Shoot Down The Stars (The Stars Duet 1)

“Not to me, exactly. But he punched the wall behind my head. I mean, literally an inch beside my head.”

This time, he does stand up. He walks to the door and starts putting on his shoes. He isn’t speaking, and his jaw is clenched. I stand and grab his hand.

“David, no. Please.”

“What if it’s not just the wall next time?”

“I can handle myself.”

“Clearly.”

I step back from him. I know last night didn’t really show that I was handling things well, but ouch. Even though I know he’s right, it’s hard to hear him point out just how weak I’ve been.

“That's not what I meant.” He takes my face into his hands. He has tears in his eyes as he wraps his arms around me. “I’m so sorry. I just can’t stand seeing you like this. The thought of him hitting you... it’s unconscionable.”

“Unconscionable? Where did you learn that twenty point word?”

I smile at him and wipe a tear from his cheek. He smiles back. Our lips are nearly touching. I can feel our breaths meeting each other. He kisses me. It’s deep and passionate and hungry, as if he’s been craving me since yesterday. For a moment, I let him explore my lips. I love every second of it, but I pull away from him.

“David, you know we can’t—”

“Yes, we can.”

His mouth finds mine again, and his tongue is along my teeth. I open my mouth to allow my tongue to play with his. His hands race down my back. I pull away again, grabbing his hands and holding them with mine.

“No. We can’t. You don’t mean this.”

My stomach is a knot and there’s a familiar ache between my legs. I have to go. I have to. I kiss his cheek.

“I promise, I’m okay. Plus, I don’t want to be a sloppy second.” I smile at him.

* * *

David

The door closesbehind Emily and I lean against it. What am I doing? Our heads tell us we shouldn’t be more than friends. I can’t help but wonder if it's too late because we’ve been “just friends” for far too long.

Emily may think I don’t mean it, but when I see her lately, it’s like my heart beats just for her. If she doesn’t feel the same, I’ll just have to take what I can get. I can’t lose her completely. She’s the reason I take breath into my lungs. I will love her until my very last one, even if I don’t know in what way.

I fall onto the couch, uncomfortably hard. This is probably why Emily wonders what head I’m thinking with when we kiss.

I text Bianca.

Me: Want to finish what we started?

Despite the old David rearing his head and trying to rip through my flesh, I drop my face in my hands and admit that I can’t do this with Bianca. Not now, and maybe never again. I pick up my phone, though the uncomfortable ache in my groin pleads with my fingertips not to.

Me: Actually, Bianca, I’m not feeling well all of a sudden. I’ll see you at work.

Bianca: Alright.