Page 52 of Fireworks

“I always knew it would be you. Ever since that dare, I just knew, I guess. Then that night by Asher’s car when you told me I can’t ever take it back, you made me feel so damn guilty even thinking of doing it with anyone else.”

He took in the information before responding.

“Okay, I get that, I guess. Sorry I did that to you. Made you think you needed it to be me. But you’ve always hated me so damn much. It doesn’t make sense.”

Averting my eyes, my voice was low.

“You were always such a jerk to me until you weren’t. But you always went right back. So, it was easier to hate you than admit I felt anything else for you and get hurt.”

His hand found its way to my shoulder, touching it gently, as if he was going to break me.

“Can I tell you something? You can’t laugh.”

Nodding, he sat up in the bed.

“I was only a jerk because I didn’t want you to notice the way I saw you. It killed me knowing you hated me so much. You’re Asher’s little sister. He will fucking kill me if he ever found out what we just did. What I just did to you.”

Sitting up, I couldn’t help but be a little mad that what my brother thought meant more than what we would want.

“What should it matter what he thinks? We’re both adults.”

He looked back at me; his face now stern.

“How would you feel if Maddie slept with Asher?”

I thought for a minute.

“I’d probably be disgusted and pissed at first, but I’d get over it.”

Shaking his head, his hand washed over his face.

“Yeah, it’s not that easy for guys. You’re his little sister. You are automatically off-limits.”

“Well, that’s the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard. He’ll get over it.”

Nate made his way to the bathroom to clean up, not saying anything to my last remark. I laid on the bed,debating if this was something I’d share with Maddie or Ryder or keep it to myself. Before settling on a decision, I froze, realizing I assumed this was going somewhere after today; that this somehow changed everything between us. The moment only happened because of a split-second decision in the heat of the moment fueled by passion. We didn’t have time to discuss if this was a onetime deal or not. My chest sunk at the thought that this may never happen again.

“Hey. What are you thinking about over there?”

He stood in the doorframe, his arm leaning into it, still shirtless. At least he had thrown his boxers back on. Being lost in my own thoughts, I hadn’t even noticed the door opening.

“Nothing.”

Crossing the room, he sat next to me on the bed.

“You, darlin’ are a terrible liar. Talk to me.”

His fingers tilted my chin up to meet his lips for a tender kiss.

“I need to clean up.”

Grabbing my clothing off the floor, I rushed into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. Hopefully, we could just go to bed, and he would forget it even happened.

Emerging from the bathroom, I felt like I needed to cover up as if he hadn’t just seen every inch of me. Nate was laying in the bed shirtless, scrolling through his phone as he looked up when he heard the door open.

“So, does this mean we share the bed now? I can totally stay on the couch.”

Asking him I genuinely didn’t know where we stood right now or what the protocol was post-sex. Hopefully, it got less awkward the more times you did it because this was torture. Flipping the covers back, he patted next to him on the bed, an invitation to join him. Okay, so he would not ignore me. That was good to know. As I settled in under the covers, I felt his body shifting on the bed until he was pressed against me, his arm wrapping around my waist, holding on tight. His head nuzzled into my neck before leaning over to kiss my cheek.