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I frowned at her. “We’re not fourteen.”

And I’d basically die if Trevan still thought of me that way.

“I know, but that man might as well be wearing an armor suit with the willpower he possesses. I’m stunned that he took it that far. Not that it wasn’t way past time for him to finally crack.”

“Well, he shut it down pretty fast when I went for the button of his jeans.”

I didn’t tell her the rest. I somehow doubted Trevan would want her privy to that.

“Not surprising but I’m sure it was aggravating.” Mischief played through her features. “Probably mostly for him. Like I said, it’s clear he’s the one who’s in real pain.”

“But it is painful, wanting him so badly and knowing I can’t really have him.” All the easiness dissolved, and in its place was necessity.

The longing that clawed and begged from that place that could only belong to him.

Brinley’s demeanor shifted into sincerity. “I think you do already have him, Elena, he’s just not ready to admit it. The question is whether you want to wait for him to figure his shit out? Is he the one? Is he worth the turmoil and pain and frustration?”

I exhaled a dubious sound. “I think the real question is if he believes I’m worth the risk.”

Understanding moved through Brinley’s gaze. She reached out and fiddled with a lock of my hair, her tone going soft. “You’re worth everything, Elena. And if he’s not willing to step out and fight for it, then he’s the one who’s not worthy of you.”

She gathered me up and hugged me hard. “Don’t you dare settle for less.”

“Thank you so much for always being here for me.” Emotion clogged the words.

“Always. I have half a mind to storm out there and kick the man’s ass for making you think for a second that you’re not everything.”

My head shook against her shoulder. “It’s not that.”

If I was being honest, he never had treated me as anything less than precious.

I thought it was both of our fears. Our history. The age gap between us and the role that he played in my life. The secret that he’d kept for me.

Everything that added up to make him believe that we couldn’t fit.

But I was certain we fit perfectly.

“Our lives are complicated,” I wisped.

A dubious chuckle slipped from Brinley. “I’d say it’s more than complicated.”

“So how do we capture what we need in the middle of it?”

Maybe that was life’s greatest mystery.

She edged back, encouragement in her gaze. “We do what we’ve always had to do. We fight for it.”

“Like you fought for Silas?”

“You mean fought against him?” She let a little tease wind into it.

I snorted. “True.”

Then she sobered. “But we both knew. Even when our situation seemed impossible. Insurmountable. Our hearts knew.”

“Yeah,” I whispered even though it clanged inside me like a claim.

“What do you say we go drive your man out of his mind the way you did the other night and have a ton of fun while we’re doing it?”