"Sorry."

I wasn't sure what Paul was sorry for because it could be any number of things. Was he sorry that the four of us were crammed into the backseat of his parents' Suburban? Was he sorry that his thigh kept brushing mine? Was he sorry that he had elbowed me twice in the tit while trying to get comfortable?

No. I'm sure he was sorry for bringing this girl along on our annual spring break getaway. He told me her name was Ava. Ugh. Don't care. He looked sorry enough but how can he really apologize for bringing a date? And how could I just understand how he could get over me so easily?

I rolled my neck to the left and tried to work out the kink that had formed from trying to sleep sitting up. Embry was dozing beside me, his face hidden in his hoodie. Ava was asleep next to Paul and I envied how she looked pretty even when she slept.

I jumped when I felt Paul's hand on my ass. "What the hell?" I whisper-shouted.

Paul leaned toward me and I heard his seat belt unclick. "I need more room than this."

Before I could say anything else, Paul pulled me across his lap and spread his legs wide, taking up the space I had been sitting in. "That's better," he sighed as he tightened his arm around my waist.

"I don't wanna sit here," I groused quietly as I squirmed in his arms.

Paul groaned softly before burying his nose in my neck. "Please...for the love of God... stop squirming."

I turned and saw how Paul was squeezing his eyes shut as I tried to get comfortable. I held back a chuckle when I heard his breathing speed up. He was impossibly hard and pressing into my ass. I slid my arm around his shoulders and sighed, "What would your new girlfriend say if she knew you were getting a boner because of me?"

"Boner?" Paul echoed and then laughed.

"Why is that funny?" I scowled.

He brushed his lips across my bare shoulder and laughed again. "Just sounds funny coming from you."

"What would you prefer I call it? Tiny? Mini-Paul? Shorty? Junior?"

Paul sighed. "First of all, it's he not it. And you know there is nothing mini about him." He emphasized his point by shifting his hips up to press him further into my ass.

I scoffed. "He's not that big."

Paul pressed his lips to my ear and growled. "He was more than a handful for you."

I tried not to shiver when I thought about how I had gripped him in my hand the other morning and made him come. "You're average...at best," I lied.

He chuckled quietly. "How would you even know? How many dicks have you ever held, Keegan?"

I glanced at Embry for a moment and then noticed how Paul's jaw tensed. "You didn't," he challenged. "No way."

"Maybe I did," I teased.

"You're lying," he mumbled before letting his head fall back against the headrest.

I cracked my neck back and forth a few more times and grumbled under my breath when I couldn't get the kink out. I felt Paul's hand drift from my waist to my neck. He pulled me to his chest and I snuggled into the crook of his neck. His fingers felt like magic on my tense muscles.

I whimpered softly when he worked that knot just perfectly. His other hand slid up my thigh and he squeezed me roughly. "Feel better?" he panted.

I nodded and moaned into his neck. "Feels good," I murmured. "Don't stop."

I wrapped both my arms around his neck and snuggled deeper into his embrace. "Quiet," he urged when I began panting. "You need to behave," he scolded.

I could feel my entire body melting against Paul's. He had me so relaxed that I struggled to stay awake in his arms. "Go to sleep," he yawned.

....

I opened my eyes to find Paul smiling down at me. My head was in his lap, his fingers were twirling in my hair, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

I sat up, rubbing my eyes and looking around. "Where is everybody?" I was sprawled out across the seat and we were alone.

Paul sighed and pointed to the building we were parked in front of. "Gas station. They all went in for snacks."

"Oh," I glanced back at him, suddenly aware of how close we were. "Why didn't you go?"

He shrugged and looked as though he was trying to bite back a smile. "I just didn't want you to wake up alone," he admitted softly.

When he reached for my face, I leaned into his touch. Then I remembered that I was angry with him. "What happened to your girlfriend?" I snipped.

Paul attempted to curl his fingers around the back of my neck to pull me closer, but I jerked away. "Nevermind. I forgot I don't care," I informed him before sliding out of my seat and dashing out the door.

I didn't make it to the gas station door before I felt Paul's hand on my arm. "Keegan, wait."

I pulled my arm from his grasp and sighed. "Just don't, Paul. I need some distance. I don't wanna sit in your lap or watch you make goo goo eyes at Ava or try to figure out how in the hell you could..." My voice trailed off because I could feel how emotional I was getting and I wasn't about to break down in front of him.

He wrapped his thick fingers around my wrist and drew me closer to him. You know, the total opposite of me needing distance? "How I could do what? Invite someone else on our trip? Or get over you that quickly?"

"Both," I squeaked out, trying in vain to pull my hand from his but he wasn't budging.

"I didn't do either one. I'm not over you...and I didn't invite her."

"Then why..."

"Keegan?"

I glanced up at Embry, noticing the worried look on his face. Paul dropped my wrist immediately and left me to deal with Embry on my own. Embry scanned my face and sighed. "What did he do now?"

I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts of Paul. "It's nothing. Just the same old shit with Paul."

