly close the door behind me.

“Zack.” Tyler’s voice makes me jump.

“Fucking hell, man,” I whisper hiss.

He’s back in his doorway, watching me with a look. His eyes flick from the room and back to me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Ah, sure?” I run my fingers through my hair. “What's up?”

Tyler and I are still good friends, but over the past year, we’ve drifted a bit. He always wanted to go out, meet girls, party. All the normal things teenage boys in high school do. I went along with him at first, and for the most part I had fun hanging out with the guys.

Then people started pairing off and I had no interest in the girls flirting with me. So, I’d leave.

He’d hassle me about it and my shitty excuses. Eventually, I just stopped agreeing to go out because I’d rather have a movie night in with Cora and Kimmy.

“Are you in love with my sister?” he asks me outright.

“Ah...” I’m taken by surprise. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Don’t bullshit me.” he says, stepping closer. “I’m not stupid. I see the way you look at her. How you two have been for years now. She likes you, she’s denied it, but she’s my twin. I know her better than she thinks.” Fuck. “And don’t lie to me. I know we’re not as close as we used to be, but we’re still good friends.”

“Would you hate me if I said yes?”

He sighs. “No.”

“But it doesn’t matter, because nothing is going to happen.”

“Why not?” He asks. “Is it because you like Cora too?”

“What?” I scoff. “No.”

“You sure?” he asks, raising a brow. “The three of you are close. Really close. More than most friend groups. But Zack, man, she’s your stepsister. That's messed up.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I hiss, my heart racing. “Don’t you think it kills me that I feel something for her and know I can’t ever have her. Or that I’m also in love with our best friend? But I haven’t done anything with either of them and never will.”

“Why not? If you love Kimmy, then go for it.”

“What?” my brows furrow, confusion filling me. “What do you mean?”

“You can’t have both of them. But the choice is easy. You can’t be with Cora. So be with Kimmy.”

“It’s not that easy.” I say, growing frustrated. “I don’t want to ruin what we already have.”

“Look, it’s your choice if you want to pursue something more with my sister. If I’m one of the reasons holding you back, don’t worry. I approve. You're a good guy and you’ve shown more than once you really care about her. Just think about it,” he says before turning around and heading back into his room leaving me confused as fuck.

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