Page 204 of For the Fans

“Okay, you’rekillingme with all this,” I rumble, and he chuckles. “I’m serious. Who are you, and what have you done with my grouchy stepbrother??”

A hum vibrates from his chest into mine. Then he pulls back to look at me. “Be serious with me, Avi.”

“I am…” I rasp. “I mean, I’mshocked. Surprised and… blown away that you did this for me. I just wasn’t expecting it, I guess.” I pause to gulp, and contemplate if I really want to say this. “I never know what to expect from you, Kyran.”

“I know…” he murmurs, regretfully. “And I’msorry. About everything…”

“You don’t need to be sorry,” I tell him honestly. “I get it.”

“No. I do, and I am,” he says firmly. “I’m sorry for making it about me with the Fans. I’m sorry for not coming over to talk to you when it waskillingme not to. I’m sorry for acting like an asshole last night, and I’msofucking sorry you got expelled trying to protect me. I didn’t want that. And I barely even care about my reputation if it means you have to leave…”

“Ky, stop.” I brush my fingers through his hair. “I don’t care about being expelled.” He cocks an eyebrow, and I chuckle softly. “I mean it. Idon’t. I don’t need to go to this school to do what I want to do. And honestly…” My voice trails, and I bite my lip. “Jesus, this is gonna make me sound so pathetic, but… the only reason I’m here in the first place is… because of you.”

The look on his face is twisting me up. I can’t tell if he’s stunned by what I’m saying because I am, in fact, that obsessive stalker he accused me of being for following him to BC… Or if this revelation is making himhappy.

“Avi…” he whimpers, stopping his swaying to stare at me as his fingers dig into my back. “Tell me what you’re saying…”

“I’m saying…” I breathe a sigh of confession, “It was never for the money, or for BC… Or for the fans. It was foryou, Kyran. For fuckingyou, and that’s it. Every single thing I did… I did for you. Tohaveyou.”

He swallows, eyes rounded and shining nervous delight.

“Maybe I didn’t know it at first…” I keep going. “But the truth is that it could have been anyone in those videos with me. But I wanted you. I think I have for a long time… I didn’t understand it, but you hating me just made me want to chase you. And then you started coming tome. And you’re just the best, most unexpected thing that’s ever showed up at my door.”

Kyran’s lips shiver on an anxious exhale. “I don’t think I can fight it anymore, Avi…”

My breathing shallows. “Fight what?”

“Us…” The gold and green in eyes glow, offering me a timid sparkle. “Baby, I think I’m in love with you,” he whispers on my lips, dropping his forehead to mine, clutching onto my body for dear life. Like he’s afraid if he lets go for one second, I’ll float away.

I’m trembling all over, crumbling from his words, and his feel, and the endless aching emotion he’s giving me.

The hot grouchy blonde, whose hate for me, this whole time, was just an unavoidable chemistry.

I can’t help it… I’m tripping up, my mouth quivering on his and my hands just touching him everywhere I can reach.

Until he growls, “Say it back, Avi. Don’t be a jerk.”

I laugh, and he grins, brushing his lips with mine. “Just let me revel in this a little more…”

“Fuck off,” he hisses, teasing, though I think a part of him might be scared that I don’t…

As if there’s any fucking way I couldn’t.

“I’m in love with you,” I murmur, and his body shudders in my hands. “And I’m pretty sure I have been since the moment we met.”

He lets out a soft sound, like relief, and joy, fear and excitement all in one perfect little sigh. “But I was so mean to you…” His voice shakes. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.

I nod. “I know… I might be a masochist.”

He laughs, and I’m standing at the edge of something terrifyingly beautiful.

“Tell me the truth…” I rasp, and his head tilts. “Did you come in your pants that night at Frankie’s because of me?”

He growls a stubborn noise, fingers sliding up my neck into my hair. But then he nods, and bites his lip. “I thought you were gonna kiss me…”

My foot slips off. And I plummet.

“I fucking knew I should have, baby,” I hum, fisting his jacket lapels and pulling his mouth to mine.I’ll never make that mistake again.