"You look upset," he observed, allowing his hand to drift up to cup my jaw. I covered his hand with mine and kissed his palm.

"I'll be okay. I promise."

Embry sighed again, but he didn't push me for any more information. I playfully inspected the contents of the bag he left the store with. I approved of his snack choices and thanked him for grabbing me a Yoo-Hoo. "I just need to use the bathroom and then I'm ready to go," I informed Embry and the parents as they made their way back to the Suburban.

I found the restroom door locked when I tried to open it. I knocked impatiently only to be greeted by gruff, "Hold on!"

If this guy didn't hurry up then there was gonna be a clean up on aisle three. Seriously! When the door swung open, I was greeted by Ava. Ava? She was yanking on her shirt and smoothing down her khaki shorts.

My eyes went wide as she slid past me, only to be followed by Paul. What the fuck? His face was flushed and he was wiping sweat off his brow. My mouth gaped open when he sighed deeply. "Are you fucking serious?" I spat. "I can't believe you!"

Paul yanked me inside and shut the door. "Keegan, let me explain..."

"Just get out!" I cried, shoving him back when he attempted to hold me. "How could you be in here fucking her when you just told me two minutes ago that you weren't over me?"

Paul's mouth fell open and his eyes conveyed regret. But was that regret over being caught or something more? I wasn't about to find out. "Just get out," I demanded angrily. "I don't wanna hear anymore of your bullshit."

"Keegan, please..."

"Just go! I'm sure Ava is waiting."

Paul's shoulders slumped before he yanked the door open and left me standing there alone. Now if only I didn't have to spend the next week sleeping in the room next to his. Fuck.

By the time I got back into the Suburban, everyone was ready to go. I climbed over Paul, smacking his hand when I felt him grab my arm. "Sit by me," he growled when I climbed over Embry and took the window seat instead, forcing Paul to sit next to Embry instead of me.

Paul couldn't do anything but glare at me when I focused all my attention on Embry. I relaxed against his shoulder and was thankful that I had him to turn to when Paul had broken my heart once again.

.....

"...and this is the room I always sleep in when we stay here." I opened the door to find the bed made, the windows open and the room smelling fresh. I was thankful that the Lahotes had someone come and air out the place for our arrival. There was even a beautiful arrangement of flowers on the nightstand that I just had to smell. "Oh wow...these are beautiful."

"You like them?"

I whirled around to find Paul leaning on the doorjamb, his broad shoulders taking up most of the doorway. "I told Rosalita to get the irises because you love them so much."

I blinked quickly, struggling for words. "And what did you ask her to get Ava? Red roses?"

He chuckled and shook his head as he approached me. I glanced at Embry, who was sneering at me and then back to Paul. "She doesn't get flowers. They're only for you."

I crossed my arms over my chest and scoffed. "Well that's shitty. I guess you'll have to find another way to thank her for the gas station bathroom quickie that you two shared."

"What the fuck?" Embry gasped. "Paul?"

Paul eased closer to me, never taking his eyes off me. "You know I didn't do that." His tone was even and calm. And I felt like I could explode any minute.

"Yeah right. That's why I caught you coming out of the bathroom with her. You were a sweaty mess and she was..."

"Making a huge mistake."

My gaze snapped to the doorway again, this time Ava stood there. "No mistake, Ava. Own that shit! And you can have him...because I...fuck, I can't even look at him anymore."

I swallowed back the lump in my throat, determined, now more than ever, not to let anyone see me cry. A knot formed in my stomach when she approached me, laying her hands on Paul's shoulders and whispering in his ear. "Are you sure?" Paul asked her tenderly as my mind wandered to thoughts of tossing this chick over the balcony.

She nodded quickly and I watched helplessly as Paul urged Embry to join him downstairs. "Embry..." I called as he disappeared with Paul.

"You know I was really confused about a few things when I saw you get in the car with Embry," Ava began. "I've known that you and Paul have been friends for a while now, but he always told me you two were completely platonic. It doesn't take a genius to see that's not true."

"Oh really?"

The dark haired beauty nodded and looked past me, admiring the vase of flowers behind me. "These are gorgeous. Somebody has good taste," she remarked before bending down to take a whiff.

"Is there a point to any of this?"

Ava walked back around and faced me once again. "Paul is really sexy, don't you think?" A playful grin spread across her face as she eyed me carefully. "Oh come on, Keegan. The guy is drop dead gorgeous!"

"Your point?"

She shrugged. "I've known Paul a long time. And I've never really understood his fascination with you. I woke up to find you in his arms...and that really pissed me off."

I chuckled. "Why? I mean, you got the last word in, didn't you? When you fucked him in the bathroom."

"I didn't," she argued.

"Oh I'm sorry. Was it just a blowjob? Either way, I don't care."

"Yes you do," she challenged. "You wanna kill me right now because you think I took what was yours."

"He's not mine."

"Well he could be...if you would get your head out of your ass."

"Excuse me?"

