Page 125 of Guarded Love

"Blaise..."

"I love you. I love your fire, your stubbornness, the way you just took down that asshole without breaking a sweat. I love how you make me want to be better, braver. I love you, Willow, and I'm tired of pretending that's not terrifying and perfect at the same time."

Everything that just happened to me fades into the background because nothing else matters but us in this moment. All I can see is his face, hear his words and study the way he's looking at me like I'm something precious he's afraid to lose.

"I love you too," I whisper, the admission falling from my lips before I can stop it. "That's why I was so scared. I couldn't bear the thought of dragging you into this mess, of having you see me fall apart."

"Then you don't understand what love means." His thumb traces my cheekbone. "It means I want to be there for the falling apart. It means you don't get to decide what I can handle."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so?—"

He cuts me off with a kiss, so soft but full of everything we've been holding back. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against his.

"We're really doing this?" I ask. "In public? No more hiding?"

"No more hiding," he confirms. "I want everyone to know you're mine. Starting with?—"

"Starting with me?"

We both freeze. Knox's voice cuts through our bubble like ice water. He's standing about ten feet away, with his arms crossed. How long has he been there? How much did he hear?

My stomach drops to my shoes as I realize our secret is no longer secret.

37

BLAISE

It’s amazing what you can hear when the rest of the world comes to a stop. Or that’s what it feels like after Knox found Willow and me kissing just seconds ago. The words echo in my ears like they're coming from underwater. Knox's voice. Three simple words that shatter everything we've been building in secret.

My hand is still cupped against Willow's cheek. Her breath is warm against my mouth. The taste of her kiss lingers on my lips, but now Knox is here, watching us, and I can feel the careful walls we've built around this thing between us crumbling in real time.

I don't pull away from her. Not yet. But when I do, I don’t go far. I know it’s time to defend this relationship.

"Knox," I say as I turn to face him. "We need to talk."

"Yeah." His eyes move between us, taking in how we're standing. "We really fucking do."

I've been preparing for this moment since Puerto Rico, maybe since the first time I realized what Willow meant to me years ago. The knowledge that I might lose my best friend has been sitting in my gut for what feels like weeks, but standinghere now, with her still close enough that I can smell her shampoo, I know exactly where my priorities lie.

I'd rather lose Knox than lose her. The thought should terrify me more than it does.

"Knox." I keep my voice steady, meeting his eyes directly. "I'm not going to apologize for this."

His jaw tightens. "For what, exactly? For going behind my back?"

"For falling in love with your sister."

I watch Knox's face change, cycling through surprise, anger, and potentially hurt. But I don't take back a single word I said. Nor will I ever.

"In love?" Knox's voice is flat. "You're in love with her?"

"Yes." I don't hesitate. "I'm in love with Willow, and she's in love with me. This isn't some casual thing, Knox. This isn't me messing around with your sister."

Willow steps closer to me, her hand finding mine. The gesture is small but deliberate and effective. She's choosing to stand with me, even knowing what it might cost us.

"Knox," she says quietly, "we didn't plan this. It just happened."

"When?" His eyes dart between us again. "How long has this been going on?"