Chapter 3

His breath was warm on my lips, his eyes locked on mine. Our faces were so close now, I could feel the heat of his body. A thrill of anticipation raced through me, the same wild flutter I used to feel when he came over for sleepovers in high school.

Back then, it was all whispers through the walls and stolen glances in the kitchen when my brothers weren’t looking. Now we were alone. Just the two of us, no interruptions or brothers, nothing to stop the kiss I’d dreamed about since I was a teenager.

BANG BANG BANG.

We both jumped. A fan was grinning through the window, phone already up, practically vibrating with excitement. “Holy shit, it’s Knox Carter! Dude, can I get a pic?!”

Knox didn’t move for a second, like he was trying to will the moment back into place. But it was gone. We both felt it.

He let out a quiet sigh, then climbed out of the car. “Yeah, man. Sure.”

I pushed open the door and started walking toward the building. Then I heard his voice behind me. “Alex, wait. I’ll walk you up.”

“That’s okay,” I said, suddenly just wanting this whole crazy night to end. “I need some sleep.”

He nodded, then asked, “You gonna come to the game next week?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

His brows drew together. “Maybe? You’re seriously gonna play coy right now?”

I blinked. “It’s not about being coy, Knox. I just—”

He laughed bitterly. “You should be thanking me. I literally saved you back there.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“Message received,” he said with his jaw clenched. “I’m late for a date with one of the hottest pop stars on the planet, so I’ve got to go.”

“You’re free to go,” I said, giving him a sarcastic wave goodbye. The tires squealed as he pulled away, leaving me to stomp into my building, pissed. Between Drew and Knox, fuck men!

Before I could even put my key in my apartment door, my roommate Andy flung it open and shouted, “WHAT THE HELL, ALEX?! WAS THAT KNOX CARTER?!”

I didn’t even answer. I just walked past her, tossed my purse on the couch, and collapsed on my bed.

Andy burst into my room holding up an issue of GQ. “You seriously got out of this man’s car?” she demanded, waving the magazine in my face. Knox’s face stared back at me from the glossy cover—smoldering, perfect. His dark hair was damp, his sculpted arms on full display, a football strategically placed over his lower half while beads of sweat trickled down his abs.

“Look at him! The jawline, the arms, the damn glisten—Alex, there’s actual glisten.” Andy swooned, clutching the magazine to her chest like it might escape.

I rolled my eyes, but a tiny part of me—the part that remembered the weight of his gaze just hours ago—tingled. “He’s my brother’s best friend. Our families had always been ridiculously close. His mom and mine had grown up together in Savannah, childhood besties who somehow reconnected when my family moved to the Upper West Side. Our brothers were basically attached at the hip.”

“I’d like to be attached to his hip,” Andy said.

I laughed, but then explained how he basically tortured me as a kid. And he was the leading man-slut at our high school, leaning all the way into the star football player role. “I know he’s hot as hell on the covers, but believe me, his personality ruins the rating.”

“Personality is optional when the man looks like a Greek god thirst trap. I’m here for the abs, the arms, the smolder.”

“He does smolder with the best of them.”

What I didn’t tell her was that Knox had been my first kiss. When I was fourteen and Knox was sixteen, we played spin the bottle. Fate—or rather, the spin of the bottle—forced us into a closet together for what was supposed to be seven minutes in heaven.

Knox and I shared a heated make-out session in that closet. It was as if neither of us wanted it to end. It left my stomach in knots, and we were both breathless when we pulled away, startled by a loud banging noise from outside the closet. It was Kyle, practically dragging us out of the closet well before seven minutes was up.

Andy was still going on about Knox when my phone started vibrating on the nightstand, making both of us jump. I groaned and grabbed it. The screen lit up: Drew.

Drew

Let me explain. It’s not what it looked like

Drew

I miss you, please come back! Don’t give up on us. Please give me another chance. I’m willing to fight for you, for us! Babe please answer me! I love you too much to let this all go.

Drew

Fine! Be like that and don’t answer me!

Drew

Baby, I’m sorry I know I messed up, but please know I love you more than anything! Take me back!

Andy peeked over my shoulder, eyes narrowing. “Wait... what the hell is he talking about?”

I spent the rest of the evening curled up with Andy on my bed, retelling everything that had happened. There were a lot of tears and a lot of hugs, and Andy’s sarcastic one-liners had me feeling better by the time we were ready for sleep.

Alone in my room, I tugged off the sweatpants and then sadly removed the lingerie I didn’t get to use. Then I reached for my favorite shirt to sleep in, an oversized jersey with Carter written on the back. Knox’s mom was so proud of him that she sent me a jersey with his name and number on the back. It’s super comfy and warm, which is the only reason I wear it.

God, if Knox ever knew I wore his jersey to bed, he’d never let me hear the end of it.

***

The next morning, Andy insisted we go to the salon. “New hair, new chapter,” she’d declared, dragging me out of bed before I could protest. She said it was a breakup survival essential, and honestly? She was right.

Works out too, because there’s a party tonight. Wes had invited us. Like Knox, he’s another one of my brother’s best friends from high school. We came to the same college and he’d always looked out for me, under strict orders from my brother. My brothers and their friends were all overly protective, treating me like a delicate china doll. It used to annoy me, and it still does.

Wes was tall and athletic, a soccer player for the college team. His current injury meant he was off the field, but in his words, “I can party every night now.”