"I didn't have sex with Paul," Ava ground out, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. "Or suck his dick."

"Good for you," I muttered before turning away from her.

"I tried though. I've always had a thing for Paul. And I took my shot. But he rejected me, Keegan. And you should really think about why that happened."

I whirled around to face her. "Maybe he just didn't wanna have sex in a nasty ass gas station restroom?"

She chuckled. "I wish that was all it was." I watched as Ava ran a hand through her long inky hair. "He loves you, Keegan. And I don't know why you're toying around with that Embry guy, but Paul deserves more than to be strung along. You won't find anyone better than Paul."

I blinked quickly, trying to process everything she had just said. I knew Paul loved me. He had told me he loved me too. But hearing it from her made it seem more real. I didn't want to lose Paul. And seeing him with another girl had caused me to nearly lose my mind with jealousy.

"You don't have to tell me what a good catch Paul is. He's my best friend. But I just don't know if I can trust him, Ava."

She shrugged and shook her head. "You just have to believe you're worth it. Obviously Paul does. Isn't that good enough?"

I stood there for a while after Ava left, just trying to let her words sink in. Maybe my trust issues with Paul were more about my own insecurities and not so much about the way Paul had treated me. Even when he was chasing other guys away from me, I knew it came from a good place in his heart. That overwhelming need of his to protect me.

And I loved that part of him. Shit, I loved all of him.

"Anybody home?" I asked, poking my head into Paul's room and finding both him and Embry lying on his bed.

They both raised their heads and smiled. "She must have won the catfight, Paul. Look...she doesn't have a scratch on her."

"Haha," I mocked, climbing onto the bed and settling between them. I mirrored their poses, staring up at the ceiling with my back flat on the oversized bed.

"You okay?" Paul asked softly as he rolled onto his side and faced me.

"Yeah. I didn't rip her head off like I wanted to," I teased. "And she told me what really happened. I'm sorry I didn't let you explain...or trust you wouldn't do that to me."

I turned to face Embry now, as he was also lying on his side, looking in my direction. "And I'm sorry that I've been keeping things from you. You don't deserve that, Embry. I really haven't been honest with you."

I sucked in a deep breath and told Embry what happened the other morning with Paul. Obviously I left out some of the gory details in order to spare his feelings but I absolutely let him know that we had broken our agreement by fooling around behind his back. And I also explained how I selfishly wanted to keep him around to be there for me when Paul hurt me, like I thought he did earlier today.

He didn't say a word during my speech and my stomach twisted in knots at the thought that he might not forgive me. He rolled away from me and stared at the ceiling once more. "I don't know what to say, Keegan."

"Say you forgive me? Tell me I'm not a horrible person for the things I've done?"

Embry swallowed thickly and shook his head. "I think I need some air," he choked out before scrambling off the bed and out the door.

I lunged forward, fully intending to chase him down when Paul held me back. "Let him go, Kee. You just dumped a lot of shit on him and he needs time to process."

I knew Paul was right so I allowed myself to fall back into his arms and let him hold me. After letting my mind race for a while, I finally spoke. "Thank you for not sleeping with Ava. I know I don't have the right to..."

My train of thought ended quickly when Paul pressed his lips to mine. He held my jaw gently in his oversized palm, stroking my cheek with his thumb. It had only been two days since I had kissed him, but the way I clung to him desperately made it seem like it had been much longer.

"I've been wanting to do this all day," he breathed when I pulled away. "You have no idea how much I want you."

I gasped when Paul rolled over me, his body hovering above me as he tangled a hand in my hair. "So you don't hate me any more?" I panted, my gaze focused solely on his handsome face.

"Hate?" he scoffed. "I couldn't. And I know I walked away from you the other day at school, but fuck, Keegan...you know I can't stay away from you."

I searched his eyes for any trace of doubt. All I found was love. He kissed me again, this time more hungrily, more needy. He urged my legs apart and nestled between my thighs. I groaned softly when I felt him pressing into me. My hips had a mind of their own when I began bucking them against his.

"Paul...please," I murmured between kisses. "We should stop."

Paul lifted his head and peered down at me breathlessly. "I want you, Keegan."

I held his face with both hands and kissed his lips with a featherlight touch. "We can't do anything without Embry. I can't keep hurting him like this."

Paul's jaw tensed. "Then just let him go, Keegan. Stop playing this game and tell him it's over."

I blinked quickly and obviously hesitated too long because Paul groaned loudly before hoisting himself off of me and disappearing into his bathroom. When I heard the shower water running, I sighed deeply and headed back to my own room.

I didn't mean to make Paul this mad. I didn't mean to hurt Embry with my confession. I didn't mean to make such a mess out of a trip I had been looking so forward to.

And I sure as hell didn't expect to find Embry lying on my bed.

....

A/N: ahh! The dreaded cliffhanger lol

Should Embry forgive Keegan?

Should Keegan trust Ava?

Should Paul let Keegan have her threesome?

Should Keegan just admit she wants Paul?

Please tell me your thoughts!