Page 62 of The One That Got Away

All I could offer her now was sex and she probably wanted a relationship, which wasn’t something I could give her.

I had too much going on at work and I hadn’t had a proper relationship. Not since we dated.

Stella had only just forgiven me for my past fuck-ups. Hurting her once was bad, but twice? No way. I couldn’t do that again.

Yeah. I nodded to myself. Now that I thought about it, the timing of Jasmine’s interruption was perfect. She’d saved Stella from heartbreak and me from going through more years of guilt and regret.

I was glad that we’d cleared the air and were getting on better. But like I’d said from the start, this could never become anything romantic.

And I was relieved that Stella felt the same.

28

STELLA

As I walked back from the toilet and towards the cabin we’d been given, I replayed what just happened.

I couldn’t believe I was about to kiss Max.

Yes, I liked him.

Yes, I wanted him to kiss me.

Ever since Jasmine had suggested earlier that we should enjoy each other’scompany, I’d barely thought of anything else.

And when he’d asked whether I really wanted him to fuck me, I’ll admit, I also wanted to shoutyes please!

The tingles between my legs were out of control by that point. I wanted Max so badly that if he’d suggested we do it in front of everyone, I would’ve agreed.

But now that I was thinking more clearly, I realised it would’ve been ahugemistake.

If Max fucked me once, would I really be able to walk away? I’d want more and something told me he wasn’t able to give me that. I wasn’t even sure if he’d fully come to terms with everything that had happened to him in the past. He still seemed so broken.

I had no doubt that Max would give me the ride of my life. But a few minutes of pleasure weren’t worth the carnage that would come afterwards.

Things would get awkward. Especially when Max inevitably said he didn’t see things going any further. It’d ruin the rest of our holiday.

Although it was tempting, it was better if we just stayed friends. That alone was more than I expected considering how I felt at the start of this trip, so I should just be happy with that.

As I remembered the way he stroked my cheek, goosebumps erupted over my skin.

No, no, no.Nothing can happen with Max.

Ever.

And the sooner my body got the message, the better.

When I stepped into the cabin, Max was already sitting at the table in the centre of the room.

I noticed that there was also a very comfortable-looking double bed and groaned internally. It would be so easy to fall onto that with Max, but I warned my brain again to shut down that train of thought.

‘Hey,’ Max said softly.

‘Hi.’ I sat down and Max jumped up to push my chair in then returned to his seat.

‘So… about earlier…’

‘Forget it,’ I said quickly, dreading how awkward it was going to be sitting here alone with Max after our almost kiss. ‘It’s for the best.’

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