Page 14 of Fall of Us
A humorless laugh escaped me. He was still playing the game, and I just wanted to stop and talk like two grown adults, but I’d started it, and this was how we were going to finish it.
“Truth.”
“You’ve thought about it?”
I ran my fingers through my hair, holding back from pulling the strands and screaming. I’d obviously thought about it.Why do you think I’m playing this game with you, Brandon?“Constantly. So much that it drives me crazy sometimes.”
Brandon stared, like he couldn’t process what I was saying. He picked up his glass and tossed back the drink. We clearly weren’t following the rules of the game anymore. I was getting the answers I wanted. He was hearing what I had to say. What was the cost of all of this? Would Brandon freak out and tell me to leave?
“Why didn’t you...”
“Because you seemed so intent on pretending that it never happened.”
Brandon sighed, his shot glass still in hand. “You have to admit, it was better that way.”
Was it? We’d wasted so much time. All I’d wanted was him, and maybe he didn’t feel the same. This was possibly a big, huge waste, but I had to try.
The air was thick between us. We left so many words unsaid. We neglected to discuss our feelings. What kind of friends were we if we couldn’t communicate about these things? It made me question how close we really were.
But that was when it happened. The unthinkable. I was going to give up and move on when he looked right in my eye and said, “Dare.”
Chapter 10
Brandon
“Idare you...”
I swallowed, staring at the shot glass in my hand. This had been a stupid idea. Who played games like this when it was just the two of you? Andrew wouldn’t do the unthinkable, would he?
He’d been pushing so dang hard lately and it was getting harder to tell him no.
“Don’t do it.” The words were so quiet, hanging in the air between us as Andrew’s eyebrows furrowed. He stared me down a full minute longer before he filled my glass with more tequila. Not that I wasn’t already feeling the buzz.
“It’s not the end of the world, Brandon.”
My throat closed off as my back grew slick with sweat. I struggled to hold on to the drink in my hands. If only he knew.
“It sure feels that way.”
Andrew chuckled, setting the bottle on the counter next to us. He tossed back his shot of tequila before forcing me to make eye contact with him. “I won’t force you. That’s never what I wanted. Brandon...” He sighed as he looked off into the room. “Ijust don’t understand why. It’s obvious that we both feel it. I’m tired of being afraid. Aren’t you?”
Of course, I was tired of running from him. I’d wanted Andrew since I’d made the realization that I was gay, but I didn’t want to ruin everything. He was my everything.
He was also right.
We couldn’t keep fighting the pull, but at least he was giving me an out by saying he wouldn’t force me with a dare.
I swallowed my shot, the burn of the alcohol warming my blood on its way to my stomach. It was now or never, and I wanted Andrew. There was no one here to judge or tease us.
My shot glass thudded a little too loudly onto the counter before I oh-so-gently framed Andrew’s face with my hands. My fingers scraped along the stubble I’d always craved to feel against my skin. His breath caught as I leaned in closer. This was it. My stomach clenched in anticipation. This was when everything changed between us, because this was acknowledging the attraction. Giving in.
The first press of lips against warm, somewhat chapped lips sent a zap down my spine. My fingers threaded back into Andrew’s hair as he groaned against my mouth. And when he opened for me, my tongue swept inside for that taste.
Like magic, all bets were off. The stool clanged to the floor behind me as I stood too quickly and crawled into his lap to chase the taste of the tequila. Then there was him. Andrew was sweet,and mine, and everything I’d become addicted to three years ago when I’d given in to this the first time. His hands landed on my hips, pushing up the material of my shirt, and I mewled at the contact of his hands against my skin.
Then, just as suddenly as it all started... it was done. We broke apart, both of us panting, as I paced around the kitchen island and stared wide-eyed at my best friend. Andrew wiped his mouth of saliva, then his fingers pressed there, feeling his lips. Did they tingle like mine did?
“You stopped?” He turned to watch me as I rested my hands on the counter and studied him.
