10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

by Emmy Sanders

I don’t want them. Any of them. It’s not logical. To know that so soon. To be so utterly sure of it. But love, well… I don’t think it’s an emotion that’s ever been ruled by logic or reason.

I step close to Brad, unable to keep my distance, unable to stop myself from brushing his hair back and cupping his face in my palms. “I’ll make it so good for you,” I promise.

He lets out an incredulous laugh. “See? That. That’s what I’m talking about. All you have to do is say a few words, and I’m gone. How do you do that? How do you make me want you so much?”

“He must have a thing for beautiful men being open and honest,” I tell him, stroking his cheek with my thumb. “Is that what we’re calling filterless now?” he asks, forehead wrinkled.

Right now, I have an inquisitive, kind-hearted man in my arms, and I have every intention of showing him that obsession he mentioned? It goes both ways.

Because sex wasn’t the first thing I wanted from him. It was simply to be close. To know him better. Because the chance I might lose him to the Logans of the world made me confront the fact that my feelings weren’t strictly platonic.

Which means… Which means I wanted a romantic relationship with Joey before I ever wanted a sexual one. Holy shit.

No wonder I demanded our bros-with-bennies sitch include exclusivity. I didn’t want Joey falling for anyon...

“Bub, you okay?” Joey asks, having moved closer. His hand is sun-warmed on the side of my arm, his lashes dark from the water. His eyes are so fucking pretty it hurts. Just realizing I...

I don’t want to fuck things up with Joey. I’m not even dating the guy. Not really. Not yet.

“Damn,” I mutter. “You’re really good at making me feel good.” He looks pleased.

I’m pretty sure I hear him mumble something about owe it all to you, and I decide, despite the limitations of my body, I’m going to try very hard to have Joey’s babies.

I bump into his chest, the vest between us, water dripping down the side of Joey’s face and his hair curling in wet swoops like the waves. There’s a stutter behind my ribcage. The briefest feeling of being airborne once more.

Joey’s lips taste faintly of salt when I kiss him, like the sea and the sun.

“But you can be a good boy and enjoy the ride.” “I… Hmm. You know, I’m not usually into the whole good boy thing,” I point out, following after him, “but you make a rather compelling argument.”

None of it will negate the fact that I’m attracted to Joey now. On pretty much every level I could be.

“What?” “Would you not want to—” “I want,” he says quickly. “I just… You’d really do that? Sacrifice your nights for…me?”

“I’m not sure why you’re under the impression that spending my nights in bed with you would be a sacrifice, bub, but I’d be happy to share your bed whenever I’m able. Believe it or not, I kinda like knowing you’re close, too.”

I nod along, not minding whether my sheets are right-side up or crinkled all to hell, so long as Brad is between them.

But neither of us says a word. In fact, with the way Brad’s breathing has evened to a slow, steady pace, I’m more than certain he’s out. Just like that.

I swing the sheet over us, knowing, if only he’ll let me, I’ll do my very best to keep all of his nightmares at bay.

“And I’m telling you again. He’s perfect for you, Joey. He’s a light. He’ll make you happy.” “He already does,”

“Reorganized. You’re in love with him.” I nearly fumble the lighter at her blunt assessment, managing to catch it just before it falls to the floor.

“I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at him,” she goes on, her voice soft. “When are you going to tell him?”

Brad gives us a grin when we rejoin him inside the gazebo, and I feel as if my heart might take flight.

“There are three candles. Why don’t we all make a wish?” I don’t hesitate. I wish… That I never have to give this up.

I’d feel guilty hogging so much of his time, except… He really doesn’t seem to mind it. And I’ve never slept so soundly in my life.

“I’ll never wreck you,” Joey says, his voice rough as he maneuvers me through the doorway. “Not ever.” “It’s just an—”

“All I will ever do is worship you,” he promises, leaning down to press a kiss near my ear. The next one lands on my neck, his stubble making me break out in goose bumps.

“I will make you feel good. Only good, bub. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t give to you if it’s within my power to do so. Whatever you want. Whatever you need, it’s yours.” Fuck.

No, I don’t think he’ll wreck me. Not intentionally. But I’m well and truly fucked when it comes to Joey Delgado.

Brad huffs a small laugh, his eyes bright as he looks down at me. Fuck. He’s so gorgeous.

We’d stay here, tangled together, making a home that’s all our own.

“You’re staring,” Brad says, a soft smile gracing his lips. “Because it’s you,” I answer, heading his way.

“Dude. Maybe you can tell me about your past conquests when you don’t have part of your body inside of mine?” I still, and he makes a mournful sound. “You’re not a conquest,” I say seriously.

“You’re not,” I say again, needing him to believe me. Needing him to know this, right here, has absolutely nothing to do with notches on bedposts. It’s…so much more than that to me. And maybe it’s not the same for Brad. But I don’t want him to ever doubt that he means something. Period. “Okay?”

“Yeah, Joey,” he says quietly. “I know that. I do. It’s just… I don’t want to hear about them, all right? The…others.”

“What I should have said is I love how you make me feel,” I say, slipping my fingers back inside his body. He pulls in a breath, arching his hips, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I should have told you that you make me happy. And that I’m so grateful you trust me in this way.” “Joey,” he mouths, no sound accompanying the word.

“I should have said you make my life brighter, bub. That every day you’re in it is better ...

Would that bother you? If I cuddled someone?” Joey is quiet for a long moment, his face set in concentration or contemplation, maybe. “You’re a physically affectionate person, bub. I wouldn’t ask you to change that.”

“Bee. That man is in love with you.” “What?” I nearly screech. “He is one hundred percent in love with you.”

I huff. “No way, dude. That was, like, a couple weeks after we met. We weren’t even…you know back then. We were just friends.” “Yeah…” he says slowly.

“Your friend? He’s looking at you as if you’re the single most important thing in his life. He has feelings for you, Bee. Big ones. Like, the biggest. So whatever it is you two are doing? This whole friends with benefits thing? It ei...

Jason is quiet for a minute. “It wasn’t any one thing. It felt…inevitable. From the very beginning. He was…unlike anyone else I’d ever known. All I wanted was to spend time with him. To know him better. He made me feel strong because I never doubted what I meant to him. I fell in love like the changing of the seasons. Slowly and inescapably. And I knew it because…because I didn’t want to look forward into a future that didn’t have him.”

Joey himself finally looks my way, smiling softly as he catches my eye. Even from halfway across the room, I can see the warmth in his gaze. The way those brown eyes are impossibly kind and endlessly patient. Is Jason right? Is that love?

I return Joey’s smile, even as my gut rolls at the thought of hurting this man in any shape or form. I never wanted that. I don’t want to hurt Joey.

“I think…” I say slowly, Joey’s words from the other day coming to mind, along with the same feeling of unfathomable fondness they evoked in me the first time around, the swell of it in my chest almost uncomfortable but…not. “I th...

“So much,” I admit, knowing the words aren’t nearly enough. “I don’t want to break things off. I want…” Boyfriend seems like such a trite word. I’ve been a boyfriend before. But none of my past re...

I step forward, and Joey tugs me in the rest of the way. The feel of his lips against mine is just as intoxicatingly perfect as his arms wrapped around me.