Page 83 of Regrets
He splashes me again, and I splash him back. “Why does that surprise you?”
I guess it makes sense in a way. Odd fact about Linc, he’s always been obsessed with the architecture of houses. “I don’t know. Are you one of those cheesy fuckers with the bench ads?”
He laughs at that, shaking his head. “Fuck no. I’m legit. I only deal in the high-end shit and the really cool, unique properties.”
I smile at that, looking up at the sky that’s starting to turn dark. “That’s very cool, Linc.”
“It is. I like it. No boss to tell me what to do. My father would fucking hate it. He always thought working in the housing industry was idiotic.”
I swallow, my throat feeling strained. “Do you have to go back?’
I can feel him smiling. “Not if you don’t want me to.”
I close my eyes and sigh, wanting to beg him not to ever leave. “Do you want to stay?”
“Do you want me to?”
I open my eyes and turn to him. “Do you always have to be such a pain in the ass?”
“Do you?” His voice has a happy laugh buried in it as he wraps his arms around me, and before I can fight him, he pulls both our bodies into the pool and under the water. When we pop back up, I shove his chest playfully.
“Asshole.”
“Always.” His grin is so fucking sexy, I want to slap him.
We tread water in the deep end and stare at each other. “I don’t want to punish each other anymore, Linc.”
I swim to the edge and pull myself out of the pool, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me, feeling the panic rise because Linc scares me.
He always has.
He follows, his strong arms flexing as he lifts his body out of the water, completely soaked and looking way too good.
“Don’t run.”
“I need a minute. I just,” I raise one hand telling him to stop as he starts to approach, “I need a minute, Linc.”
I walk to the sliding glass door of the patio, sliding it open and looking back at him, seeing he’s stayed put. Okay, good. That’s what I want.
Right?
I walk inside the house, closing the door behind me and running up the stairs to my bedroom, being careful not to slip.
I look in the mirror in my bedroom and try to breathe. It’s been two years of missing him every single day. But now that he’s here and asking if I want him to stay, I’m panicking.
“Damn, you really are the definition of a tragedy.” I stare at my own reflection.
“No. You’re anything but that.”
I turn when I hear Linc’s voice coming from my doorway. “Linc, I’ve caused nothing but pain and heartache.”
“You’re fucking kidding, right? Do you have any idea how much joy you’ve brought my family?” He walks into my room, standing before me. “We were lost, just bored, rich people going through the motions, and then we met you.” His smile is painful, but beautiful. “P, even having to watch you with my brother,” he swallows tightly, and I see the tension in his neck, “watching you love my brother, it was worth it. I still got to know you.”
“Linc . . .” It’s a weak breath, barely a word because I’m still struggling with the truth. I told him I loved them both, but I never told him how much. How it tortured me to see him looking at me and not be able to act on how he made me feel all those years ago.
“If you want me to stay and you don’t want us to hurt each other, then we have to let it all go, P. All of the guilt because I don’t regret you.” His eyes are locked on mine, and I’m lost in them, listening to his deep baritone voice telling me everything I need to hear. “The only thing I regret is doing it behind Colt’s back. I should have been man enough to face him.”
“You loved him, Linc.”
