Page 121 of Breaking Point
The kiss last night was extraordinary, and the one before that. I can’t ignore how she makes me feel because I want to kiss her every chance I get. I want to cook with her and listen to her hum music under her breath. I want to go out with her and run away from people at a carnival and hide in photo booths. I want to count her freckles as I lie in bed with her.
I want to make memories with Bella.
But my gut screams at me not to tell her, that the moment I do she will run, so I’ll play it safe and slow for now. It’s going to go against every instinct within my body, but at this point, it would be torture to not try.
“Dude, are you okay?” Kieran asks suddenly.
“Hmm? Yeah, of course, why?”
Kieran lounges on my couch, side-eyeing me.
“Stop checking me out.”
“Why are you so wound up?” His eyes widen. “Is this because it’s your first away game since last season?”
I scoff, making myself busy so he doesn’t notice that I can’t stop pacing. “I’m not wound tight, and this is just like any other game.”
“Then why are you pacing?”
Fuck.
“I’m not pacing…I’m doing the dishes.”
As I round the kitchen island, Kieran pushes himself up to point out, “The imaginary dishes? Crawford, there are none.”
Our eyes lock, my brain wracking through a million differentthings that could get me away from his knowing gaze, but I come up short. I panic and blurt, “Not yet, I’m putting the clean ones away.”
Except when I open the dishwasher, it’s empty.
Why is Bella so good at her job?
I can’t even find a lone spoon or cup to corroborate my story. I don’t want Kieran watching me like a hawk when Bella gets here. If he knows that I’m interested in her… God, if he knew we kissed outside of the arrangement, he would have afield day.
I don’t want Bella running. She ran when we just initiated the conversation about fake dating, so I don’t know why she ended up agreeing to do it. I can’t even imagine her reaction if I opened up and told her I’m starting to catch feelings.
Now I’m putting away fake glasses and cups because I can’t tell my best friend I’m falling for my assistant and fake girlfriend.
What has my life become? If Drew were here, he’d laugh his ass off.
The front door opens and closes and my entire body freezes before I force myself to relax under Kieran’s watchful blue eyes. That bastard can sniff out every emotion in the book. If he didn’t go pro for hockey, I have no doubt he could have become a detective.
Kieran has a shit-eating grin on his face as he sings, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t my biggest fan. Need me to sign something for you today?”
“Ha ha. Going to use that one against me until the day I die?” Bella rolls her eyes. “I suppose you’ll have to because there isn’t anything else to indicate any female adores you.”
Kieran scoffs. “On the contrary, I have a hundred DMs to prove your claims wrong.”
“Ew.” Bella’s nose scrunches up. “That’s not something to gloat about.”
He nestles back into the sofa, digging his hand into the box of Froot Loops that I swear just magically appeared. “You’ll fall for me one day.”
“Ihighly doubt it.”
Bella places her purse on the counter, giving me a quick flash of a grin before averting her eyes.
Kieran straightens, then jumps up suddenly after watching the quick interaction, Froot Loops flying everywhere as he points between us. “You two fucked! Oh my god, I called it! Lucy owes me dinner.”
In the next heartbeat, a shoe is flying for his head.
