Page 11 of With Us (Next Generation 2)

“Best friends? Really?” I knew I should have kept my mouth shut but I was never known to keep my thoughts to myself.

“What did you want me to say to her, Sunny? That we have a platonic relationship and the only physical contact we have with each other is when a warm body is between us? Come on. That would scare her away and we haven’t even done anything yet.” He pulled from my grip and took a step away, but I grabbed his arm again.

“You know this is more than that,” I told him.

“Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow. “Prove it.”

“Shade.” I gripped his arm tighter. How the hell was I supposed to prove anything to him when I had no idea what it was that I was supposed to prove in the first place?

Shade turned back around to face me. He pulled from my grip and in a quick move, shoved me up against the wall. “Like I said, Sunny.” He leaned toward my ear, his hot breath fanning the side of my face. “Prove it.” He released me roughly and stomped into the bar.

I shivered, pushed a hand through my hair, and dropped it to my side with a huff. I hated that he was right.

Heading into the bar, I found him sitting with Meadow at one of the booths. Jaron was nowhere to be found. Other patrons chatted quietly amongst themselves but all I could focus on was Shade and Meadow.

Someone new. Fresh. Young.

And someone else who I had known for over fifteen years. Shade was more than my best friend. He was my life. I just had no idea how to tell him that.

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