Zane (The Bad Boys of Saddle Creek #1)

by Kat Baxter

That puny guy didn’t even glance in Emmaline’s direction since he walked in. Which is just a sign of what a dumbass he is, because she’s always the first thing I look at in every room. Clearly, he hadn’t noticed her at all, or how fucking gorgeous she looks today.

She never—not once in all our years of friendship—indicated she might want more from me. I’m the idiot who caught feelings. I’m the idiot who fell in love with my best friend. And all this time, I told myself it was okay. That I could handle it. Because I knew she wasn’t interested in anything physical. With anyone. I knew I was her person. I told myself that was enough. But now? Now that she thinks this guy Daniel might be the guy for her?

“Yes, I’m in love with her.” I’ve never actually admitted that out loud to anyone. Not even myself.

Honestly, our friendship has never made much sense to me. Why would someone so hot and so cool and so, so, so different from me, want to hang out with me?

Because the truth is that Zane is… well—if you can have a soulmate who's a friend—then that's what Zane is. He’s my friend-mate.

He’s my person, my ride or die.

Of course she doesn’t know what’s going on. She has no idea how I feel about her or that I’m a jealous bastard.

“Of course. You’re my starfish. I’ll always be here for you.”

“My starfish deserves the very best. Plus, I wanted you all to myself.”

Zane is pure masculinity wrapped up in a super sexy package, but inside him beats a pure heart that loves his friends unconditionally. I could never look at Zane and think of Daniel or vice versa.

Sadly, the person I want to date is unavailable, at least outside of dating and sexual lessons. I’m not sure I can have any more of those without getting my heart completely torn to shreds. I have to figure out how to go back to where we were before. Before I knew what it felt like to kiss Zane. Touch him. Before I knew what it was like for him to put his hands and mouth all over me and make me feel like I've never felt before. Like, like my mind was silent and all I could feel was him and the pleasure he was pulling from my body. It was peaceful. But exhilarating.

she’s my girl. My starfish. So prickly and delicate and strange and beautiful all at the same time.

“No, I’m not mad at you. I could never be mad at you. If anything, I’m mad at myself. Fuck, Emmy, I’m in love with you.”

“Yeah, I am literally covered in you.”

Fuck, Starfish, you are my perfect dream.”