Page 38 of I Can't Help It

It doesn’t make any sense.

“So…” I trail off, rocking back and forth on the heels of my socked feet. “What is it then? If you’re worried about work, Colton doesn’t have any rules against office relationships.”

No response.

Lovely.

“Do you have your own rules about office relationships?”

I’m not willing to quit my job just so we can date, but at least I’d know his reasoning.

Some peace of mind would be nice.

He places another stack of clothes on top of the bed. “No.”

Two strikes.

I should give up at this point.

Am I going to do that though?

Heckkkkk no.

“Is it because I’m not Luke Tanner’s right kind of woman? I’m not everything without even trying?”

The questions are tainted with a bitter edge that I’m not proud of, and when Luke’s shoulders tense, I instantly regret using his words against him.

Stooping to that level of pettiness isn’t going to help anything.

Feeling stupid, I start to apologize. “Luke, I shouldn’t have—”

“That’s exactly what you are!” he snaps with a curse, pivoting to face me. “You are everything without even trying. You are my right kind of woman, and it freaking kills me because I know it’s wrong!”

My heart slams against my chest as I try to process his words. “Wait. Are you—are you saying that you do have feelings for me?”

There’s a very strong chance that I will be the one passing out.

“It’s wrong, Ava,” he says, his breathing uneven. “Wanting you is wrong, that’s why I can’t have feelings for you. And you shouldn’t have feelings for me either.”

“What?” My head is spinning like a merry-go-round that’s going out of control. “Why is it so wrong? Why shouldn’t we have feelings for each other? I don’t—”

“Because Wyatt is my best friend, Ava. And you’re his ex-girlfriend. So, I think it would be best for everyone if we just stayed as coworkers.”

His wide eyes are begging me to understand. And I do.

Kind of. I know about bro-code and everything.

But I also know what I want, and I’m not going to ignore that.

We’re freaking adults, not teenagers in high school.

“Wyatt and I have been over for months,” I state in a matter-of-fact way. “And the breakup was on good terms.” It was probably the best breakup I’ve ever had. “Why does it matter that I’m his ex-girlfriend?”

It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.

“Ava, please.” His voice is so strained, and I’ve never seen him look this upset. “It matters. Okay? I wish it didn’t, but it does.”

I proceed to scowl. “Did Wyatt tell you something about not dating me? Because I will call him right now and—”

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