Page 78 of Touch Me Not: Anniversary Edition

“I need you to forgive me, Lils…I miss you. What I did, it was unforgivable, but I need my best friend back. Please.”

There was that heartbroken little boy she’d loved so much. The same one who’d stuck by her through everything. She missed Adam too. He’d hurt her deeply, yes, but he’d suffered enough.

“Okay.”

“Thank God,” he whispered. “You remember that summer we went to Myrtle Beach, and I ignored you because I was flirting with what’s-her-name?”

Lily laughed. Yes, she remembered it. It was the summer she realized he didn’t love her like she wanted him to. It wasn’t until he’d started liking other girls she’d understood he didn’t feel that way about her. It used to hurt a lot, but not so much anymore.

“You were so mad at me ’cause I left you out of everything. I didn’t understand why you were mad until now, until you stopped talking to me. Now I know what it feels like to have your best friend ignore you. I’m so sorry, Lils.”

He must really be drunk to be going down memory lane.

“It’s okay, Adam. Let’s go to sleep, okay? I’m tired.”

“Okay.”

Lily breathed a sigh of relief when he stopped talking. She was damn tired and needed sleep.

“Why are you dating Kincaid?”

“You know why,” she said, groaning. Why? Why tonight? Why did he have to start talking about this when he was drunk and she was dead tired?

“No, not that bullshit reason you told everyone. Why him, Lily?”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because he’s…”

“None of your business,” Lily interrupted before he could start in on Nikoli’s character. Yeah, he might be a manwhore, but he was also a decent person at heart. And she loved him. She still couldn’t figure out how she’d let it happen, but there was the cold truth of it. She should be scared, but she wasn’t. Even if he broke her heart—and he would—she didn’t regret it. She thought she might once she started to really think about it, but she didn’t. Nikoli had given her more in a few months than anyone else had in her entire life.

“He’s gonna hurt you, Lils,” Adam told her, the slur back in his voice.

“I know,” she whispered.

“Then why?” Adam asked, confused.

“Because I love him,” she replied softly.

“Damn,” Adam cursed. “You’re not serious? He will eat you up and spit you out, Lily.”

“Why do you care, Adam?” she asked, irritated. “Who I do or don’t love isn’t your business.”

Adam sat up and looked at her. His eyes were serious. “I care because I love you, Lily. I’ve always loved you.”

“I love you too, Adam, but this big brother complex has to stop. I can make my own choices, my own mistakes. You don’t have to protect me. I need to live my own life instead of hiding behind you and letting you protect me from anything that can hurt me.”

“No, Lils, you don’t understand. I love you.”

“And I love you too.” She laughed.

“No, dammit,” he growled. “I loveyou, Lily, not Susan. You.”

Lily’s mouth fell open. Did he just say what she thought he said? He loved her? Like loved loved her? No way. And why did he say it when he was drunk?

“Adam, you’re drunk and not thinking straight. It’s the booze talking. Go to sleep, and you’ll forget all this in the morning.”

“I’m drunk, Lily, but not nearly that drunk,” he said softly. “I know what I’m saying.”

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