[BOOK2]
Friendship built their world. Love will break it open. ❤️
*****
I want her.
I want her more than I've ever wanted anything.
But I can't have her. Because the moment I admit that out loud, the moment I risk everything we've built, I could lo...
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The warmth of Isla curled against me made it far too tempting to forget about everything else. Her hair tickled my chest, her breath steady against my skin, and for a few stolen minutes I let myself believe it was just us. No lies. No Jake. No Peyton. Just her and me.
A knock rattled the door. Loud. Impatient.
Isla groaned, burying her face deeper into my side. "Tell me that's not your landlord coming to evict you."
I tightened my arm around her and kissed her slow, smirking against her lips. "If we ignore it, it goes away."
Another knock thundered against the wood, harder this time. Whoever it was clearly wasn't getting the hint.
Isla huffed a laugh, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Doesn't sound like it's going away."
We'd crashed on the living room couch last night, limbs tangled in a way that made the already small space feel even smaller, and dragging myself off it now felt like ripping away from my peace. I tugged on sweats and rubbed at my eyes as I shuffled toward the door.
The second I opened the door, Becca was already halfway across the threshold, phone gripped like she was ready for battle. Lewis trailed in after her, hands shoved deep in his hoodie pocket, wearing that lazy grin that always made me want to throw something at him.
The second he stepped inside, his nose wrinkled. "Jesus. This place smells like sex."
On the couch, Isla—drowning in my hoodie she'd snagged from the other armchair—made a strangled noise. Her whole face went crimson as she yanked the blanket tighter around herself. "Lewis!"
He leaned on the doorframe like he'd just scored a victory. "So you finally forgave him, huh, Isa?" His smirk widened when her cheeks flamed even darker. "Can't say I blame you. Bloke's irresistible."
"Lay off," I snapped, heat crawling up the back of my neck as I tossed a balled-up t-shirt at his head. He ducked it easily, laughing.
"Relax, I'm just saying—" Lewis whistled low, gesturing between the two of us. "Looks like Dwyers finally fucked the worry out of you, Isa. Feel better yet?"
Isla's mouth fell open, her face flaming as she yanked the blanket higher, eyes wide like she might combust on the spot. "Drop dead Lew."
I shot him a glare "Bro, shut up."
He just grinned, smug as hell. "What? Complimenting your teamwork, mate."
"Fine, fine," he said, though the smug grin didn't budge. He wandered toward the kitchenette, opening cupboards like he owned the place. "But for the record, if you're going to spend all night... you know"—he gestured vaguely—"you could at least have decent snacks for the morning after."
"Get out of my cupboard," I barked, moving to shut it.
He dodged me, already pulling out bread, peanut butter, and some leftover chicken I'd been saving. "What? You've got to fuel an athlete properly. Consider this my contribution to team morale."
