Page 25 of Setting Limits

His hands lower to my hips, and he starts swaying them in time with the beat.

But I don’t need his help to dance. In fact, it’s one of my expert skills. So, I take his hands in mine, and shift them into place, a little lower and further back, and turn in his hold, my ass all but against his crotch.

We dance to one song, swaying and bouncing, until Wes gives a gentle tug on my hips, and I press against him.Allof him.

Whatever is going on just became far more interesting.

I wouldn’t ever assume that Wes has any interest in me. I’m his best friend’s sister. But it’s nice to know I can get a guy as good looking as Wes turned on just by swinging my hips a little. I’m sure the tight jeans and fitted halter top that leaves a swath of my midsection exposed helps too.

For one song, we grind against each other. It feels all wrong and all right at the same time. I shouldn’t be doing this. Not with Wes. But it’s just a party, and we’re drunk.

Okay, I’m not. But I am tipsy, and that counts in terms of driving, so it qualifies.

That’s when a slow song comes on. Why there’s a slow song playing at a party, I couldn’t tell you. But Wes spins me around and pulls me against him, taking one hand in his and the other settling low on my back.

“It’d be rude to leave the floor just because of the tempo change.” His lips are practically pressed against my ear as he speaks, and it causes a shiver to run through me.

We make it halfway through the song before I’m hit by a freight train. This racing heart, sweaty palms, and shaky legs suddenly makes sense. I’d been chalking it up to the alcohol, the heat, the dancing, the fact that it’s way past my bedtime. But it’s none of those things.

I’m seriously attracted to Weston.

And I can’t be. Of all the people in the world that it would be wrong for me to want, he’s at the very top of that list.

I pull away so fast, Wes jerks back, his eyes wide and brows high. The look on his face makes it seem like I slapped him.

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” I try to yell the words, but I’m not sure they actually rolled off my tongue at all.

Running into the kitchen, I grab Marissa, who is thankfully no longer making out and just talking. “Call me later!” she yells over her shoulder. “Chelsea, what the fuck?”

The second we get outside, I stop, double over, and throw up everything in my stomach.

“I can’t. I can’t do this. I cannot do this. Get it together, Chelsea. You cannot do this.” I’m talking out loud, but solely to myself.

“Oh, sweetie, you’re only puking. Jell-O shots sneak up on ya.”

If only I was drunk, if only I was puking because of that.

But Marissa doesn’t know that I’m a horrible, traitorous person. A person who is developing feelings for the last person she has any right to develop feelings for.

Chapter 14

I’mjealousoftheway Lochlyn watches Shay as she leaves the room. I wish somebody would look at me that way.

“You still look at her just as adoringly as you did when I found out.” My voice is low with a touch of sadness.

“Because I still adore her just as much as day one, Chels.” His voice is light and gentle. I hate that part of me feels shocked they’re still together. I’m beyond okay with it, fully accepting and happy they’re happy. I just really never expected it to last. It’s been over two months since I tried to set things right. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I was such a bitch.

“I’m sorry.” I’m so quiet, I’m not sure he can hear me across the room on Shay’s bed. But as his face becomes more serious, and he slowly turns to look at me, I can tell that he did. It makes ice run through my veins.

“I know, Chels. We both do. We don’t have to keep bringing it up.”

Twisting my fingers, I can’t look at him anymore. “I just still feel bad. It was a shitty thing for me to do. I probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself if you guys weren’t able to make your way back to a good place.”

“We did. That’s all that matters. And we've all been doing fine together, so where’s this coming from?” Lochlyn’s voice is calm and soothing. More gracious than I deserve.

“You’re just still not here a lot. I don’t know, the way you look at her, it’s like she’s the most amazing person you've ever laid eyes on. Like you can’t believe how lucky you are to have her. And I almost ruined it.” And I’m a traitorous wench, developing feelings for his best friend.

“Well, because that’s exactly how I feel, Chels. Listen, I know I didn’t tell you about my feelings for Shay, but they were there…for a long time. But I knew you were against it, for whatever your reasons were, and we were each going through our own shit with Mom and Dad leaving all the time. And we’re not here a lot for your comfort. Shay doesn’t want to be too touchy feely in front of you.”

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