[SEAN] Have you ever experienced a deep sense of helplessness? A feeling of desperately wanting something, but being unable to pursue it out of fear of hurting the people you love most? These situations are all too familiar in my life. I have become the epitome of sacrificing my own happiness for t
“What just happened in there?” I ask, my voice unintentionally startling her. I immediately feel like a fool. “Sorry,” I quickly apologize, rubbing the back of my neck before gently turning her to face me. “Are you okay?” Her response to my question becomes unnecessary as the moisture on her cheek
As the elevator doors open on the fifteenth floor, I step out into a narrow corridor. Judging by the appearance of the property and its prime location, it seems that my stalker is either a fellow wealthy individual or someone skilled at disguising their identity, relishing in making others feel fool
[BRIAN] I know I made the right decision, although my emotions try to convince me otherwise. Kissing Ava was wrong, and fucking her was even worse. What the hell was I thinking? How did I let my attraction to her cloud my judgment, especially considering she’s half my age, my late daughter’s best
[AVA] “Listen up, sweetie,” mom says, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. “I’m your mom, and all I want is what’s best for you. Is that so hard to believe?” I’m dying to respond: yes, that’s exactly what I think. But instead, I let out a sigh and prop my elbow on the table. “Mom, what’s
I remember putting on a brave face, telling them that they couldn’t do anything to me but make themselves look foolish. But inside, I was shaking like a damn leaf. I confided in my dad about the situation, and he stepped in to resolve it for me. It’s tempting to think that I made the right decision
[AVA] A jolt of icy anticipation shoots through me as the door to Brian’s office swings open. Sharon wastes no time, forcefully shutting the door before I can even step further into the room. I don’t know what her problem is, but she’s seriously starting to get under my skin. Then again, the only
If this is heading where I think it is, I’m already mentally prepared to walk away. Just as I’m about to stand and leave, he raises a hand. “Don’t,” he says, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions. I have a few things to say. If you don’t like them, I apologize, and I’ll nev
[AVA]“Nope! Still not picking up his phone,” Sean says, shaking his head, trying his damnedest to keep it together.I can’t blame him. If Brian walked out on me this way, I would freak out like hell. Fuck, I don’t even know what I would do. I would probably have a meltdown or something.Perhaps tha
[MAX]I’m ready to take a break and hand over the counter to Patrick when the rainbow girl walks into the café/diner, and the bell chimes over her head.Her eyes find mine in an instant, and I stop whatever I’m doing for reasons I don’t even want to know.“Hey!” She walks over to me, leans on the co
[AVA]“It’s a great idea,” I say to him, finally realizing that it’s never the gift that matters, it’s the intention. And Sean loves Aaron; he only wants the best for him.Sean looks so damn relieved, tears twinkling in his eyes.“Oh, thank God!” He chuckles, nervously running a hand through his dar
I chuckle. “I’d love that, but I’m not sure Aaron would appreciate being put on the spot.”“Don’t worry, I’ll work my magic,” Sean winks and heads toward the kitchen, leaving me alone in the living room.I wander over to the bookcase, running my fingers over the spines of Sean’s collection. He has a
[AVA]“Brian was right, this is a very bad idea,” I mumble to myself as I stand outside the apartment Sean and Aaron share. And yes, let me remind you this is the same apartment where Sean found Aaron furiously making out with his sister.And yes, I should not have thought about that because now the
[AVA]“I’ll miss you,” I say once Brian and I step into the elevator of his penthouse.Kian and Mason are already downstairs, waiting for us. But Brian, being Brian, needed a moment to “make it up” to me for the whole two weeks he would be absent.I’m excited for him. I swear, I am. And yet, when I
[BRIAN]Time for some honesty: I’m terrified of what I’m about to do.Rock/Mountain climbing, I’m not sure if I’m made for such stuff. I mean, sure, I love treks and long walks and boating and camping and driving and all that stuff but climbing a mountain? That sounds a little stretch, even for me.
We pull back and Brian glares at his twin brother, who in turn, winks at us, making sure we know he has only been kidding. “We are heading to the next store. Think you can take your make-out session on the go?”Brian flips him off and Mason laughs, walking away with Kian in tow.Kian looks over his
[AVA]“I can’t believe you agreed to this.”“Trust me, I can’t believe it either.”I chuckle, not able to help myself. I would have loved to see Brian climbing a mountain, but I can’t, and that makes me sad. But maybe I’ll have better luck next time. I just hope Brian will be as willing to take part