Page 98 of Inevitable

“Good, but I need to talk to Damien first.”

“I’ll do it.” I moved, but she pulled me back to her.

“I’ve got it covered, caveman. Okay?” She peered up at me with the sweetest smile, the first real one she’d given me in months. It felt as if my lungs expanded fully for the first time, my heart able to soar. As if I could say no to her.

“What room are you in?” I asked as the song ended.

“Uh…440.” Her fingertips glided against my palm before she made her way across the ballroom. When she reached the door, she glanced over her shoulder and grinned at me.

I stayed at the party a while longer before slipping out. It felt like an eternity, when really no more than twenty minutes had passed. After a quick stop by my room to grab my bag, I headed for Room 440 and Sumner. By the time I finally made it, I was fucking drained. And she was just as quiet, undressing before the mirror with a contemplative expression that spoke of sadness. For me, at least—and I assumed for Sumner as well—the reality of what we were doing was sinking in. The possibility that, come tomorrow, my best friend would hate me and her father likely wouldn’t speak to her. We climbed into bed, and I pulled her to me, tucking her into my side. There would be time to worship her body later. Right now, I just wanted to hold her.

“My dad seemed so happy tonight.” Her voice was wistful and tinged with regret.

“Are you having second thoughts?” I asked.

She spun to face me. “Are you?”

“About us?” I brushed her hair over her shoulder. “Never. But I think we both know things will change tomorrow.”

She nodded, burying her head in my chest. “I just… I hope he can accept us.”

I hope he can forgive us.

I didn’t want to promise anything I couldn’t guarantee. Instead of answering, I slanted my mouth over hers, losing myself in her touch. And when we made love that time, it was slower, more deliberate. It felt even more amazing than I remembered, even better now that I’d stopped fighting this, us.

Us.I’d never really been part of an “us,” apart from a failed engagement. Rachel and I hadn’t belonged together; we never should’ve let it get that far. But Sumner… Wrong as we were in many ways, we were right in so many others. In the ones that really mattered. Hell, I was about to risk the single most important relationship in my life to be with her.

She fell asleep on my chest, and I lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling and thinking about life. About friendship. And about what tomorrow would bring.

With time, Ian would forgive Sumner, love her. But he’d be looking for someone to blame, and that blame would fall squarely on my shoulders. Rightfully so. Regardless of what happened, come tomorrow, our friendship would never be the same.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Sumner? I can barely hear you,” Piper said at my hushed whisper.

I sighed and sent a request for her to FaceTime, not even sure why I thought I’d be able to whisper. Though at least I’d had the foresight to grab my headphones.

“Hey.” I kept my voice low and glanced at the door, making sure it was closed. It was two in the morning, and I was currently holed up in the bathroom.

“Why are you whispering? And are you—” she held the phone closer to her face “—in a bathroom?”

“Because Jonathan’s in my hotel room.”

“He what?” she shrieked, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Shh.” I placed my finger to my lips, bracing for what would come next.

“I knew I should’ve gone as your date.”

“Listen,” I said to stop the stream of profanities she was currently spewing. “He wants to be with me.”

“Right.” I could feel her eye roll from across town. “How many times has he told you that before?”

“No.” I shook my head. “He’s ready to tell my dad.”

“What? Seriously?”

I tucked my legs beneath me, giddiness and nerves making me sick to my stomach. “And he sold his company, sold his house, and plans to move to Palo Alto.”