Jesse knocks on my door a half hour later, plastic grocery bag in hand. I reach for it and peer inside, noticing that he brought two pints of ice cream. Over-achiever.

I root in the bag. “Hey! This isn’t Chubby Hubby,” I tease, as I place the pint of Cookie Dough in the freezer but keep the Mint Chocolate Chunk out.

“The twenty-four hour convenience store had a limited selection. I did my best. Still love me?”

“Of course.” I grab the two spoons from the counter and walk toward my bedroom. “You comin’?”

Jesse doesn’t move for a moment, just stares at me underneath heavy lids, and I’d almost swear that those clear blue eyes burned with heat. But then he jogs down the hall and catches up to me in less than five seconds.

Once we’re nestled underneath the covers, our legs extended long, our backs against the headboard, I hand him a spoon. We clink them together, smile, and say “cheers” before digging in.

After a third of the ice cream is gone, I ask, “So, where were you tonight?” Please don’t say with Shelly. Anywhere else but with Shelly.

“Hanging out with Shelly.”

My stomach sours because I speak Jesse, and “hanging out” equates to hooking up. I set my spoon on the nightstand.

“And you just ditched her to come here?” I sneak a glance at him. “She’s okay with that?”

He places the pint alongside my spoon before grabbing my hand. His hands, which are usually so warm, are cold as ice from holding the container. “I’d ditch anyone for you, Ry.” The intensity behind his words takes me aback.

Suddenly I’m nervous. He’s making me nervous. So I do what I always do when my nerves get the better of me: I start rambling.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say, and watch as his features constrict, recoiling from the sting of my words. I rush on. “No. I’m so happy you’re here.” I squeeze his hand. “I just don’t want to mess anything up.”

“You’re not.” He releases my hand and runs his own through his hair. “Shelly and I aren’t together. You know that.”

“I know.” I keep my eyes down. “It’s just…things have been a little…weird between us.”

He nods his head. “I know. I already apologized about the other night with Dave.” He rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes.

“It’s not just about the other night.”

He brings his head forward and turns to look me square in the eyes. “It’s not?”

I bite my bottom lip and shake my head. “No.”

I can feel the burn of his stare on my mouth, the temperature in the room increasing to near sweltering heights. My palms are sweaty and my mouth is dry.

“Ry. What else is going on?”

“You know what,” I whisper.

His eyes widen in surprise, but he says, “Tell me.”

My eyes squeeze shut, and I shake my head again. “I can’t say it.”

“Ry.” He squeezes my arm, and this time his fingers are back to their normal, warm temperature. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” But still I don’t look at him. Another squeeze, and my eyes meet his. “I need you to say it. Please.” His voice breaks on that last word, the desperation bleeding through.

With that final touch, the pressure inside me explodes and the words pour forth. “My feelings are all fucked up. It’s like we’re friends, but I don’t know… Maybe there’s more. I’ve been thinking of you in ways that aren’t friendly. For a while. And then the other night on the phone…what we did…”

His nostrils flare.

I continue. “Dave said all of these things and Liza agrees and I just… I’m scared. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Riley Ann.” His palms hold either side of my face. “You will never lose me.”

My eyes are wide and a touch unsure, but I nod my head in agreement. “It’s just… I don’t know. Is there something more between us?”

“Riley,” he whispers. “There’s always been something more for me.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “There has?”

He nods. “I love you, Riley.”

“I love you, too.” My voice is a whisper.

He shakes his head. “No, I’m in love with you, Riley. I have been…forever.”

I swear the Earth stops spinning. Jesse is in love with me. “But you never said…” My voice trails off, breathless.

“I didn’t want to risk losing you if you didn’t feel the same. I need you in my life, Ry.” He squeezes his eyes shut.

“All this time.” I trace his face with the pads of my fingertips, touching first his eyelids, then his nose and cheeks. He shudders when I drag my fingers along the length of his jaw that’s peppered with coarse stubble. My fingers continue their journey, wanting to touch him everywhere. His lips, the column of his throat, his broad chest.

He moans my name when my fingernails ghost over his nipples. “Riley.”

This time when he looks at me there’s no disguising the lust, the heat, the desire in his eyes. He wants me. And I want him, too.

“Jesse.” My voice is strained, a touch desperate, and the way he is looking at me, I feel as though I may combust. “What happens now?”

“Tell me what you want, Riley.” He places both hands on my hips, shifting me closer to him. My eyes drop to the bulge in his jeans. He’s hard. For me. Holy shit.

“Riley.” He squeezes once. “I’m waiting.”

“You.” I breathe. “I want you.”

He smiles, a sexy, cocky smile that makes my insides clench in anticipation. This is really happening.

“Yeah?” He leans close so that his warm breath tickles my skin. “And then his lips are on mine. Those beautiful, full, soft lips. Lips that I’ve known all my life, but have never really known at all, are on mine. And everything ceases to exist, because I am kissing Jesse, my best friend, and it is the most amazing, absolute best kiss of my life.

I don’t know where this will lead or what lies ahead; all I know is that I don’t want it to end.

“Jesse.” I moan in frustration when he pulls back, eyes at half-mast.

“Do you remember the first time I kissed you?” The gravelly tone of his voice scrapes my skin.

“Yes,” I whisper, as my mind replays the memory. I should have known back then. I shouldn’t have waited all this time. I love him.

“That’s when I knew.” He brushes the hair from my face. “That’s when I knew you were mine. Forever.”

“Jesse.” I lean into him, wanting another taste. “Please.” I breathe. “Kiss me again.”