Page 99 of Guarded Love

"Not for anyone else," he clarifies quickly, his voice soft. "Just for me. For us."

It’s then I realize this isn't about showing off or making some grand statement. It's about capturing this moment, this feeling, this thing we can't quite name yet.

"Okay," I whisper.

He steps closer and his free arm comes around my waist, pulling me against his side, and I let myself melt into him for just this moment.

"Smile," he says, but I'm already smiling because how could I not? The way he's looking at me, like I'm something precious he wants to remember forever, makes it impossible not to.

He snaps the shot, but neither of us moves apart immediately. Instead, we stay frozen in this bubble, his arm around me, my hand resting on his chest where I can feel his heartbeat racing.

"Let me see," I say softly.

He turns the phone so we can both look at the screen, and I’m somewhat surprised by what I see. We look...happy. Like any other couple you’d find walking down the street. My hair is slightly messy, and Blaise looks probably the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him. Our smiles look genuine and don’t give away any of the secrets we’ve been keeping from the world.

"It's perfect," I say as I look up at him.

"Yeah," he agrees, but he's not looking at the photo anymore. He's looking at me.

For a moment, I think he might kiss me right here in broad daylight with Madison and Tyler just fifty feet away. The thought should terrify me, but instead, it makes me lean closer.

"Willow! Blaise!" Madison's voice brings this moment to a quick halt. "You have to try this coconut one!"

"Coming!" I call back to Madison.

Blaise pockets his phone, and for a second his fingers brush against mine. "We should?—"

"Yeah," I interrupt, not trusting myself to hear whatever he was about to say.

As we start to make our way toward Madison and Tyler, Blaise says something that almost stops me in my tracks. "When we get back to campus, what happens to us? We only have two more days before we head back to Virginia."

I've been so careful to not think about it although it’s been sitting there like the elephant in the room. Two more days. Then we're back to being Knox's sister and Knox's best friend, back to pretending whatever this is doesn't exist.

"I don't know," I admit, but keeping my voice low just in case Madison and Tyler can hear us. Not that it matters so much since they both know what we did a few nights ago, but this still feels like it should be a conversation for Blaise and me. "I keep trying not to think about it."

"But you have been thinking about it." It's not a question. He knows me well enough now and I hate it and like it at the same damn time.

"Haven't you?" I counter, stealing a glance at his profile.

His jaw tightens slightly. "Every fucking day since we got here let alone after we spent the night together."

"What do you want to happen?" I ask, then immediately want to take the question back. Too late for that now.

Blaise is quiet for so long I start to think he's not going to answer. When he finally speaks, it’s as if he’s flipped my world on its axis. "I want to keep seeing you. I want to figure out what this is without having to sneak around like teenagers."

"But Knox?—"

"Knox is my best friend, but he doesn't get to dictate my life. Or yours. I'm tired of letting fear make decisions for me."

The determination in his words should be reassuring, but instead it makes my stomach twist into one big knot. Because while he's talking about not letting fear control him, I'm drowning in it. Fear of Knox's reaction, of changing the dynamic between all of us, of what happens if this thing between Blaise and me crashes and burns.

"It's complicated," I say and immediately feel lame for pointing it out.

"Everything worthwhile is complicated."

I want to argue with him, to point out all the ways this could go wrong, but Madison's laughter reminds me we're not alone.

"We should catch up," I say, nodding toward where Madison and Tyler are now trying different flavored syrups on their piraguas.

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