Brice ran his hands along my back as my lips moved with his. He moved his free hand to my neck as he tilted his head to the other side, and my lips followed him, following his lead. He massaged the hairs on the back of my neck while his other hand crept down to my bottom. He didn't squeeze it, only resting his hand there while he distracted me with his lips.

When we parted, I opened my mouth, but his lips were back on mine. This time, he urged me back as he moved on top of me, and I pulled him back to me, continuing where we left off.

I couldn't believe Brice Abrams and I were making out on my bed while Daddy was away with Janice. This was one of the many perks of having a father who was dating. He wasn't home as much. If I knew I would have been in this situation a year ago, I would have been in disbelief.

We'd been making out for minutes now, maybe even half an hour, but I couldn't get enough of him. Brice and Jax kissed so differently. Brice was more aggressive while Jax's lips seemed to pull you in for more. Brice was dominant, but Jax was alluring. I didn't know which one I wanted more.

I pushed those thoughts out of my head and parted my lips for Brice. As our tongues brushed together, I had to stop myself from continuing to think about Jax. Brice's slick tongue moved against mine as he grabbed one of my arms and placed them above my head while my free one wrapped around his neck. Brice's other hand moved to the hem of my shirt. I was about to pull away but he only pulled me back in, distracting me with his lips and tongue while his hand slipped into my shirt. They traveled up my abdomen before stopping at my bra. Before he could grasp my shielded breast, I pushed him back with my free hand, and I freed myself from his hold.

The two of us sat up, staring at each other with our breaths coming out in soft pants. Brice frowned. "What's wrong?"

I had an urge to curl into myself, but I held my shoulders back with a leveled voice as I said, "We're moving too fast."

Brice chuckled. "It's only petting. How's that fast?"

I frowned. "It's fast to me. I'm not you, who've had sex with multiple girls."

"Who says I have?" he asked, and I sent him a look. "Okay, I have. But you're my girl now." He pulled me to straddle him as we held eye contact. "That's all that matters." His eyes flickered down to my lips, and he closed the space between us. Before it could deepen, I pulled away, and he frowned. "What now?"

"I don't think you get it." I wrapped both arms around his neck. "I'm inexperienced, in a lot of ways. What's natural to you is fast to me. I will not give in, and I'll only have sex with you when I'm ready."

He grinned. "So, you will have sex with me?"

I rolled my eyes as I got off of his lap. We sat on the bed, turned to each other. "I know we're boyfriend and girlfriend," I said, "but that also includes getting to know each other. Brice, Jax smoked you with those questions."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know."

A part of me was warm on the inside knowing Jax knew me so well. That was the thing with Jax. He listened. He could recall information. It made me smile, despite the fact that Brice did so poorly. It made me wonder if Brice processed anything I told him. Or did he not care? I didn't know but thinking about it made me nervous.

"Then let's fix it," I said. "You need to know me better, and I could also learn more about you. Dating isn't only about kissing and sex. I'm a person, not a sex doll."

He chuckled. "Obviously." He kissed my jaw before moving down to my neck. He moved up to my ear. "You're soft." My breathing became heavier as he kissed along my neck. "You're warm." His warm breath brushed my sensitive skin, making me shiver before I pushed him back. He watched me for a couple seconds. "You're fighting it."

"Fighting what?" I asked, surprised my voice didn't shake.

He smirked. "The sexual chemistry between us."

"A relationship is more than that," I said. "I'm not going to be those girls who jump in bed with you without you even knowing who I am. Like the real me, not the me my acquaintances and strangers know."

"The you Velasco knows," he said, and I hesitantly nodded. "I get it. You and Velasco are close. Closer than me and you."

I grabbed his hand. "We can fix that. We just have to try. We can get to know each other with or without our clothes on." He smiled. "But let's start with our clothes on first."

Brice stared at me. "You really care about us, don't you?"

"I've liked you since my freshman year," I blurted out, and I clasped my hand over my mouth.

Brice smirked. "You have?"

Damn it.

I removed my hand, and I sighed. "Yeah," I said. "I've liked you for a while now, so I don't want to mess it up."

Brice adjusted himself against the headboard, and he opened his arms. I crawled over and nestled into his arms with my head on his chest. "I saw you around, but this is the first year I've really paid attention." He glanced down at me. "I'm glad I noticed you because I really like you, Estella." I lifted my head up to meet his gaze. "I like you in a way I haven't liked any of my other girlfriends."

"In a good way?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Yes. In a good way." He smiled. "I don't want to mess this up either. So, let's do it. Let's get to know each other." He squeezed me to him. "What's first?"

That was the start of Brice and I watching The Shawshank Redemption. He had to watch it if he wanted to know me, and I sipped on a glass of apple juice while we watched it. Brice laughed at me, but he didn't let me go once. We talked, about the movie and other things, whether that was our home life, the boys, my girls, school etc.

Brice was an amazing kisser, and he made me feel physically wanted. But this moment was what was special. Me learning more about him was what really excited me.

It came to a halt when I received a text.

"What's wrong?" Brice asked while peeking down at my phone. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know." I freed myself from his grasp before hopping off the bed to search for my shoes.

"What happened?" He sat on the edge of the bed, watching me as I put on my boots.

"That's what I have to find out." He stood up, and I approached him. "But I have to go." I wrapped my arms around him while he wrapped his around my waist. "We'll continue this, okay?"

"Okay," he said before planting a quick kiss onto my lips. "Let's go. I'll drop you off."

"Thank you," I said in relief since I didn't have a ride.

We grabbed our things before walking out of my house. I made sure to lock the door before heading towards Brice's BMW. When we were settled in, he blasted the AC, but one look at me, he lowered it. I smiled. He remembered that I always got cold in his car. He drove out of the driveway as I put my seat belt on.

