A squeeze of his grip had her lifting her chin.
“Where’d ya go?” Brows pinched together; his steel-colored eyes trained on hers.
“Nowhere. It’s just a bit strange. Being here with you.”
“Do you want to leave?” His tone was gruff.
“No.” The word spilled out before she could think. Guilty as she was, she didn’t want the night to end.
Toni scanned the crowd. “It’s okay to enjoy yourself without him, you know?”
“I know.” Logically, she knew. But loyalty was a hard thing to break. Even when the intended recipient was undeserving.
He dropped her hand, his own retreating into his pockets. “I don’t expect anything from you. I just want you to have a good time.”
“I am having fun.” Too much. It’s too easy with you, Antonio.
He showed their ride passes at the ticket booth before they were ushered into a gondola, each of them taking opposing sides. The wheel inched around to let each group on, swinging Lory and Toni every time. They avoided eye contact through the painfully slow process. Cheesy carnival music serenaded their awkward exchange. The distant screams of adrenaline junkies sliced through the air. Lory shivered as a cool breeze curled around her body.
Toni switched his position to sit beside her, placing his arm around her back. “I like seeing the people from up here. It reminds me how small we really are. Puts things into perspective.”
She snuggled into his side. Purely for his warmth. Liar. She wanted to be closer to him. God, he felt so good. “See? Deep thinker.”
“I’d rather be a deep thinker than a screamer.”
“Hey!” She tried to sit forward, but he pulled her into his chest, and kissed the top of her head.
Tingles flooded her body as her heart kicked. “Did you just—”
“Do you think a screamer could ever love a deep thinker?” His mouth was so close to her ear, she heard him loud and clear.
Lory’s tongue went dry. Straightening her spine, she eyed him over her shoulder. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
He met her stare with apparent calm, although the jump of his Adam’s apple gave him away. “All my life.”
Her jaw dropped.
What?
Everything she thought she knew was wiped from her brain cells and rearranged in an instant. The fishing trip she’d referred to—he’d caught less than Grey because he’d been showing her how to bait the hook. Every fish she’d caught, Toni had unhooked it for her because she didn’t want to get her shirt messy.
Two years later, she’d crashed her bike, scraping her knee. The only way to get home had been to sling her arms over the Agrioli boys’ shoulders, and hobble while Clay pushed her crippled bike. Once they’d delivered her, Greyson and Clay took off to get the abandoned bikes, while Toni held her hand as her mama dressed her wounds.
Oh, my God.
He’d taken her to homecoming because Grey had injured himself while mending the fence.
Oh. My. God.
Why hadn’t she seen it?
_____
Antonio
You are such a dick. Christ. He’d kept it in for twenty-four years. Why couldn’t he have waited a bit longer? She was still getting over the break-up. And what made him think he even had a shot? Why would she want anything to do with her ex’s brother?
Fucking idiot!
Now, they were stuck several yards up on a carnival ride, looking everywhere but at each other. He slid his arm from behind her, removing his jacket and placing it over her shoulders. Embarrassment had him hauling himself into his original seat. Toni didn’t know what was worse: facing her or having her body pressed against his side. Either way, he regretted the loss of connection between them.
She crossed her arms, clasping each side of his jacket to pull it closed around her. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to make things weird. I’m trying to process the bombshell you just dropped.”
“I get it. I’m the one that made it awkward.”
It took two more goddamn revolutions before they were finally free. “I’ll walk you back.” Anton grimaced.
“But you still owe me a stuffed toy. And I’m hungry.” She attempted to hand him his jacket.
He blinked at the thing. Why did it hurt so much that she wanted to give it back? A return of unwanted goods. Just like she’d rejected his love. “Keep it.” I couldn’t take it if I tried.
Her arm dropped to her side, the jacket hanging limp from her clasped hand. He turned away, forcing his feet not to run, but to walk.
He’d traveled several yards before she caught up, slipping her hand into his, and wearing his jacket. “Thanks for letting me know how you feel.”
He laughed without humor. “No problem.”
What else was he going to say? You’re welcome. I’m here to stroke your ego anytime, no need to return the favor. At your service. Would you like me to be your doormat too?
Love like this couldn’t be undone. She could walk all over him, and he’d still fucking adore her.
But he wasn’t gonna let her do that. Because any kind of relationship was nothing without respect. He’d effectively ruined their friendship. There was no being ‘just friends’ with someone whom you loved to the depths of your soul. Not after baring your vulnerable truth.
He loosened her grip and pulled out his phone to call Sophia. “Hey. Get dressed. Lory’s hungry. You need to make good on your promise.”
“What happened?” Sophia questioned.
“Just hurry up. Meet us near the Biscuit Booth.”
