FORBIDDEN TIES {My brother's best friend}

Chapter 34

"Just friends?" I echoed, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, just friends."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, not wanting to show how much his words hurt me. "Okay," I whispered, looking away, trying to hide the pain I felt inside.

Cyrus reached out, touching my arm gently. "Selena, I care about you, but..."

"But just not in the way I want," I finished for him, my voice trembling.

He sighed, his hand dropping away. "I don't want to lose you as a friend."

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Friends that fuck anytime they have the chance to?"

"It's more like friends with benefits," he corrected. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

"And you think I want that? You think I just wanna be fucking you because I am some slut?" I asked, still in disbelief.

"Selena," he called, moving closer.

"Relationship is not for me. I..." he trailed off, then paused, his expression conflicted. "I would end up breaking your heart, and I don't want that to happen."

"And you think you aren't breaking my heart right now?" I asked, my voice trembling with hurt and anger.

"You don't have to make a big deal out of this," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Of course, we both did what adults do, but that doesn't mean we should put our emotions into it. I'm sorry if I made you feel what you're not supposed to feel. I even thought you had gotten rid of those feelings already."

"Gotten rid of those feelings?" I echoed, my voice rising. "How could you think that? Every time we were together, every time we touched, it meant something to me. And now you're telling me it was all just casual for you?"

"Selena, I care about you," he said, his tone softening. "But I can't give you what you want. I can't be in a relationship. It's not who I am."

"You led me on," I said, my eyes filling with tears. "You made me believe we had something real, and now you're saying it was nothing?"

"It wasn't nothing," he insisted. "But it wasn't what you think it was either."

I shook my head, feeling a mixture of heartbreak and anger. "I deserve better than this. I deserve someone who wants to be with me, who doesn't see me as just a friend with benefits."

"I know you do," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And that's why I can't be that person. I'm sorry, Selena."

His apology felt hollow, a weak attempt to justify his actions. I stood up, grabbing my clothes, needing to get out of there. "I'm done," I said, my voice firm. "Don't call me, don't text me. We're done."

"Selena, please let's," he started, but I cut him off.

"No, Cyrus. I deserve more than this. I deserve someone who sees me as more than just a convenience."

I felt so stupid again. He kept on using me, and I was too naive and stupid to even see it. I thought he liked me. I thought we shared something special, that the sex came with feelings. I believed he didn't care whether I was Ezra's sister-all he wanted was just me. I didn't realize all he wanted was my body. And I stupidly gave it to him.

"I'll drive you home," he said, getting up, but I ignored him, going to the living area to grab my bag.

"Selena, we can talk about it, about us," he said, making me turn to look at him.