43

"I won't forget the good times."

Sawyer

As we stepped through the doors of the prom venue, we discovered a grand hall bathed in an ethereal glow, with twinkling lights overhead that created a spellbinding aura around us. We had an otherworldly experience, as every inch of the room was adorned with features of the galaxy. Every step was like walking among the stars.

Amidst the whirlwind of excitement, I caught sight of a familiar face across the room. Stella stood with her arm interlinked with Sebastian's. I excused myself from Josh's side and approached the couple with a wide smile. Stella's eyes lit up as she noticed me approaching.

"I can't believe we're both here." She said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Me neither." I said and looked at Sebastian. "Never thought I'd see you in a suit."

He smoothed his hands down the charcoal tweed suit.

"I can make anything work."

We fell into simple conversation as Joshua approached us with a twinkle in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and placed his lips on my ear.

"You owe me a dance."

As the soft melody filled the air, I found myself enveloped in the warmth of his embrace. Our bodies swayed to the rhythm of Paramore's - The Only Exception. It felt as if we were dancing on air, lost in the moment of each other's love. I placed my head on his shoulder.

As I glanced around the room, my eyes fell upon a figure standing a few feet away - Asher. He watched us dance with a tinge of sadness in his expression. I felt a pang of guilt tug at my heartstrings now that I knew how he felt about me. Unable to ignore the ache in my chest, I pulled away from Joshua.

"I need some fresh air." I said, not waiting for a response.

The gentle breeze offered a warm respite from the liveliness of prom night. I leaned against the porch railing and sighed as the weight of the evening festivities temporarily lifted from my shoulders.

Approaching footsteps disturbed my moment of solitude. I turned to come face-to-face with Asher, his expression fraught with emotion.

"Hey," he said, his voice filled with nervousness as he met my gaze. "What are you doing out here?"

"I needed some air."

I felt a sense of unease wash over me. His proximity sent a shiver down my spine. He took a step closer, his eyes searched mine with a depth of feeling I'd never seen before.

"I love you." He confessed; his words hung heavy in the thick air. "I love you so much it hurts. But nothing hurts as much as watching you love my brother."

My heart pounded in my chest at his declaration. I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his words.

"You don't mean that."

He took a step further.

"You don't know how I feel."

I couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar flutter in my stomach as he confidently strutted towards me in his perfectly tailored suit. It hugged his frame, accentuating every line and curve in the right places. My eyes traced the elegant lines of his jaw and the way his hair fell in disarray across his forehead. There was an undeniable pull he'd exerted over me, but I couldn't give in to the temptation.

"Asher, I'm with Joshua."

"Then stop being with Joshua." He said with a hint of impatience.

"It's not that simple."

"It is." He said. "I love you, and I'll abandon all my summer plans to be with you."

The world seemed to spin around me. He'd give up his tour?

"I won't let you sacrifice your summer for me."

He took another step further, the furthest he could move without bumping into me.

"Being with you isn't a sacrifice."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. My eyes searched his for a sign of clarity, but I could only find raw emotion. The kind that defied all logic.

"You're what I want, but I think Josh is what I need. You're going to tour with the guys for the summer and who knows what will happen." I said. "Maybe the love of your life is out there waiting for you."

He gently reached out to take my hands in his and drew me closer. His gaze locked with mine in a silent pledge of sincerity and devotion. The air between us crackled with electricity, sending strikes to my heart.

"She's not, because she's standing right in front of me."

"Asher, please don't make this harder for me."

He leaned close. The warmth of his breath tickled my face. With a gentle touch, he pressed his lips to my cheek and sent a rush of tingling through my veins. Our eyes locked, lost in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"I'll wait for you, Sawyer Whitlock. However long that takes."

As he turned to walk away, my heart cried out to chase after him, to throw caution to the wind and go for what I wanted. I don't know what I want. And so, with a heavy sigh, I remained rooted to my spot, my eyes followed his retreating figure as he disappeared back into the building.

I knew I had a decision to make. Either would have a tumultuous list of consequences, but I couldn't keep stringing the Hart brothers around any longer. I needed to ignore my overthinking mind and allow my heart to lead me. You know who you want to be with - admit it. My brain told me. I reached into my clutch for my phone and composed two text messages - one to each brother. My finger hovered over the messages before I hit send. I'd made my choice. I just hope I made the right one.