Page 29 of Damaged Prince
“I-It was?” My question comes out so low, I’m not sure he heard me.
He nods his head. “Talking to you was the highlight of my day. You made me laugh and smile. Any time we talked, I felt like a different person. A better person. I loved learning things about you, getting to know you. I liked that I could open up to you and trust you with my feelings. And I loved that you felt comfortable enough to tell me yours.” His eyes flick between mine as this sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. “I’m not going to lie, I fell hard for you, Eli.” My eyes widen. Because what the fuck does he mean hefellfor me?What? How? When? Why?“I understand why you blocked me, why you needed me out of your life. You were scared, afraid I might say something.” He cups my cheek, and everything inside me screams to sink into his touch. “I want you to know, I didn’t say a word.” He leans in closer. “I would never break your trust like that. Your heart is safe with me.”
I feel like I might pass out, but I can’t move. I can’t speak. Every word he says has my knees threatening to give out on me.
“The past year sucked.” He lets out a low chuckle. “I waited for you to unblock me. Checked my phone way too many times, more than I probably should have. Then I started to realize you were done with me, with whatever we built online, and I knew I had to try to move on. It wasn’t easy. Honestly, I didn’t want to. It wasn’t until I met Laney that the possibility even crossed my mind to feel something for someone else.” His lips curve into asexy smile. “But I’m sure you're aware of the power she holds. It’s hard not to fall for Delaney Jones.” He’s not wrong. Laney is one of a kind. A literal angel.
“Wait... you had feelings for me?” I mean, I know I fell hard for him. Maybe I’d go as far as to say I was falling in love. I just didn’t know he felt the same towards me. I feel like I’m going to be sick.
“Had?” he chuckles, shaking his head. “No, baby,have.”
“I... I...”
“Shh.” He brushes his thumb over my lip, shushing me softly. “Let me finish.”
Okay. Sure. Why not? Not like I can form any real words right now while I internally freak the fuck out.
“We’re dating the same woman. We’re going to become a big part of one another's lives. We’re going to see each other a hell of a lot more. I made my feelings known towards Laney, as did you and your brothers. None of us are going anywhere. And because of that, I want to make my feelings for you known. I like you, Eli. Before I knew who you really were, and after. Finding that out didn’t change anything for me. The attraction I have towards you is still there, and I don’t see it going anywhere. If anything, I know it’s only going to grow. So, I want you to know, I like you. I have feelings for you. And if it’s something you would be interested in, I’d like to become something more. There’s no pressure, there’s no timeline. If it’s not something you want, I’ll accept that. I just want to put it out there, let you know where I stand.”
I blink at him like a confused owl.What the fuck do I say to that? He wants me?He wants to be with me. Like in a relationship. “What about Laney?” is all I manage to get out.
He chuckles again, and fuck if it doesn’t do things to me. “Laney is one spitfire of a woman.” He smiles as he talks fondly about her. “She didn’t get upset when I told her about myattraction to you. If anything, she let me know it was pretty obvious in the way I looked at you. After we talked, she pretty much said to go for it.”
My eyes widen. “She said you could pursue me?”
His thumb brushes against my cheek, and it short-circuits my damn mind.
“She wants you happy, Eli,” he murmurs. “She wants everything good in the world to be at your fingertips. As do I.” His eyes drop to my lips.
Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.
Fuck. I want him to kiss me so damn badly that I feel my eyes sting with tears. This is everything I’ve dreamed of him telling me. It’s too good to be true. This has got to be a joke. Some fucked up prank.
I shake my head. “She didn’t.”
“She did.” His response is firm and final. “If you don’t believe me, read this.” His hand moves from my face, and I almost cry at the loss. Slipping his hand in his pocket, he retrieves his phone. He pulls something up and turns the screen my way.
With furrowed brows, I peer down and read the text messages between them.
I scroll down to the texts with the time stamp of about five minutes before I pulled him outside.
Me: I think I just fucked up.
Sweetheart: What do you mean? What did you do?
Me: I might have just outed myself as the man behind the glass.
Sweetheart: So? Babe, Eli should know it’s you. Don’t start keeping shit from him, please. Don’t be sneaky and hide things like this.
Me: Shit. You're right. Fuck. Maybe that was a bad idea. What if I’ve pushed him too far by getting himto give me a damn private dance without knowing it’s me? Fucking hell, Laney, what is wrong with me?
Sweetheart: Nothing is wrong with you. But I do see your point. There’s no reason to freak out over it, it’s done. Just be honest when you talk to him. Tell him it was you.
Me: I might have fucked this all up before it even started.
Sweetheart: Give our boy the benefit of the doubt. Don’t make decisions for him.
Me: How are you so damn perfect?