Less than ten minutes later, we were in front of the Bagheri's resident. I turned to Brice. "Thank you so much." I gave him a quick kiss before pulling back. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," he said as I got out of the car.

I waved as I slammed the door and made my way up Sadaf's driveway. He drove off once I was in the house. I greeted Sadaf's parents and her three older brothers, who sat in the living area, before I made my way upstairs to Sadaf's room. As soon as I entered, I stopped to take in the scene before me.

Mi Yun sat on Sadaf's bed with blood-shot, puffy eyes and many used napkins in her hands while Sadaf sat beside her, a hand on Mi Yun's back and a box of Kleenex on her lap. I dropped my bag onto the floor and moved to sit beside my best friend.

I wrapped my arms around her, too. "Mimi, what's wrong?" Mi Yun looked up at me, and the instant our eyes met, her expression crumbled. She busted into tears, grabbing more napkins from Sadaf. I looked to my other friend for help, and all she sent me was a sympathetic look. "Mimi." I held her tighter.

"You were right," Mi Yun croaked. "About Sabrina. You were right all along."

I closed my eyes with a sigh. "What did she do?"

"Sabrina doesn't like girls," Mi Yun said once her crying calmed down.

"What?" Sadaf and I said at the same time.

Mi Yun shrugged. "According to her, she's bi-curious."

That little...

I shook my head in disbelief. "The things you told us, that doesn't sound bi-curious," I said.

"I agree," Sadaf added.

"Apparently, all the moments we had and all the times we spent together was all an experiment," Mi Yun said. "All of it." She wiped at her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes. "I call BS. Something must of happened. Why would she pull a complete 180 like that?"

Then again, she did the same thing to Jax. Broke up with him out of nowhere. Was that her thing? Breaking hearts when least expected?

If so, I was more than happy that Brice broke hers. I bet she didn't see that coming.

"It doesn't matter," Mi Yun said. "She doesn't want to be with me anymore, and she showed her true colors." Mi Yun sent me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Es. You were right, and I should have listened to you."

She rested her head on my shoulder, and I held her. "I wish I wasn't right."

I may not have liked Sabrina, but I liked Mi Yun being happy. Unfortunately, Sabrina made her happier.

Then this happened.

My dislike for Sabrina Fraser increased tenfold.

Mi Yun chuckled. "Still wish you were a lesbian, Es?" I shook my head rapidly. "Thought so."

Guys were tough, but girls may have been tougher.

"Okay, enough." Mi Yun removed herself from my hold, and she took in deep breaths. "Enough about me." She glanced between Sadaf and I with a smile. "Let's talk about you guys."

Sadaf and I sent each other looks. "Mi Yun," Sadaf started, but Mi Yun silenced her with her hand.

"Let's talk about something else," she said. "Please." Her voice wavered, and she looked between us. "Es." She stopped on me. "Tell us about Jax and Brice."

I looked to Sadaf, who had the same concerned look as me, but she nodded, so I spoke. "What about Jax and Brice?"

Mi Yun sent me a look. "The love triangle, obviously."

"Love triangle?"

"That's what happens when you have two guys fawning over you," Sadaf said with excitement in her voice. Mi Yun nodded.

I should have known better than to tell these girls everything. All the kisses and moments and everything.

"Jax doesn't fawn," I said.

"He's in love with you," Mi Yun said, catching me off-guard.

"That's a little intense, don't you think?" I said, and Mi Yun brushed me off.

"They both like you," Mi Yun said. "And it seems like you like them both."

I groaned. "Don't remind me." I sighed. "But I'm dating Brice, so it's not even an issue."

"That doesn't change the fact that you like Jax," Mi Yun said. "You may even like him more."

What?

"I agree," Sadaf said. "Estella, you and Jax seem so natural. Everything flows, and you're so cute together. Jax seems like the one while Brice seems like the distraction."

"Excuse me?" I said while paying close attention to my two friends.

I didn't appreciate them devaluing my feelings for Brice and my relationship with him. I liked Brice, and I wanted to be with him. Yes, I had feelings for Jax, too, but he wasn't doing anything about it. Why should I end a potentially amazing relationship for one that may never happen? Even if it was Jax, I was smarter than that.

And again, I liked Brice.

"Don't take it to heart," Sadaf said. "That's just my opinion. I'm totally team Jax."

"I was team Sabrina," Mi Yun said, "but since that's not an option, team Jax it is."

"There're no teams," I reminded them. "Brice is my boyfriend."

Mi Yun nodded. "Okay. Then answer this. If Jax wasn't being a dumbass, and he asked you to be his girlfriend, what would you do?"

I snickered nervously. "You're seriously asking this?" Their expressions didn't falter.

My face dropped. I didn't want to think about it. Things were complicated enough with Jax being unavailable. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if he was willing to be with me. We could kiss whenever we wanted. We could take long rides in Verda, jamming out to our favorite music or watching our favorite movies. He would cook more Spanish cuisine while teaching me how to speak Spanish. The vending machines would become our place, not just somewhere we met up. So much could happen.

I shook my head, getting it together. It didn't matter. None of it did because Jax wasn't available, and he wasn't willing to be with me. Most of all, I had a boyfriend. A wonderful boyfriend by the name of Brice Abrams.

With that thought, I turned to my friends. "I can't answer that because Jax is a dumbass. There're no 'what if's,' just reality."

"And what's that?" Sadaf asked.

"I'm with Brice," I said, "not Jax." Mi Yun shrugged while Sadaf pouted. "And I don't think that's going to change."

It was a sad fact because Jax and I had potential. So many wonderful things could have happened with us. At the same time, Brice and I had potential, too. We were having great moments already, and I didn't regret being with him.

But, when it came to choosing between the two, I didn't know what I would have done if Jax wasn't being a dumbass.