Page 19 of When Dawn Breaks

“I’ll pick you up then.”

“You better not be late,” I warn.

“Oh don’t worry, I never keep a pretty girl waiting.” Again, his words send my heart galloping in my chest.

I don’t know if he’s truly flirting with me or if he’s just being Ant. Sometimes the two are one in the same, and I do my best not to look into it too much. I mean, this is Ant. We’ve known each other since junior high, and I’m fairly certain he’s always talked to me the same way he is right now; though, I don’t think I’ve ever reacted to it quite like I have the last few days.

Time clearly has changed a lot of things for me. While yes, Ant was always on my radar, I knew he wasn’t even a possibility so I never let myself really look too much into the chemistry that has always existed between us.

And while nothing has really changed in that department, I find myself caring less and less that he’s supposed to be off limits and more and more about the way he makes me feel. Trust me, I know how awful of a person that makes me. But we’re talking about a guy who dated one of my best friends for less than a year like five years ago. Maybe Courtney wouldn’t even care if Ant and me became a thing.

Then again, maybe she would care so much that it would tear our friendship apart and no man—no matter how attractive—is worth losing my best friend over.

I just have to remember that, especially when he smiles at me.

Because that smile…

“Bree, you still there?” Ant’s voice pulls me back to the present, and only then do I realize my mind has once again ran away with me.

“Yeah, sorry.” I shake it off. “I should probably hop off here. I gotta get Jackson dressed if I want any hope of getting to work on time.”

“Okay. Well, have a good night.” He sounds as disappointed as I feel, and that does something crazy with my stomach.

“Thanks, you too,” I force out. “I’ll see you tomorrow. In the meantime, invest in some earplugs.”

“That I think I just might need to do.” He chuckles.

“Bye Ant.”

“Bye Bree.”

I wait until he hangs up before pressing the end call button. Holding the phone to my chest, I take a deep inhale and let it out slowly, wishing I could calm the nervous energy knotting inside me just at the thought of seeing Anthony tomorrow.

My God, what is wrong with me?

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