“Oh, trust me when I say he will kiss you,” he tells me confidently. “I have no doubt about it.” There’s no amusement in his eyes, which only makes my heart thump in my chest.
“Then why did you kiss me?” I ask, confused at just what is happening here.
His eyes burn through me. “Because I wanted to know what your lips felt like. I wanted to know what you tasted like. And deep down, I wanted to steal something from him.” His words are cryptic, and I want to ask him what he means, but he continues, “Also, I wanted to be the first kiss you had in this godforsaken town.” Ahren is still holding onto me. He doesn’t let me go when he presses a chaste kiss on my forehead.
“You make this sound like it’s a terrible place to live,” I muse as I stare up at him in the dusky light. As much as I like Ahren, I don’t want to ping-pong between the two men.
“No. Not at all, but it’s stifling. I don’t like being in one place for too long. Elian doesn’t mind it here.” He shakes his head, lowering it so that our gazes are locked. “Tell me you didn’t feel anything when I kissed you.” There’s a plea in his tone. He wants me to say I felt nothing, but that would be a lie.
“I can’t tell you that,” I admit honestly.
He smiles slowly. “Yeah, I thought so,” he whispers, pulling me even closer. “I can see you like Elian. It’s fine, I can live with that, but if you ever change your mind...” His words falter off into the darkness, leaving me to complete the sentence in my mind. “I’m sorry for making it seem as if I’m trying to one-up him, but I had to know if there was something more between us.”
“I don’t know. At this point, nothing is set in stone.” And it’s the truth. I do like Ahren. What’s not to like? But I’m not sure what would happen if I did get a chance to be with Elian. I’m torn. I really am.
“Friends then?” His dark eyes dance with amusement, and I find myself nodding.
“How can I say no to you?” I slug him on the shoulder, earning me a groan.
Ahren leans in to whisper in my ear. “You can’t. And I doubt you’d be able to say no to Elian either.” Shaking my head, I try to find the answer in the myriad of scenarios that now dance in my mind, but I can’t. He’s right.
When Ahren looks at me again, I can tell there’s a part of him that’s disappointed. And I feel bad for doing it, but I couldn’t be here with him while wondering what his brother is doing. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugs it off as if it’s nothing. “I’m used to him taking the lead. To be the first choice.”
“What do you mean?” Confusion creases my forehead, bringing my brows together.
“Elian and I are foster brothers. I was adopted when I was five and grew up with him as my big brother. We don’t tell anyone around town. It’s not their business. But back when I was still living in Miami with him, we were vying for the same girl. We stupidly bet on who she would choose. I lost.”
My mouth forms an O, and I struggle to school my expression. I never expected him to say that. “But you liked her more?” I ask, realizing he had his heart broken.
Ahren nods. “But it worked in my favor for one reason only. We have very similar taste in women,” he adds with a wink.
“Oh my god, are you saying? Have you two ever …?”
“Yeah, a couple of times,” he tells me as if he were reading my mind.
I know I must look like a fish, but my mouth drops open again, causing Ahren to chuckle at my reaction.
“I’m not saying you’re into it, but …” He releases his hold on me and takes a step back, giving me space, and I’m thankful because I need it to process what he’s telling me. “If you ever feel the need to be between us, let me know,” he says as the corner of his mouth ticks upward.
“You mean? Both of you … would … I mean …” My brows furrow, but I’m most certainly not confused. I’m taken back to that night. The one that ruined everything. I’ve experimented before, much to my dismay at how the story had been leaked to the press.
Ahren nods. “Yes.”
“I don’t know. I mean ...” Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I regard him through narrowed eyes, wondering if he knows about my past as wariness takes hold.
But then he continues, “Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. That’s my life’s motto.” He winks at me playfully, and I can’t help but grin. Ahren has bad boy written all over him, and I know he’d make any girl happy. The thought of him and Elian wanting me does make my heart skip a few beats.
“Is that what you tell all the girls?” I tease, trying to steer away from me and more toward him and his past. Even though the thought of it makes my body ache, I push all those thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the present moment.
“Nah, I just give them my pretty smile and they fall to their knees.” He chuckles. “I mean, how can you say no to this?” His teasing eases the tension, and I can’t help but laugh as well.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah.” In an attempt to move the conversation, I ask, “Tell me about you, him, and your family. Since you know about my feelings for you and him, I’d like to know more about you both.”
“Well, let’s sit. I can tell you about me, but he needs to be the one to answer your questions about his life.” He motions for
