Read Online Risking It All by Jennifer Schmidt - Free Book Online

her eyes. “I just wanted him to see the pain I went through and the thoughts I had, even if he felt none of it.”
    Memphis held her as she cried, soaking the front of his expensive shirt with her tears. He didn’t say a word, but to Kennedy his silence spoke volumes. She knew his heart was breaking because hers was, she knew he was sorry for her loss and that he would never be able to express it properly because he didn’t know how. And she knew, more than ever, in that moment he hated Brooks.
    Finally the tears stopped, and she pulled away from his wet shirt.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice hoarse. Her throat felt raw and it hurt to swallow.
    “Kennedy, there’s nothing I can say to make this right for you.” Memphis brushed the hair from her face and cupped her cheek. “I wish there was, but there isn’t.”
    “It’s not up to you to try and make it right anyway, Memphis. That should be on Brooks.”
    “I hate that he treats you like this,” Memphis spat. “He’s no better than your father.”
    “At least my father showed,” she added bitterly. “That’s more than I can say for Brooks.” She smiled at him. “No matter what, I’ll always have you, right?”
    “Always,” Memphis promised, stroking her cheek.
    “You know how simple this would all be if you were my boyfriend?” She laughed and shook her head. “You practically are in every way, anyway. You’re always there for me, always putting me first and making sure I’m okay. You love me more, and probably better, than any guy I’ve ever been with, including Brooks. My life doesn’t work without you because you’re my other half.”
    Memphis stopped rubbing his thumb back and forth on her face and she slowly looked up to meet his eyes. He was watching her closely, his eyes locked with hers as he stared at her. Neither of them made a sound nor moved an inch. She swore the pounding of her heart filled the silent room as she stared back at her best friend.
    Her mouth went dry, the words slipping from between her lips before she could stop them. “Why couldn’t it be you?”
    Memphis opened his mouth to answer but then shut it again. Her eyes dropped to his lips, much like his had done at the gallery, and she stared at his mouth, wanting something that she had craved for years but never had the guts to take.
    She was grateful he didn’t say anything, didn’t ask a question she didn’t have the answer to. She wasn’t even sure herself what she meant by the question. The baby, her boyfriend, her life . . . did it all come down to one thing? To one person?
    “Kiss me,” she whispered, barely hearing the words herself.
    Memphis’s breath hitched.
    “Kennedy . . .” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, pressing his lips together as he exhaled. “You’re hurt and angry at Brooks—”
    “Yes. But that’s not why I want you,” she told him. She waited until he opened his eyes. “Kiss me, Memphis.”
    He hesitated for only a second before cupping the back of her neck and pulling her forward so her lips met his.
    The second their lips touched, Kennedy felt it. The connection she had been missing with everyone else. The spark that had never been lit was suddenly ignited and blazing when their kiss deepened. With every brush of his tongue along hers, with every gentle nip of her lips his teeth took, the reality of her feelings for him became crystal clear.
    It was so intense it scared her, and she pulled away, eyes wide as she stared at the man who had always been nothing more to her than a friend.
    “You need to go,” she said.
    Memphis huffed in frustration, swearing under his breath and running his hands through his hair.
    “I’m sorry, Kennedy. I shouldn’t have done that.”
    “I asked you to, it’s not your fault. But I need you to go.”
    He watched her for a few more seconds before finally nodding, and stood. She watched him grab his jacket off the dining room chair where she’d dropped it when they came in,