We walked across campus to the party and found a booming house with people everywhere outside. She took my hand in hers, and we confidently strutted to the entrance of the house, the music’s beat vibrating on my skin as we approached.

As we stepped into the pulsating house, all eyes were magnetically drawn to us. A chorus of “Dayuuum!” “Hello, sexy,” “Holy shit!” and a “Fuck me!” echoed around us.

Spotting Wes in the crowd, we sauntered over. One of his friends slapped the back of his hand against Wes’s chest, pointing in our direction.

Wes turned to see what had caught his friend’s attention and locked eyes with us. His eyebrows shot up, a smirk playing on his lips as his gaze traveled up and down our bodies. When his eyes landed on my legs, they paused.

Wes pulled me into a warm embrace. His lips brushed against my ear as he murmured, “Look who’s all grown up. I love the new hair, sweetheart. Is this dress for me? Your legs are to die for.”

I laughed, pulling back and rolling my eyes at him. The irony was that I’m quite petite—only five foot one—but my legs are toned from running, gym workouts, and surfing. Growing up, I was a bit chubby, so compliments were few and far between, save for those from my mom and Eric. It’s a bit pathetic, I know.

That’s why I’ve hidden all my childhood and baby photos. “Down boy,” I said with a laugh. He panted like a dog and gave me a wink. If my brothers heard our banter, we’d both be in trouble.

I’d had a crush on Wes once, due to his protective nature, but then I’d started dating Drew and it had faded. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Wes?” one guy asked, a playful smile on his lips as he took a sip from his beer bottle.

He was attractive for sure. Maybe moving on from Drew would be easier than I thought. “No,” Wes retorted as he draped an arm over each of our shoulders as if we were his property. “Come on, Wes…” the guy laughed, his gaze meeting mine.

“This one is off limits,” Wes said, his voice totally serious as he nodded toward me. “Come on, dude, you’re playing.” “Hands off!” Wes said as he led us toward the kitchen for drinks.

I liked the way he stepped between me and the guy. I wondered if he was protecting me because of my brothers or because he wanted me for himself?

He reached for two beers, popped the tops off, and handed them to us. “I heard about Drew,” Wes said, “I’m sorry.” “Yeah, that sucked…” “What a jackass. You deserve way better,” he said.

“I can kick his ass if you want.” “You boys and your rush to punch each other.” He lifted his hands into fists and said, “Me, protect you.” He grunted like an ape and I laughed.

Someone came and tapped Wes on the shoulder and he went off to help the guy bring another keg in from the basement. On his way back, girls kept stopping him to talk.

In less than twenty minutes, Wes flirted with three different girls—laughing, touching arms, flashing that signature grin. I finished the last of my beer and eyed Wes’s friend from earlier.

He shot me a glance that lingered a beat too long. I considered walking over, just to talk, but before I could take a step, a warm hand closed around my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?” It was Wes.

Guess he had been paying attention to me. “Aren’t you busy with your other three girls, Mr. Charming?” I asked.

“Maybe I’m trying to distract myself.” “From what?” His eyes met mine, more serious than I expected. “I talk to those three girls because there’s one girl I really want, but she won’t give me the time of day.”

I blinked. “Who?” He stepped closer, voice low. “Think harder, Al.” “Wait... Are you flirting with me?” I asked. “Maybe I am,” he shrugged. “You all made fun of me in high school and never let a guy come near me!” I reminded him, and he laughed out loud.

“That was all Knox. I had no say in that.” “Freaking Knox. I had the displeasure of his company yesterday.” Wes froze mid-drink. “Knox? I didn’t know he was here.” His tone shifted—cooler, stiffer.

“Yeah,” I said, keeping my voice casual. “I accidentally called him instead of my brother. He showed up... we just talked for a bit. Nothing crazy.” Wes's whole posture changed. I couldn’t tell if it was protectiveness... or jealousy. “Whatever,” he said with a shrug, then tugged at my hand and said, “Come on, let’s go dance. I want to make all the guys jealous.”

We made our way to the living room, which had been transformed into a makeshift dance floor. It was packed and humid, and everyone was grinding on each other.

We started to dance with each other, goofing around with the most cringe-worthy moves, until he pulled me closer as the song changed. He turned me around so my back was pressed against his chest.

I saw Andy grinding really hard on the guy she was with and I couldn’t help but laugh. Wes rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered, “Just move your hips like Andy is doing.”

His hands were on my waist, guiding them from side to side. His tone was so seductive that I was beginning to be turned on by it. I could feel his breath getting heavier on my shoulder and neck.

His hands left my waist, but I grabbed them and put them back on my hips. I really shouldn’t be doing this with my brother’s best friend, but it’s been a while since I’ve been touched like this.

I started to grind up against Wes as if my life depended on turning him on. “Fuck!” I heard him groan in my ear. I felt his arousal against me.

He turned me around to face him, lifting my arms and placing them around his neck.

~Fuck, I’m screwed.~

He looked so good in the dim lighting. As we continued to sway to the beat, he placed his hands on the small of my back.

I closed my eyes to savor the moment, knowing it wouldn’t last.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, more to himself than to me. He sighed.

“I think we need to stop dancing before I do something that will land me in deep shit,” he said, opening his eyes to meet mine again.

“Like what?” I asked, breathless.

“Like…” he sighed again, “like kiss you.” My eyes widened at his bold words.

“I would like to avoid getting my face bashed in by your brothers, you know, bro code and all that,” he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and laughed too.

After a moment of silence, I whispered in his ear, “What if I kissed you?”