7

Lana’s POV

My heart was stuck in my throat at the sound of the voice. I shut my eyes tight, hoping to God above that he did not hear me say those words. I was ready to drown myself in the ocean before me if it meant dying to never face the shame hole, I just dug around myself.

“Lana?”

I rose to my feet and wiped my cheeks when I heard the voice well. It was Paul. I sighed in relief, but it would cringe the hell out of me if he had heard me. I heard the sand crunching under his feet as he walked up to me and when he stopped beside me, I forced a smile on my face.

“Yeah?” I cursed in my head when my voice came out scratchy.

He said nothing for some seconds before he bent his head to the side and came close. Before I could move back, he cupped my face and turned my head fully so I could face him. I kept my eyes on his chest as my heart pounded.

“Were you crying?” He asked in a hushed tone then rubbed the pad of his thumb against my cheek. “Lana…” He whispered my name and drew close. “What’s wrong? Fuck, did someone hurt you? What’s wrong?”

I grabbed his hand and took it down then smiled up at him. I shook my head and crossed my arms.

“Don’t worry about me, Paul. I am just being emotional because of those girls,” I replied and pretended to stretch. “Did you want something?”

He stayed quiet for some seconds before nodding and pointing over his shoulder with his thumb.

“The tents are set up. Since we were only able to buy two tents, you will be sharing with Drake while I share with my girlfriend,” he said.

“Speaking of which,” I said and smiled. “You never told anyone you had a girlfriend, Mr. I am not ready for a relationship.”

Paul chuckled. “Hm. Nina is a pretty girl and she’s nice. We have only been dating for like a month.”

“Oh. That’s nice.” I wished I could tell him that his brother had eyes for his girlfriend but that would make it easy for Paul to either break up with Nina for Drake to be with or problems would ensue between them.

“Nina is making dinner by the way. You should probably change into the pajamas we bought.”

He looked at me for a few more seconds before walking away. I stayed put for a few more minutes, waiting for my mind and head to clear up before making my way back to camp. When I saw Nina sitting outside a tent, which made me know the one on the opposite side was ours.

I made my way to it and entered the tent. My throat tightened and nervousness filled my heart when I saw a small bedroll. It was not that small but the fact that me and Drake were going to sleep in it made it look small. I was getting anxious as I pictured him and I in the bedroll, his body pressed against mine as we slept. It made me want to giggle and forget about the fact that the object of his attraction was with us.

At the thought of Nina, sadness enveloped me. I had to start learning to stop my feelings for him because I knew in the future, it won't be me he ends up with. It hurt but I had to face reality.

+++

“Dinner’s ready!”

I got out of the bedroll at the sound of Paul’s voice and left the tent. The trio were sitting around the small campfire in between the tents. Paul and Nina were sitting together while Drake sat on his own, nursing a plate of food. I got to his side, and he handed me the plate he was holding. I thanked him and sat beside him on the log of wood then looked at the plate. The food looked delicious. Nina was a great cook from the looks of it.

In silence, we began to eat and as we did, it felt like there was tension in the air. Drake’s was probably from the fact that he was feeling jealous of the couple displaying their affection and their sexual tension, while I sat with mine.

A few minutes later, I was done eating and dumped the disposable plate in the trash bag and sat back down to enjoy the night breeze. Beside me, Drake got up and left. I watched him go into our tent and the urge to follow him filled me. I didn’t want to be awkward or act like a puppy.

So, I waited for twenty minutes, while rolling my eyes at the couple. I got up and walked to my tent. I took a deep breath and walked into it. Drake was already in the bedroll, scrolling through his phone. He glanced at me then dropped the phone. I took off my shoes and knelt beside him, then began unfolding my side of the bedroll.

“Paul told me you were crying.”

My fingers froze in the air. Paul did what now?

“What?” I looked at him. I was going to wring that fucker’s neck tomorrow.

“Are you okay?” He took my hand and tugged me toward him.

My heart did a flip as I landed halfway on top of him. I swallowed when he brushed my hair away from my face and cupped my chin.

“I’m fine, Drake,” I replied, and he hummed in a way that sounded as if he did not believe me. “I swear, I’m fine. I was just thinking about what my ex-friends did.”

“Oh. Well, I’m glad that you now call them ex-friends.” He released me and laid down on his side of the bedroll.

I followed suit, getting comfortable under the roll. I kept my gaze on the roof of the tent. It was too early to bid goodnight and I had a lot to ask Drake, but felt my tongue grow heavy.

“I’m going to ignore my feelings.”

I turned my head to look at him in confusion. What was he talking about?

“My feelings for Nina.” He paused. “It’s wrong for me to have feelings for my brother’s girlfriend. I feel guilty for harboring such emotions.”

A part of me felt joy. He was going to stop liking Nina. It made me want to celebrate so much but the other part of me felt bad because I knew he was hurting inside. I raised my hand to place it on his shoulder, only to gasp when he rolled onto his side and wrapped his arm around my waist then pulled me closer, leaving little space between us.

It felt like my heart jumped into my mouth at our proximity. I could feel the hardness of his chest against mine and his warmth. I could smell his scent; woody and sweet. The familiar ache of my feelings for me moved through my heart and out my body. Why was he torturing me?

“Enough about me,” he said and smirked the way that always made him even more attractive.

I was beginning to ache between my legs when his hand started drawing shapes on my skin, over my shirt. In a dirty part of my mind, I wanted his hand under my shirt.

“Did you hear me?”

I blinked and felt embarrassment taking over me when I realized I had been lost in my mind while he had been talking.

“What did you say?” I asked in a low voice.

He chuckled. “Tell me, have you had any boyfriends since I left?”

How could I when the one I want is you?

“Boyfriend?” I snorted. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

He smirked and his eyes scanned my face. The look in his eyes was not helping my situation. It made me feel as if he was hypnotizing me with those perfect blue eyes of his and when his hand squeezed my hip a bit, I struggled to stay calm and not pant.

“You should have one,” he said and that burst the bubble we were in.

What did he mean?

“Huh?” My heart was beginning to create painful pangs as I tried to not think that he was telling me that he would never want me.

“You’ve been single since high school, so I think it’s time you get a boyfriend…or girlfriend. Whatever you’re interested in. You’re too pretty to be single.”

I swallowed and ignored the fact that he called me pretty. It was a normal compliment from him. What made me hurt was the fact he was encouraging me to find a partner.

“Uh…Okay?”

Drake poked my forehead, then my nose before pinching my cheek. I whined from the mild pain of his fingers gripping my flesh then smacked his hand away. He laughed softly and pulled me closer to him, forcing my head on his chest. He sighed and wrapped an arm around my waist while the other stayed on his chest. I stared at the hand while listening to the beating of his heart. I wanted to hold the hand, to feel him even closer than we already were.

“You can have a partner but always remember that you belong to me. No man or woman should take my place, got it?”

My heart fluttered. I belonged to him? I felt like a foolish schoolgirl at his words. He always knew what to say to make me swoon for him.

“Understood?” He whispered and grabbed my thigh then hooked my leg against his.

My center ached when my knee almost brushed his zipper area. I wanted to feel him there so bad, but it made me feel like a weirdo for sexualizing the situation.

“Didn’t hear you?” He whispered again. “You belong to me, right?”

I nodded. “Yes. No one will replace you in my heart.”

His chest rumbled as he chuckled. “Good girl.”

Fuck Drake for doing things to my heart, soul and body.