My whole life has been a lie.

Nobody truly knows me.

But I know myself, and I'm a coward.

Years ago when my heart shattered, I used the weakest adhesives to put it back together.

I can't risk falling in love. My soul is too fragile.

Love isn't guaranteed. It's always a gamble. And I know, better than most, that it's not worth the fall. The body can only withstand so many tragedies before it ceases to exist.

Only one person has made me want more.

Only one.

Yet I know it would break me to lose him, and he'd be impossible to recover from. The loss—devastating.

I have to stay away, but that in itself is impossible. He's the one person I can't distance myself from.

He's my best friend.

I've convinced myself that settling for lukewarm affections is enough. It's safe.

But what if I were brave enough for more?

I can't risk falling in love, my soul too fragile.

Love isn't guaranteed.

Only one person has made me want more.

Yet I know it would break me to lose him—he'd be impossible to recover from.

He's the one person I can't distance myself from.

He's my best friend.

***Book Six in The Beautiful Souls Collection. Can be read as a standalone.