For a second, my parents’ issues got pushed back, replaced instead with the urgent need to apologize to Aly. She’d brush off my excuse, pretend it didn’t bother her because that’s what she did, but it still needed to be said.
I pushed the beer bottle from my path, inching closer toward her with my hands in my pockets, and glanced over at the court. Ethan wasn’t paying attention to anything but the layup Tristian managed and I took my chance before I lost it. “Listen, Aly,” I started, not looking at her. “The other day…”
“It’s fine.” Typical. This woman was so bullheaded.
“The other day,” I continued, ignoring her interruption, “I was an asshole. You came here to share your good news and I…” I looked down at her, shoulders relaxed. “I didn't stop to listen, not really. All I knew is that I wanted you. But in my defense, I haven’t ever stopped wanting you.” She didn’t move, stood completely still as she watched me. That hum of energy pulsed between us, like some sort of instinctual call we both tried to disregard. But it heated the air around us and shot through Aly’s eyes as she stared at me, unblinking. “I know I shouldn’t say that. I know you’ve got…other ties now.” When I glanced over her head, right at the court, Ethan was heading toward us, but Koa held him back, tugged on his arm and started yammering away as only he could. Ethan, though, managed a few steps, still humoring my little brother as they made their way slowly from the court. “I want you to know that if all you can give me, if all you want from me is my friendship, then it’s yours.”
Silently I urged her to speak, wanting to hear her thoughts before her man interrupted, but Aly seemed a little hesitant to answer me. She kept my hoodie around her shoulders but her gaze went to the flames in front of her. “We tried this once before.”
“Yeah, well, we were horny kids.”
She jerked her head up, laughing despite the mood. “And we’re not now?” I tilted my head, not bothering to return her smile. “Sorry,” she said. Her smile disappeared.
“You know…shit, Aly, I love you.” She had to know. “I’m not denying that. But more than loving you I want you to be happy. I want you being in a place I clearly couldn’t put you.”
“Ransom…”
“No…it’s fine.” The scratch of my fingernails against my stubble when I scratched my chin was the only sound disrupting the hiss of the flames as I spoke. “I’m not looking for pity here. I spent six years with you. I loved you, still do, but if all you can offer me now is friendship, then, hell, I’ll take it. I can’t just walk out of your life. All of this,” I nodded toward the house and my family, “you’re part of it too. Just because we aren’t…we’ll never…” I exhaled and crossed my arms so I would keep from touching her again. “Well. You’re ours no matter who you’re with and I’m sorry I forgot that the other day.”
I looked down, biting back the other words that threatened to leave my mouth. There were so many other things I could say. I could beg. I could get on my knees and offer my blood just for another chance with her. But that’s not what she needed. Despite what was in my heart, what I really wanted, I did want her happy. “It…it won’t happen again.”
“Shoushou…” The small whisper of that name had me tightening my eyes and I could open them only when she stood next to me, close, slipping her fingers between mine.
“Before, in the past,” I started, “anytime I upset you, one dance would make things better.” Her eyes were bright, reflecting the movement of the flames in her pupils. “But I guess asking you to dance right now would be out of bounds.”
A smile like that, felt like it was reserved for only me. “Just a little.”
My hand moved on its own, coming up so I could move the hair from her shoulder, standing close enough to dance with her if she wanted. “No one moves the way you do, nani.”
She didn’t take my hand, leading me in a dance that would only complicate things further. When she spoke, those sweet words broke what was left of my heart. “No one moves the way we do.”
Just then, with those green eyes glistening and the sweet smell of her shampoo working my senses over, I wanted to hold her, kiss her so soundly that she remembered no one else owned those lips but me. It would have been easy. But she wanted Ethan. She had said that things were finished with us. As much as I hated it, I had to respect that.
On the steps leading to the patio, my father had intercepted Ethan as he had left the basketball court, and the lawyer didn’t seem too worried that Aly was standing so close to me, looking too comfortable in my presence.
“So, am I forgiven?” I asked, squeezing her fingers.
Her head moved before she answered and she repressed a chuckle. “Always.”
“Good. I’m glad.” I stepped back, hearing Ethan’s voice as he trailed after my father. “Now that means you have to text me and every once in a while, call me.” I tilted my head, nudging her arm. “That’s what friends do, right?”