Page 103 of Anti Player

“So, what is it?” she asks.

Since I am still in panic mode, I don’t just blurt my feelings like I want to. “I had this day planned very differently,” I begin. “Maybe we should take a seat.”

“Okay.” She sits beside me on the couch, that look of worry causing a crease between her brows.

“I wanted to take you back to the hotel we went to that first day we were together. I figured it was our last day and it made sense to go back to where it all started,” I begin and swallow. It shouldn’t be so hard for me to share my feelings, or maybe it should be because I’ve never done this before. Feelings are confusing to me.

“That would’ve been nice.” She smiles softly. “I’m sorry, Rebel just got back from Florida, and they planned the goodbye party last minute.”

“That’s all right, there was a . . . more I-I . . .” Shit, now I’m stuttering, which only happens when I am super nervous. “I . . .” I take a breath. “I wanted to take you back there because I wanted to tell you how I feel. How I’ve been feeling. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with you, and I know that wasn’t supposed to happen, and I’m sorry,” I confess.

“Kaleb.” She smiles. She’s a little too happy while I can barely get my words out. “I’m in love with you too. Oh my.” She palms her cheeks. “I’ve been beating myself up about falling for you because I promised you I wouldn’t, and then when we had that conversation in the car, you said you didn’t want a relationship.”

“I thought that was what you wanted to hear,” I admit sheepishly. “I was a coward and I’m sorry. I would never expect you not to go to Texas because I want you to live out all your dreams. I would never want to get in your way, so just so you know, my contract comes up next year. I can talk to my agent and see if Texas would be interested in me. . .”

She’s crying. Damn. What did I do?

“Why are you crying?” I ask her as full-blown tears run down her cheeks.

“Kaleb, I don’t want to go to Texas. I wanted to stay right here. I know I said Texas was my dream, and that was truebefore I moved to this city and fell in love with you and met amazing people who I call friends. Asher loves it here too and it was breaking my heart to leave, but I felt like I couldn’t stay here if we ended things. I couldn’t imagine seeing you with another woman or women. It would’ve broken my heart, even though I was having cold feet about getting on that plane tomorrow. I think I was going to choose to stay for Asher. He has been so happy since we arrived here. It was breaking me to take him away.”

“So you love me?” I ask with a smile. My heart has gone back into rhythm and is filled with so much happiness I’m bursting.

“I love you, Kaleb Bardot. I always wanted you, but now that I know the man you’ve become, I love you with all my heart.”

“Shit, Maddie, it’s always been you for me. I mean, I lost my virginity to you. I never wanted anyone else. I’m so grateful that life brought you to me.”

He leans over and kisses me, and then we both burst into laughter and press our foreheads together when a loud banging interrupts our bliss.

We break apart and at the same time say, “Brett.”

“It’s now or never,” I say to her.

“Okay.” We both stand and walk over to the door. I open it and Brett walks past both of us.

“What is going on?” he asks, looking between me and Maddie. His burly arms are crossed in front of his chest.

“I’m in love with your sister,” I admit.

Brett swings a shot and it lands on my cheek. I go down and Maddie shrieks.

“Brett, what is wrong with you?” she says, charging at him.

I rise. “It’s fine, Maddie. I was expecting this. Swing all you want, Brett,” I invite.

“Did you hear him?” Maddie interrupts.

“Oh, I heard him,” Brett confirms, his eyes looking wild. “You were in a bad place and he took advantage of that. I told him to watch out for you, and what did he do?”

“Brett, he did watch out for me,” Maddie says. “I’m in love with Kaleb. He’s the best guy I know, and he’s been really good to me and Asher.”

Brett drops his fist and assesses me like he’s seeing me for the first time. “You have real feelings for my sister?” he asks Kaleb.

“I do, and I love Asher too, since I know that will be your next question,” I state, rubbing my cheek and feeling a bump forming.

“You know they are a package deal,” he confirms.

“I love her, Brett. I’m all in with her. Maddie is it for me,” I declare, looking at her.