Page 27 of You've Always Been Mine

My control snaps. “Don’t you get it, Liv? I was freaking in love with you. There’s no way I would’ve turned you down for prom. Not on purpose.” My heart beats rapidly. I never intended to say those words out loud. I’ve kept them locked inside for a decade. But things have changed. I can’t stomach the idea of Olivia believing I turned her down for prom—that I didn’t care about her. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But now things are going to be awkward.

Even under the dim lights surrounding the building, I see shock widening Olivia’s warm brown eyes. Confusion works its way in there, too.

Shit.

“Forget I said anything.” I shake my head. “Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

“Why?” Olivia’s voice is quiet. “Because you didn’t mean it?”

My response is immediate, “Of course, I meant it. That’s not something I’d lie about.”

She blinks slowly. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

I run a hand through my hair, agitated. “Look. Let’s not do this.”

“Do what?”

“Talk about…this.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Well, Idowant to talk about it.”

I exhale a heavy sigh. “Liv… this isn’t a good idea.”

“Why?”

“Because nothing either of us says can change the past. Regret is part of life. Don’t you think it’s time for both of us to move on?”

As soon as the question leaves my mouth, I know it’s the wrong thing to say. Olivia’s wide eyes shutter as she closes herself off, and I belatedly realize there’d been a spark of hope growing in her gaze. But my words snuffed it out like a dying ember.

“You’re right.” She nods, averting her gaze. “Let’s forget about everything. We should get inside. The show starts soon.”

She steps to the side to move around me to walk back to the amphitheater’s entrance. I don’t know how, but I know that if I let her take one more step, I’m going to lose her for good. And nothing, not even Avery’s kidnapping, ever filled me with more fear.

My hand darts out and grabs Olivia’s arm. I act on instinct—driven by years of pent-up desire. I pull her towards me, wrapping my arm around her waist when she stumbles into my chest, and lower my head to capture her lips with mine.

CHAPTER 14

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO

Olivia

I followDerek to his hotel suite, feeling more nervous than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

I’m not a virgin. That ship sailed during my freshman year of college when I slept with my first boyfriend, Nathan. He was a sweet guy. If I hadn’t spent my entire life daydreaming about being with Derek, he would’ve been the type of guy I’d imagine losing my virginity to. Things didn’t work out between us for the usual reasons, but I never regretted what happened between us.

And while I had my share of partners in the past, something tells me none of them will compare to what’s about to happen with Derek.

How could they?

No one can compete with the anticipation of your first love.

But what if that’s a problem? What if my expectations are too high? What if I’m setting myself up for failure?

---