Page 33 of Scoring with my Bestie's Ex

“I should go.”

“Bella, wait.” I reach out but don’t touch her. I don’t want her to feel as though I’m not giving her a choice. “Please. We can talk this out, right? Why was it a mistake? I like you. I really like you.”

Bella wraps her arms around her waist, slowly shaking her head, her eyes welling with tears.

“I do,” I insist, not knowing why she’s saying no. “Is it about Steven? You’re broken up, you don’t owe him anything.”

“You’re right. I don’t. But I owe myself something. And I… I owe you something,” she whispers.

That draws me up short. Me? I’m the one who initiated the kiss. What does she mean, she owes me something?

“I don’t understand.”

“You don’t really know me, Aaron.” She takes a deep breath and tightens her arms. “And that’s because I don’t really know myself. It’s all so new, being single. I think I need to be single for a while. So I can be me again.”

She brushes her hair behind her ear.

The guilt on her face morphs into something else. Regret.

She regrets our kiss.

I’m not sure what to feel.

But one thing is clear—if she’s not ready for this, I won’t push.

She’s been in a pushy relationship for far too long.

“I’m sorry,” I say genuinely.

“You’re sorry?” Bella laughs sadly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on.”

I hold up my hands. “You didn’t. You told me clearly that you needed time. And I ignored that. So I’m the one who needs to apologize.”

Bella hesitates. “You’re a good man, Aaron. Now, you were supposed to dance with three women, remember? You go do that.”

“You had a goal, too,” I remind her bleakly.

“I did. But I’m going to head back to the cabin. Tell Ellen and Mike for me, will you? I don’t want to ruin their night.”

She turns, hurrying away before I can think of anything else to say.

I watch her leave, fleeing the ball like Cinderella at midnight.

With a sigh, I slump into a chair near the fire.

I shouldn’t have kissed her. The night was just starting, and I ruined everything.

Earlier, when I saw Bella and Steven talking, I thought he was going to make things worse for her.

Instead, it seems as though I’m the one who made it worse.

I rushed things.

I got caught up in the moment and forgot myself. And yes, Bella kissed me back. She was caught up in the moment, too.

That doesn’t mean that I can just ignore my own fault in this.

As I watch the fire, I’m caught up in fresh determination. Everything Bella has said tonight makes sense.

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