PAUL...
"Please."
That's all he had to say. I was powerless to stop when that sweet word came rolling off his tongue. There was just something about Paul Lahote and that sexy voice of his that I just couldn't shake. I didn't know how to tell him...
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"We need to talk."
I scowled up at Paul as I pulled my hand from his grasp. "Just leave me alone."
I sighed deeply and shook my head at how this night had turned out. I had been so excited to go to dinner with Paul and even though our families went, it almost seemed like a real date. But it was one that ended in disaster.
I crossed my arms over my chest and threw Embry a dirty look when he opened his mouth to speak. Traitor. He wouldn't even switch seats with me so I could get away with Paul. This was proving to be the worst car ride ever.
I scooted closer to Embry, allowing him to wrap his arm around my shoulders. Paul scoffed and muttered something under his breath. Embry glared at him and shook his head. "Don't start, Paul."
"It's bullshit and you know it. You did the same fucking thing I did, but you won't admit it."
Embry growled and pulled me closer to him. "Just drop it!" he whisper-shouted, leaning over me a little.
"Did the same thing…" I echoed. "You mean? You and Ava?"
Embry's face said it all. He looked guilty as hell and before I even realized what I was doing, I was shoving his arm off of me. We couldn't get back to the cabin fast enough.
I had barely allowed the Suburban to come to a complete stop before I scrambled over Paul and bounded toward the cabin with my high heels in hand. I ignored my mom and Paul when they called out to me. After I showered and got ready for bed, I waited for the coast to be clear before I ventured downstairs for some water.
Ever since we returned from the restaurant, I'd been thinking about what had happened. I knew I was mad at Ava and pissed that obviously Paul knew she would be telling me at some point, but he didn't tell me first. Would I have reacted any better if the story had come from him? Now I'll never know.
"I need to talk to you."
His voice cut through the darkened living room as I made my way back to the stairs. Was I ready for this? Did I need more time for the silent treatment? Should I punish him some more?
I blinked quickly as he made his way over to me. His hair was a mess, face crinkled with worry and his eyes? Those were the worst. Because I could have sworn he'd been crying. "Keegan," he breathed once he got close enough to touch me. "Can you just let me explain?"
Suddenly seeing him there, so sad and alone in the dark had my heart begging my head to just kiss him and let it all go. I didn't want him to feel pain. There were so many times I had been this hopeless. So many times I wished desperately for the chance to fix things with Paul and finally bare my soul.
Now we were right there. So close and yet here was another bullshit problem keeping us from being together. In the past few hours, I had gone from pissed off, to sad, to just not giving a shit. Now I decided, it was time for some truth. "Let's talk then."
