18

Lana’s POV

What did he just say?

Did my ears hear right, or I was just being delusional?

“Paul… What did you just say?” I asked in a clearer voice. Tears and sadness left me as curiosity took over my being.

Paul took a step back and rubbed his neck while smiling sheepishly. He dropped his hand and gestured around.

“What I meant to say is… I know my brother hurt you, especially since you like him. I wanted to fill that void. I know how it feels to have someone you like not like you back. I’ve been there before, and it hurts. All I had to do was move on with someone else.”

I understood what he was saying as it was something I was also planning on doing now but now, he was making things even harder than before. Paul was speaking in a way that left me confused and conflicted with myself. Was he implying that he wanted a chance with me or something?

My teenage self would be over the moon if he had said this to me. Not that a part of me was not excited but I was simply exhausted and confused. Drake had me feeling things that made me want to overlook his trashy behavior and now, Paul was being this way. Paul was more of a playboy than Drake so I was not certain about his words now.

“Lana,” he said. “What I am trying to say is, you can use me however you want. You can use me to forget about him or get back at him. I know you’re hurt and want to get back at him in one way or another.”

“I am no longer interested in making Drake like me back,” I replied hastily, and he nodded.

“I know and I understand. That is why I’m giving you this option. You don’t need to think about how he has hurt you. I want you to be you and start afresh. I want you to be free of him and him of you. If he has found happiness with Nina, fine. You have the right to also seek out your own happiness.”

I bit down hard on my lip as I thought over what he had said. He was right. There was no need wallowing in depression and making my life feel like a mess over Drake. He didn’t like me, and he would never when he had his eyes and heart set on Nina.

“Okay,” I said and sighed away the heaviness in my heart. “I will move on, and I need your help with it.”

I took a deep breath and embraced bravery then took several steps toward him. I placed my hands on his flat stomach then looked him in the eyes. I saw something flicker in them, which felt like warmth, making me smile.

“Will you make me forget it all?” I paused. “I have never had anyone make me feel special or needed. I can’t get it from the man I like but maybe I can get it from another to grow out the feelings I have.”

Paul smiled and slowly cupped my face. I leaned into his touch and sighed when he caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

“I will do everything to make you happy.”

I smiled.

It was time to forget about him.

+++++

After eating what he had made, I went back to his room and sat on the bed, scrolling through my phone. I refreshed my timeline, and my heart skipped a beat, followed by a painful pang when a post made by Drake appeared. The picture on the post was of him and Nina, looking like the picture perfect, Ivy league styled couple. They both looked perfect and the smile on Drake’s face made me feel jealous and heartbroken.

I took a deep breath, then exhaled, expelling the heated feelings out of my body. I forced myself to look at them with happiness then without hesitation, I liked the post and closed the app then laid down on the bed.

Maybe it was time for me to start wishing them happiness rather than hate and a bad ending, especially toward Drake who was head over heels with that girl.

The door opened and I glanced at it. Paul strolled into the room and smiled at me. I swallowed when I remembered that I was in his room, and we were about to sleep in the same bed. I now regretted not accepting the bedroom their parents were offering, now I was going to sleep in the same bed as my old crush.

“You can take the bed, and I’ll take the couch since—”

“What?” I sat up on the bed, looking at him as if he had gone crazy.

Paul blinked. “What? Is something wrong?”

I chuckled. “No… I mean, you don’t need to lay on that small couch because of me. I…I… the bed is big enough for the both of us and… well, I need someone close to me.”

I wasn’t lying. I needed a little contact, even if it meant he did not touch me. I was just feeling empty.

“O-okay. If you say so.”

Tension rose in my chest when he approached the bed. I watched as he climbed onto the bed and laid on the left side of it. He got under the thick covers and sighed then looked in my direction. He offered a smile then stretched out his arm.

“Come here. Let’s cuddle.”

I couldn’t help but laugh and scoot over to his side then laid down in his open arm. I sighed when his arm circled my shoulder. I closed my eyes and nuzzled my face on his chest then I wrapped my arm around his waist.

I shuddered and blinked in shock when he kissed the crown of my head then caressed the skin of my bare upper arm.

“Close your eyes. As long as you are in my arms, I will make you feel at peace.”

I moaned in reaction to his words and moved into his arms more, loving his warmth and scent. I felt sleep fill my senses and embraced it. Minutes may have gone by because I was already sleeping when I heard him say something against my hair but the only words I could grab were; mine and hurt.

+++++

“Are you free today?”

I was still laying in his bed as he got ready to leave for some team meeting. Something about the way I was cuddled under the thick blankets of his bed while he got ready for work made me feel so giddy. For a second, it made me feel as if we were a couple, an established one that was in a situation where he went to work while I stayed in bed, having the time of my life.

“You didn’t answer my question, little mouse.”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop calling me a mouse and yes, I am free today. My parents are going on a trip to some family event in Texas today. So, yeah. I am basically free until they return. Why do you ask?”

Once he put on his leather jacket, he walked over to where I was on the bed and sat on the edge of it. I sat up on the bed and placed the blanket against my chest as I was naked under my shirt and my nipples were hard and pointed underneath it. The last thing I wanted was to give him any ideas even though a sneaky part of me wanted to be free with him about this.

“I am invited to a party tonight. One of my friends is celebrating his club so I’m invited, and I need a date to go with. So, what do you say?”

I shrugged. “Sure… It’s not like I have anything to do right now.”

Paul smiled and cupped my chin then drew close until there was little space between us. I swallowed as my heart started to pound hard and fast at the close proximity. He tilted his head then rubbed the tip of his nose against my cheek while the hand that had been holding my chin moved to my waist.

“I’m glad because tonight, I plan to show you off as mine and make you party until your problems are dust,” he whispered on my cheek and pecked it.

I was breathless as he moved away then rose to his feet with a cocky look on his face.

“See you later, little mouse,” he said with a wink then made his way to the door.

“Bye,” I said in a low, soft voice as I remained stunned from what had just happened.

Paul chuckled and walked out of the room, leaving me feeling conflicted than ever.

Damn.

My heart was beginning to grow those buried feelings for Paul, and I was not sure I could stop myself if it started making me fall for him.

I’ve never loved two men at once, but this was looking possible every new day.