I try not to think of this as a rejection, but it’s hard not to. Neither of us is drunk, so I can’t blame it on the alcohol. I want to ask him why he stopped. I want to move to straddle his hips while his hands roam over my body. Then I remember this is Rip Callahan. My best friend's older brother. He can have any woman he wants, and I’m sure the way I was kissing him back, he knows that he could have me. Yet, he stopped us.
Hot tears prick my eyes, but I will them not to fall. The teenage girl in me just can’t seem to let him go.
I don’t say a word, lying still until his breathing evens out, and I know he’s asleep. As carefully as I can, I slide out from under his arm and crawl out of bed. I want nothing more than to wake up next to him, but this is a foolish game I’m playing. I was lying to myself when I said I wasn’t in love with him.
I’ve always been in love with Rip Callahan.
But I’m a grown woman who deserves more than just a few stolen kisses in the dark of night. If he wants me, he needs to be all in, and that’s not Rip. I’ve never known him to be serious about anyone. His love is for the land that his family will one day pass on to him. That’s a truth that I need to learn to face.
As quietly as I can, I grab my clothes and change back into them. Folding his T-shirt neatly, I place it on top of his dresser. Blindly, I make my way back downstairs to the living room and settle on the couch. Pulling the throw over me, I silently let my tears fall.
The sudden hum of the refrigerator wakes me up. Glancing around, I see the sun starting to rise through the window as memories of last night rush back to me. I should get up and leave. My car is here and facing Rip, and his rejection, doesn’t really sound like a good time. Sitting up, I stretch my arms above my head, then stand to fold the blanket and return it to the back of the couch. That’s when I feel someone watching me. Turning my head, I see Rip. His hair is tousled, and there are still sleep marks against his cheek. He’s wearing the same low-hung basketball shorts, and with no shirt, his chiseled upper body is on display.
“You okay?” His voice is laced with sleep and so damn sexy.
“Yeah. I’m uh… just going to head home.” I mess with the pillows, rearranging them to have something to do with my hands. That’s why I don’t see him approach.
“Come back to bed, Kenna.”
“I should really go.”
“Please?”
I want to. More than anything, I want to go back to his warm, cozy bed and let him hold me, but I need to preserve my heart here. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Are you mad at me? Is this about last night?” He places his hands on my hips and turns me to face him. With one hand cupping my cheek, he uses the index finger of the other to wipe the tears under my eyes, he then lifts my chin so that we are face-to-face. “I’m sorry if I went too far, but damn it, McKenna, a man is only so strong. You were drinking… and damn it, I’m sorry. Please come back to bed.”
“Wh-What?” I ask as my brain tries to comprehend what he’s saying.
“Come on. It’s still early.” He laces his fingers through mine, and I follow him back upstairs and into his room. He closes the door, and the audible sound of the lock clicking in place has my heart skipping a beat.
Without saying a word, he leads me to the bed and pulls the covers back with a nod for me to climb in. Like the fool that I am for him, I do as he asks. I watch as he rounds the bed and climbs in, tugging me into his arms.
“Rip… I-I don’t understand this.”
“I want to hold you, McKenna. That’s what this is. Now go back to sleep.”
A little piece of my heart shatters. I’m falling hard and fast, and I don’t know what to do. I know this is going to lead to my heart being torn to shreds, but I can’t seem to stop whatever this is. Rip is a good friend, my best friend’s brother, and that’s all he’ll ever be.
Eventually, I fall back to sleep, only to wake a few hours later alone. Making a stop in the bathroom, I take care of business and head downstairs, where I find Colby and Rip in the kitchen. Colby’s sitting at the island watching Rip scramble eggs.