“I’m not—”

“Say it!”

A car pulled up in front of us. Music blared out the windows, and Maggie’s voice came from inside, “Kevin?”

He continued to look at me.

I couldn’t look away.

“Hey!”

Then he murmured, “I can’t lie anymore. I can’t take it back.”

I heard a whooshing sound as all the air left my lungs.

Kevin walked around the car and got in on the passenger side. He never looked at Maggie. His eyes held mine the entire time, and even as she pulled away, he watched me as he left.

I felt a void in my center that was the size of an ocean. I think it had been there the whole time.

I could’ve called Avery. I should’ve, but I didn’t. Caden said he’d been driving home anyway so he pulled up in front of me ten minutes later.

“Yeah. I’m rethinking this now,” I told him.

His eyebrows lifted. “This?” He pointed between us. “Us?”

“Calling you.”

He motioned me to get in. “Come on. Let’s head back.”

Once I got inside and he pulled away, I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Are you rethinking us?”

“Our friendship?”

“Of course.” I tucked my hands behind me. “What else is there to rethink?”

He studied me a moment before pulling ahead at an intersection. He didn’t respond, not the entire time it took to get to his place. We went inside, and he looked at his bedroom. His head turned back toward me, and I saw the teasing grin.

“I’m not sure what you mean by rethinking us, but I was hoping for another round. You game?”

Yep. I definitely called the wrong person. “I think Kevin has feelings for me.”

“Fuck.” He turned and headed for the bedroom. “Now I get your drift.”

“Should I stay?”

He motioned for me to follow. “Sure. Pretend I’m your girlfriend. Call me Carrie tonight.”

“Are you serious?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

He sighed as I sat across from him. “So the stepbrother reared back up, huh?”

There were knots galore in my stomach, but I had to talk to him. Avery was a friend, but Caden was…more. I didn’t know what more, but I wanted to be here, with him, having him listen to me.

I nodded and spilled everything. I was talking about Kevin, but he wasn’t what I really wanted to talk about. The other thing scared me. I didn’t know if I could talk about it. My hands twisted together on my lap, and I had formed a new yoga pose by the time I was done.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“You called me.”

“Yeah.”

“You told me this stuff.”

I wasn’t sure if these were questions, but I nodded again, just going with it. “I sure did.”

“And you know I’m not a bullshitter.”

“It’s part of your intrigue.” I waved a hand at him. “It completes the whole intimidation factor. Also makes girls wet their pants for you.”

That didn’t even faze him. He didn’t blink. “So I’m going to give you my honest opinion.”

“Oh.” Now I could see where this was leading. “Okay. Yeah. Give it to me straight.”

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“What?”

He got up for a beer, placing one in front of me as well when he returned. “That’s why you came to me. You know you’re being an idiot, so stop being an idiot.”

“How am I being an idiot?”

“Why are you talking to me about your asshole stepbrother? You might’ve had feelings for him before, but I know you. Those are long gone, so what’s really going on here?”

My lip twitched.

“What?”

“That used to be my name for you. Asshole.” I sighed, taking a sip of my beer. “Those were the good old times.”

“Kevin’s a better fit for the name.”

“It’s a term of endearment now for me.”

He scowled. “Really? You want to waste your time talking about him? Fine. I’ll indulge you.” He rolled his eyes. “I bet you $500 he has a new girl by next month.”

“That’s a week away.”

“My bet still stands. And that girl won’t be you. He’s moving out.”

I frowned. “From Maggie’s?”

He shrugged. “I’m assuming. He wants a house meeting. He’s going to ask to come back.”

“Are you sure? I mean, are you sure that’s what he’s going to say?”

“He has to give the reason for a meeting, and since he was never officially kicked out, we have to let the meeting happen.”

He was leaving Maggie… No, he was leaving Maggie’s home. Why did I not want him to do that?

I twisted my fingers together. “Are you going to let him come back?”

“Me? Fuck no. The guys? Probably. We’re big on second chances here. A lot of the guys get arrested for stupid shit.”

“If he moves out, that means they’re breaking up.”

“Exactly.” His eyes hardened. “Don’t tell me I’m wrong and you’re hoping to be the next girl. You just looked like a starving squirrel who saw its first nut.”

I scowled. “What? No, I’m not.”