“Neither are you. You’re acting like a dick.”
“I’m acting like a dick? You chewed me out for trying to help you!”
“I told you I don’t need your help.”
Blake’s nostrils flared. “Fine. My bad. Go make out with that guy. In fact, go have wild monkey sex and swing from the chandeliers. See if I care.”
“You do.” The words slipped out before Farrah could stop them.
“Excuse me?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You do care, or you wouldn’t have pulled him away from me.” Maybe she was reading too much into things again. Maybe not. The crisp fall air cleared the fog in her head enough for her to realize Blake was not acting the way a normal friend would act when he saw her kissing someone else. “Why?”
Blake stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about why you’re so worked up about who I hook up with.”
“I’m not!”
“You’re yelling!”
“I’m not yelling!” he yelled louder. “I—” Blake rubbed his face. His shoulders slumped. “Fuck.”
“Tell me.” Farrah’s heart raced like she was on the edge of the jumping platform again, ready to fall. She was going down a dangerous path, but maybe, just maybe… “Why do you care?”
“Maybe it’s the same reason you care,” Blake said quietly. “Why all the questions about Mina tonight?”
Farrah’s head pounded in time with her pulse.
They stared at each other, the air between them heavy with words neither wanted to say. “Because.” She licked her lips. Her mouth was so dry it didn’t help. “Blake, I…”
“I love you.”
Farrah’s breath caught in her throat. Giddiness bubbled up inside her. Did he say—
“I love you like a sister, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
The giddiness collapsed. “You love me like a sister,” she repeated numbly.
Sister. Worse than friend. Worse than enemy. Those things, under the right conditions, could morph into something more. “Sister” was untouchable.
Blake didn’t see her as a romantic or sexual prospect at all. Why should he, when he had girls like Mina waiting in the wings? Girls who were beautiful and experienced and looked like a cross between Megan Fox and a young Angelina Jolie. How could Farrah compete with that?
She couldn’t, and she didn’t want to.
Farrah lifted her chin. She’d be damned if she let herself pine over someone who didn’t want her back.
She got over Leo. She’d get over Blake.
“Good to know,” she said. To her relief, her voice came out even. “I’m glad we got that sorted out.” She turned to reenter the club when Blake grabbed her arm.
“Farrah, you are—” Blake stopped and swallowed. He looked tortured, as if there was a war raging inside him. “I don’t—”
“You don’t have to say anything else. I understand.” Farrah extricated herself from his grasp and resumed her walk into the bar. She blinked back the burning sensation behind her eyelids. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a friend’s birthday to celebrate.”
Farrah didn’t know if Blake followed her. She didn’t look back to check.
Chapter Fourteen