Page 43 of Only Ever Yours
It took me a moment to realise what he’d said. That we were both on the same page. We wanted each other, and once we crossed the line, there would be no going back. Resting my hands on his shoulders, I leaned down and covered his lips with mine, kissing him like it was my final breath.
We were so involved in each other that we almost didn’t hear the front door opening. Thankfully, Finn made such a noise banging into the walls and slamming the door shut that we pulled apart just in time. I scooted up to one end of the sofa, rearranging my top, and Jase placed a cushion over his lap.
Finn barrelled into the room, switching on the light, and I blinked from the sudden brightness. “What are you two doing here in the dark? Nothing inappropriate, I hope.” He wagged his finger in an exaggerated manner.
“Yeah, what would that be like?” Jase sided with Finn. “As if anything could happen between us.”
I told myself it was only words, that he was only covering up whathadhappened tonight. Twice. The speed of his denial still stung a little, though.
“Anyone want a nightcap?” Finn staggered towards the kitchen.
“I don’t think you need anything else to drink,” I warned.
“You sound like my ex-girlfriend,” he grumbled, and I wondered if he’d seen Ella with the barman. “Do you want anything?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m going to go to bed.”
“Jase?”
“Yeah, why not? A whisky would be good.”
Once Finn had left the room, I gave Jase every opportunity to say something. To contradict what he’d implied to Finn. To acknowledge how things had changed between us tonight. But he stayed silent. I didn’t even bother saying goodnight.
Chapter Seventeen
Jase
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
She thinks I don’t want her.
I had to lie for Finn’s sake. Everything Hollis and I had done that evening had been the culmination of years of sexual tension between us. We had always flirted, but tonight, we went past the line of friendly banter. This time, I had run through a list of Premier League Golden Boot winners. Anything to stop the raging erection in my jeans before Finn came back into the room.
Finn walked into the living room, two glasses of amber liquid in his hands.
“Jesus, are you trying to kill me off completely?” I lifted the glass as he handed it to me. There had to be at least a quadruple whisky in there.
He sank into the armchair, head bowed. “Ella looked fucking amazing tonight.”
I hadn’t noticed. Then again, I’d only really had eyes for Hollis and the burgundy corset top she’d chosen to wear, which made her tits look even more magnificent than usual. I’d been moments away from getting to touchthem, but they’d have to live in my imagination a little longer.
Jesus,amI sixteen again?
“You having second thoughts about splitting up?”
Finn took a slug of his alcohol. “I thought it wasn’t working out between us. Seeing her tonight, all over some kid, really made it hit home. I should have made more of an effort to salvage our relationship.”
“It’s not too late. If you really want her, you need to fight for her.”
Such hollow words when I’d just cold-shouldered Hollis as if nothing had happened between us tonight.
He glanced over at me, head to one side, one eye closed. “Since when did you become such a relationship guru? Are you thinking of giving it a go with Felicity?”
I snorted. “Yeah, I don’t think so, mate.” I swigged my own drink, wincing at the burn. Hollis was the only woman I wanted, and now that we’d crossed a line, we had to work out what happened next. If anything, given the way I’d just ignored her.
“Then who? Did you hook up with someone tonight?”
The crushing pain in my chest as I fought to tell my best friend the truth increased as I ground out the lie. “As if. I was with you and the guys all night until I left.”
