The Cheat Sheet

Your soul is my favorite in this entire world,

Bree is everything I aspire to be, everything I love, everything I desire. She holds my heart, and, with all that I am, I hope she never gives it back.

I think some things are worth waiting for, no matter how long it takes.

To my left is a floor-to-ceiling three-million-dollar view of the ocean, but to my right is the view I would give my soul to see every day for the rest of my life.

Do you see now? You’re always giving me things that remind you of me, but I’m over here stealing things that remind me of you. I’m not humoring you, Bree. I’m not taking this lightly. I’m so devastatingly in love with you, it hurts sometimes—and I have been since high school.

Bree, hope is healthy. Even if you prepare yourself for the worst in life, it will never make the fall hurt less.

Your ability to shoulder everything, to give 200% of yourself all the time, to be perfect at everything you attempt…these are not the attributes that make you a valuable human being.” I pause. “And they are not why I fell in love with you.” His black eyes shoot up to me. I smile. The weight of these heavy secrets falls off of me, and I feel relieved to continue. “I fell in love with you because you’re goofy. You’re fun. Your heart is so big I don’t know how it fits in here,” I say, pressing my hand to his chest. “You’re a terrible singer. You make me soup when I’m sick. You bought me tampons that time I was laid out on the couch with cramps and couldn’t move. You didn’t even send someone else for them. You went yourself!

It’s painful having to look at something so beautiful and never touch it.

Bree, I would have sold my soul to be able to get your dreams back for you in that moment.

I love you too,” he whispers over and over again. “I love you, Bree. I love you. I always have.

Your soul is my favorite in this entire world,” he replies quietly.

It’s so Nathan that the only thing he’s guilty of is having too big of a heart. I wish he would stop making me love him more. It’s annoying.

The honest truth is I’m celibate by choice. I don’t know, one day I just woke up and realized I was done trying to trick myself into thinking I wanted anyone other than Bree. If it’s not with her, I don’t want it.

I have millions of dollars and I will spoil you with them if I want.

Bree’s hand squeezes mine, and I look back to see her crinkle her nose at me in her signature cute smile. It’s her Can you even believe it? look. My heart bursts. It’s wide open, completely hers for the taking. Always has been.

Something about it sounds oddly monotone, robotic, and almost…rehearsed. “Oh no. Looks like we blew a fuse! I guess we’ll have to light some candles. Nathan, you around here? Need a candle, buddy?

When Nathan’s voice reaches me, low and quiet, I almost think I’ve heard him wrong. “Yeah, but that was when it was just fake.

With a sigh, I look down at my newest Breenket. “Well, magic eight ball, what do you think? Should I tell my best friend I love her?

He smiles. I smile. And then he leans down to softly kiss my cheek. Just like always—but completely different this time. His hands remain at his sides, but his eyes slide over every inch of me. I stay so still, trying to keep breathing despite the lack of oxygen in the room. “Beautiful,” he whispers against my ear, and a shiver runs sweet prickles up my spine. “You still with me?” I nod.

I couldn’t bear to watch her lose her dream like that.

He looks at me again. “I disagree. I think some things are worth waiting for, no matter how long it takes.

And he can’t know that I broke up with Martin because Martin isn’t Nathan.

I see that Nathan already posted the photo along with a caption that reads: The only woman I want.

Because here´s what I forgot to mention before: I´m not a threat to these woman... until they make him choose. Then, I´m more threatening than a glitter bomb. I might not get to sleep in Nathan´s bed, buy I do have his loyalty — and to Nathan, there´s nothing more important than that.

He scans the paper one more time before shaking his head and RIPPING IT UP! My rules are nothing but confetti falling to the floor now. My mouth falls open. “Why did you do that?!” “Because it’s ridiculous. We’re going to touch. We’re going to kiss, Bree.

A hair has fallen loose from her bun and is dangling by the side of her face. Without a second thought, my hand rises and I brush my fingertips across her cheekbone, tucking the hair gently behind her ear. She sucks in a quick breath, her lips parting. She’s so damn pretty. Soft and sweet, but also vibrant and sharp. Is that how kissing her would taste?

Nathan is holding my hand. He’s. Holding. My. Hand.

Bree has stepped straight out of my dreams,

I’m going to take three steps back to you and put my hands on your hips.” His eyes rove over me, and he squints just below my chin. “Maybe your jaw, maybe the back of your neck. We’ll see. And then I’m going to kiss you.